The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-02-11

Emtnk furs, watched the mighty bill
lows for hours from my lookout in
the rigging at the bow. Often II
seemed the steamer must be engulf
ed BY that mighty wave, or yonde,
maBs Of water, with its curling. foam
ing crest that lowered so high above
US that the vessel must inevitably
run her nose into the wall Of brine
instead Of over it, and become
swamped by the tremendous weight.
But her time had not yet come.
She rose matesticaEy and rode the
Threatening white caps one by one.
bopF after hour. From my perch
among the tarred ropes the rise and
faN ofthe steamer; seemed a hundred
feet The dreadful continuity Of the
thing became painful. After four
days Of storm that hourly became
more violent, the men and women
1had become exhausted. Illness, loss
of sleep and the hourly increasing
danger brought despair to many
worn out passengers, who looked
forward only to the moment when
| the end would come. ,..
AT half past three O'Clock in the
afternoon of the fourth day on the
tempest asked the captains opin-
ion as to the probable continuance
of the gale. He thought we were
caneht in what seemed to him al
most perpetual air current peculiar
Ito that portion of the globe, ana
which was probably not more than
two miles wide. do you think"
Incurred, shat if we steamed at right
angles to our present course, taking
the trough Of the sea, we woulud get
out of the storm? He replied tina
We would if the steamer remained
ahoat several hours after the course
4 had been changed; but should we
attempt this, the likelihood was that
1.-THE ship would not live half an
.lhour, communicated the gist o.
my conversation with the captain te
|others, all Of whom, after thinkina
the matter over, presently rel
ed the unanimous conclusion. that il
woulud be wise to take the chance
The sick and we'll alike, were OF one
mind regarding the hazard. Inform
ling the captain OF this fact later,
learned that his own determination
to make a dash for the coast ha<
grown stronger every moment ant
was about to be crystalzed int
action. Soon an order was given Il
hoist a stay-sail. To raise even :
hand in that storm was no
TO be accomplished without difficulty
loud AMI prolonged cheering fol
flowed the successful stretching Of
small piece of canvass, which evi
ldenced the captains purpose. Ths
Imam at the helm receiving the signal
Tour splendid vessel deliberately veer
ed around and nosei her way int
1.-The seething, Kissing cauldron. The
moment was full OF excitement fo'
1.-THE passengers. It seemed once tina
the steamer would capsize, and be
IMeve one Of the smoke,stacks wa:
lin the water. As we rightei M
damage seemed done and when tn
stay eai1 filled. that tremendous air
pressure resisted stubbornly our ten
aency to plunge. Would the staya
1 and canvass hold. An hour passet
lana We were stdE ahoat, getting uset
To tie new kind Of motion, ! agar
! visited the engine room and watched
Inc man on duty. He turned
neither to the right nor left, but
like q grim automaton svitchen on
and on, the power, as the Erea'
propeller went high in air OF undel
ia water. On my return to TIKI
smoking room. noticed q grim de
light on the faces Of passengers
i We were heading In the direction O
/! Prince williams sound-our destina
lion. Each man felt q share OF re
sponsibEtty for the changing ct tne
] souree ana all were satisfied for q
Though We were being tossed about
;the raging waters Juggling With tbs
steamer rs child 7aays With 2 Sos
balloon, We had ct least q definite
purpose: We had turned our backs on
tine storm belt and were s&eam1ns
!, Tor shore. At eight p. m. about foul
hours after We had changed ou1
course, went on deck for q last
view Of the situation before retir'ns
10 my state room. ! saw stay