The Detroit times., 1909-05-04
SEES I Dash TO
Death ON ROCKS
lighthouse Keeper Can Talk With
Doomed Men But Cannot Save
Thsm--Is Injured Himself,

IN letter 10 MS Drotner. Dr. A. 10
Witte, co. Gratiot-ave., Frank Witte
lighthouse keeper on Huron island
graphically describes the fate OF the
consort George hester. the Detroit
boat. on the rocks there last Friday,
and mis- own heroic efforts TO save
the seven men who persisted before his
z eyes.
Huron island is solid rock in Lake
Superior. or the Graveyard" as the
mariners call Superior from the tact
that II never gives UP It's dead. II
Hes between Houghton and Marquette.
The island reaches 20 feet above the
lake level. With a line about his
waist held by his assistant Witte stood
ct the edge OF the rock, covered with
Ice formed as the sea dashed over
and froze. and vainly attempted TO get
the lifeline to the poor devils being
blown to their deaths.
Az he threw the line he could talk
TO them. but because OF the high wilma
the line each time in three trials went
wide and Witte saw the crew dashed
against the rocks and saw the seven
Uen 20 down In the wreckage.
The sea threw three OF the unfort-
innate fellows upon the rock. dis
lance OF so feet. but because OF the ice
they could MT keep foothold and be-
fore Wilre could reach them they had
slipped on the rock and fell to their
doom.
Every moment he stood there the
lighthouse-keeper was in danger OF
the fate he had witnessed the crew
meet, but he bravely and heroically
kept his post until there was no longer
hope OF saving a life.
As he turned TO go back to his sta
ton a monster wave carried huge
piece of wreckage upon him. bruising
and cutting him about the body and
putting his arm out of joint. The
Marfgoid, government boat. was
fortunately lying at anchor at the sta
ton and Witte was hurried to Mar
quette for treatment and relief
He writes In his letter to his
brother:
Marquette. Mich. May l. 1909.
Brother Pat: The Marigold took us
90 our station April 2s II was blow
Ing when she got there from the east.
and she laid there to anchor until this
biowing a severe gale from the eas,
And showing. AT 1880 a. m. the
eteamer Sehooicraft. towing the barge
Geo &C. Nester, parted her towline from
everything was snow and ice on the
rocks and the spray was coming over
the island. I thought the Geo. hester
luck. she didn't. She hit the rocks
about 300 feet from the fog signal and
nll hands were lost. right before me.
nmashed and was trying to heave a
line 10 them. but the wind was against
me and every time / would throw a
hssvee the line to them o1 n three at times
and then her bow hit the rocks and
me poor souls were in the water
emongst the wTeckage. The first sea
washed three of them almost on top OF
the rocks. about so feet from the
yater bat they eouIdn't hang ON until
could set 60 them The .ocks were
4mongst the wreckage In the boiling
ia for about three minutes. and then
eAnk. Juaf think of tt. Pat, nae stand-1
1ng all thss- You can bet I worked
Ike beaver. but IL was all in vain.
81 had a line on me. and Gill this as
ne edge Of the rocks, and every wave
eOver1ng me. You know how the
watcr is up here. After the boat was
eny living BEING. I started to go back.
when monster wave struck me. and
. piece Of deck plank hit me on the
4houider and knocked my. arm out OF
1oint- II was lucky the Marigold was
lying here TO anchor. They came to
the island and put me aboard and
brought me TO Marquette this morn
ing. We got here about O'Clock and
the captain got two doctors. They
stretched me on the table and gave
ne chloroform and had a deuce OF a
time putting the arm hack I'm Joint
but IL feels all right now. think the
Marigoid viii lay here for few days
and then take me back to the Island.
The doctor says will have to carry
my arm IN a sling for about three
weeks. tell you, Pat. put In an
awful time with the pain last night.
but IL feels easier now. NV left ankle
- about as big as my head, and I am
all barked and bruised up When that
sea hit me IL just rolled me like
ball: IL was lucky that the back
wash didn't carry me into the lake
Well, Pat. showed them that I tried
bard TO help them anyway II was
lucky that I didn't get drowned with
them ! am writing this on the Mari
gold IN Marquette. Don't worry. / am
all right. VIII be In a few days. any
way. They are doing all they can for
me. Have had all kinds of visitors
aboard the boat to see me and every
body wants to do something for me
20 you see ! will be taken care OF
II need II. VIII write you again be-
fore leave here for the station.