Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-01-26

hI0 TtOSo fSi. UP VIC heavily. Already
""S'Sf the beach was
strewn with pieces of wreckage. The
crowd gathered at the pier comprised
fully half the population of Monrovia.
1t conferred about the life saving crew.
whose mortar was being loaded. A
Btove-in lifeboat mutely attested the
failure of other efforts. When the
preparations were finished their chief
aimed the mortar and pulled the
string. The dart with its trailer of
line rose on a long. graceful curve.
The reel sang. But the resistance Of
the wind and the line early made itself
felt. Slower and slower hummed the
reel. By a good 800 yards the shot
failed to carry over the vessels
There's Mr.. Bradford" said Car
roll, waving her hand. Couldn't they
get the lifeboats out to them?" she
asked as he approached.
mo"
but surely they will never get line
over with the mortarr' said Carroll.
'.That last shot fell so far short"
They know it. They've shot doz-
en- times"
At this moment from the river
trail of black smoke became visible
over the point of sand hill that ran
down to the pier. A smokestack darted
into view. slowed down and came to
rest we'll inside the river channel.
There it rose and fell on the swell.
The crowd uttered a cheer.
Come and see what's UP" suggested
Bradford
He hitched Prince to log and led
the way to the pier.
The Sprite was lying close under the
pier Harvey. the negro engineer. lean
ed against the sill of his little square
door. smoking his pipe.
81 wouldn't go out there for a mil
lion dollars" cried n man excitedly.
Nothing on earth could live in that
sea-
What are they going to dog" asked
Carroll.
Haven't you heard?" cried the 9th.
err This is one of Orde's tugs. and
she's going to try to get line to their
vessels
Bradford turned abruptly and brush
ed toward the tug. followed by Carroll
and Nina. At the edge of the pier
was the tugs captain. Marsh. listening
TO earnest expostulation by a half
dozen Of the leading men of the town,
among whom were both Newmark and
Orde
Gentlemen" said he crisply. '1'm
entirely willing to take all personal
risks. The thing is hazardous. and it's
Mr.. Orde's tug. It's for him to say
whether he wants to risk her.
Good Lord. man. what's the tug in
a case like this"' cried Orde.
81 thought So" replied Captain
Marsh. "I'll take her out If can get
crew. Harvey, step up here"
The engineer hoisted his J 70
through the doorway.
Harvey" said Captain Marsh brisk
ly. we're going to try to get line
aboard those vessels. It's dangerous.
Will you go?"
You all goin'. suh?" he asked.
"Of course"
81 reckon I'll done half to go. too"
said Harvey simply. He swung light
ly back to the uneasy craft below him.
Il want man with me at the wheel,
two to handle the lines and one to fire
for Harvey said Captain Marsh.
That's our job" announced the life
saving captain.
'Well, come on. then"
Captain Marsh shook the hand which
Orde, STOPPING, offered him.
I'll try to bring her back all right.
sir" said he.
ITO h with the tugr' cried Orde
Bring yourself back"
Marsh entered the pilothouse.
called for full speed ahead.
Brave chaps! Brave chaps?' said
DIR. McAIullen to Carroll. But. do you
know, to my mind. the bravest of them
all are that niger and his fireman
nailed down in the hold where they
can't see nor know what's going on"
The~tug had rounded the end of the
pier. The first of her thousand enc
mics, sweeping In from the open, had
struck her fair.
"She can stand that all right" said
one of the life saving crew. But wait
till she drops down to the vessels"
The Sprite was now so distant that
the loom of the great seas swallowed
her from view save when she rose on
the crest Of some mighty billow.
There. she's turned nowr' cried
some one.
Beneath the trail Of black smoke
she had shifted direction. With star
Ting swiftness the Sprite darted out of
the horizon into full view. For the
first time the spectators realized the
size and weight of the seas. One mo
ment the whole of her deck was visi-
BILE. the next her bow alone showed
high as the back suction caught her
and dragged her into the hollow. A
sea rose behind. Nothing of the tug
was to be seen. 1t seemed that no
power could prevent her being over
whelmed. Yet somehow always she
staggered out Of the gulf until she was
again east forward like chip.
Maybe they amt catcnin. priuuIaa
b. at that wheel TO hold her from
yawing" muttered the tug captain.
The Sprite rushed at the outer line
of breakers. The combers crested and
fell with roar. just as in milder
weather tbs surf breaks on the beach