Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-06-27
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By. I :. 3 EMORY ! ]

This story was told me by. Captain
Frank butcher when we We're talking
about narrow escapes from great dan.
gers. Dutcller was an excellent sailor
one OF the best ever knew. The Incl
dent related shows what care should
he taken not to overwork those who
hold the lives of others in their keep
ing. or the numerous accidents by en-
gineers, pilots and such personssa very
large proportion come from the fact
that the men can't keep awake or
can't retain their faculties from want
Of rest The narrow escapes constant
~ occurring we never hear about.
II have been through storms at sea. =
he said. when / thought every mo-
ment we We're going to the bottom.
I've got into ice fields Where ssuppos-
ed we would be crushed. I've sailed
for weeks with Il fire in the hold. the
matches battened down to prevent air
getting to it and expecting every min
ute It World burn its way out. But the.
biggest danger | ever passed through
was in broad daylight With clear skies
and smooth waters.
How was tliat:" asked. Vim
Il was running Mr.. Archiba!d's yacht
for him. us nice q lean. low. long craH
as ever you saw. She had just gone
into commissions for the summer. and
the owner took his family aboard for
4 cruise in New England waters. There
wasn't any other man aboard that
cou! divide the watches With NE at
the. wheel, and during the run from
Philadelphia to Cape Cod didn't dare
leave it. The only other man aboard
who knew anything about navigation
was Bob Benton. one Of the hands. and
all he knew was the waters off the
coast of Maine He bad been brought
m in Casco bay ard knew every shoal.
s,,nEen rock and island in that arch1-
1,elago. He was engineer OF the yacht,
witt, an assistant. but on the way east
the engine acted badly. and Bob had as
much to Go in the engine room as
had in the !lilotiouSe.
"NYe morning we left Portland to
cruise along the coast to Mount Desert,
Stor1,in" g. certain points by. the way.
. WAS at TIE wheel. trying to keel,
:lv:'I.p. when Benton. WIRE had un-
r:prStuul wa; going to catch, a few
I:nurS: slrt..,. leaving lis engine in care
r his assistant. ti::::e into the pilot
boise ana said 70 me:
"'!.e: n:;. take her. I'm It home IN
!;ts.. Writer'S. and it's the best chance
! y Any for yo, TO get a HAP
~ turned the wheel owe; to him and
: inv down on the cushioned bench III
the ,yiiutI,DHse and was asleep within
one liinI.te.
,, How long ! slept ! dart 4k::so7v:<'sut
JUDGING by the sun it couldn't have
been very long. sprang for the
! wheel, giving the signal to stop at the
same time. and spun it to port with
ali ny strength. Was alone III the
! ,iothp,!se We were going at full
speed. and few cable lengths ahead
, Of HE the waves were sending the
spray against rock. sunken at high
tide, but now only covered when
the waves rolled over it. We were al
most out OF sight or land and not
sail or smoke pipe visible anywhere.
! TO 90 on to that rock at the rate We
were speeding meant death to every
! man. woman and child aboard.
THE longest two or three minutes in
my life were those during which was
! making the turn to avoid that rock
j When had swung off so far that /
! felt reasonably safe and with but lit
tie Roadway ON felt myself about to
topple over. but knew that wouldn't
do. and just got a grip on myself by
sheer will power. 1t was start, bnt
| 4 sharp danger, and within five lain-
| utes af:er~I had awakened knew we
| were in deep water.
'Yben pulled the gong Mr. Archi.
! bald vas ip the cabin and his family
| were OH the aft deck. for there was
| head wind that kept them from cela-
| ing forard As soon us the owner
heard the signal he came running for
! tht, pilotl1o,se. and it didn't take him
. long to see what was the matter.
lyon put back to Portsmouth,. be
! said, and III get another skipper
! -! told him that Benton had come
! in to relieve NE and had gone out With
| out waking me. He didn't believe nay
j story. but went below for Benton and
found him as:eei' III his bunk. WAX
j iny him. he brought him up to the pilot
! Il II Ia
/ IFS perfectly plain that you went
to sleep at tie wheel
! Bob said, didn't You come IN
I hare aud ash, ;Ne to let you take her.
saying that you were ut home i'll these
! waters and it was q good chance TOR
me 10 get nap:'
Ibid do that he said with look
of terror on lis face.
! Ibid you: OF course yon did.
: Why are you uncertain about it!
asked Mr.. Archibald. surprised.
..WAy, | woke up suddenly awhile
ago and found myself standing by the
rail on the rear lower deck getting Of
nv clothes. Il had been dreaming
f.>r I e