The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-02-11
A FIERCE STOR NJ
Story Of Sea Voyage From Seattle 70 AaskaTold By
. Minot Writer-Four Days Of Constant
Struggle With Wind and Wave
~ 4. E. sTossAsEtsTER

tho Minot College Of Commerce, hes
,elienoes In Alaska which country he
md he permits the publication Of part
Isirableness Of death by drowning as
compared to that Of the bullet, and
vice versa, the ever increasing vIo
lence OF the storm making such dis
cussion seem pertinent to many who
regarded the likelihood of our ever
seeing land again, very remote.
The captain passed my cabin about
5 o'clock when sudden motion Of
the ship sent him sprawling. When
l yelled in his ear the question.
Did you ever see the water higher
than it is now? he replied, mo.
by-never." This old sea-dog had
lived on water so years. And vet
this YVES the Pacific Ocean" What
a misnomer the name seemed to me.
as staggered to the bow of the
boat and looked over at the angry
sWlrling, seething mass Of water
which hurled itself against and over
the ships sides. 1 firmly grasped a
rope ladder while observing condi-
tons, expecting every plunge of the
steamer would be her last. Later i
visited the engine room. The engi-
neers were losing grip On themselves
The great screw was high in air
half the time, and not to shut the
power on at the critical moment
just when the wheel rose from the
water. meant that the proue;ler
would throw itself to pieces, To be
in that storm without headway or
control, at the mercy Of the waves;
would be serious disaster. The tired
men chung to their task while the
need for strained watchfullness and
momentous action at just the right
time was prolonged to agonizine con.
tinuousness.
During the ensuing night, the
storm increased in violence. The
wind whist1ed dercely through the
rigging, which it seemed could no,
much longer resist the desperate en-.
ergy of the gale. The gallant vesse.
plowed on, the Integrity Of her tim
bers resisting the fearful strain and
wrenchings. There was no water
in the hold. The galley, encased in
a coat OF iron, was proof against
the burning GOALS, and hot ashes
that with every lureh were dashed
out Of the stoves, and despite the fury
Of the tempest the cooking went
merrily on. During the entire voy.
age, the cooks assistant regularly
pounded his gong at meal time
!. though }he was frequently Arown
OF his feet, while his disc rolled
along the deck, adding its changer
to the din Of the storm. The first.
class passengers took their meals in
the dining room, while those Of the
second class ate between decks. The
chairs and tables being screwed to
the floor remained In position; but
although dishes and table ware
lifted in SOCKETS, ami we're thus pro
tected in measure from being
swept from the table, the sugar bowl
sometimes chased its escaping con-
tents up the walls Of the dining
room, AZ tbs vessel oareened until
she dipped her decks into the foam
ing pillows. One at the miners. be-
ing hurled from L his seat at table
4gainst fastened chair was render
ed helpless for months by . severe
injury to his SPINE. No attempt
could be made to b preeaae with
the cooking. but dessert vas never.
theleas served, and even when the
storm Was at IL worst, tho sreat
American hnxur die post prandtalli
piemade its appearances with nm
failing regularity It 10 true the
desert hai been 80 tossed about in
i ne oven that It seemed . hash Of
,emon and dough, or apples and
,oueh-the half1baked crust being
broken In bits and MIXED y prom
iscucp.ly with the other INGREDIENTS
( the pastry. but the bravery OF
1te thing was charming. Three
hundred PASSENGERS were either very
| IN. or suffering some symptoms q
nal te mer.
Clad in ssai skin sarnenss s. 40