River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-01-15
The Lighthouse Of
The North
An Audacous Hazard Of Nkolai, Independent Agent
Related by His Lieutenant Summers
BY H M EGBERT
Copyright. 1913. by W. c. Chapman


kened the approach Of the Arctic ICE
pack that would soon descend to seal
that silent coast until the following
spring. Nothing could exceed the lone
illness and desolation OF the sea-scape;
not a sail or line of smoke was yisi-
BILE. Far on our starboard lay the
Norwegian coast.
There were six of us aboard with
Nikolai. We were all consumed to
know the reason for our presence
in those cold waters, far from ciYiliz-
alton. This was the day on which
we were to be told. Nikolai assembled
us on deck-we were all members OF
the international league--and broke
the seal of q document
Then he read out the orders.
'Satcha Alexandrovitch, with five
other revolutionary patriots, is on his
way to Archangel aboard the Potem-
kim" he told US
Our mission was to rescue them.
FOR these men had been the hope of
Russia and of freedom through many
stormy months; at last, treacherously
they had been sentenced, after a mock
trial to perpetual Punishment in the
frozen wastes OF northern Russia,
where no man ever lived long enough
10 communicate with his friends
again. 1t was a sentence of death IN
the penal settlement there.
And on the following day the cruis-
or Potemkin would round the great
cape on her journeg into the White
sea. the last before the closing in of
the Ice, bearing her victims.
Afterward Nikolai communicated
to me his plans, as we sat side by
side within the cabin studying the
charts.
Here we shall intercept her he
said, pointing to a dot off the coast.
And all her guns and compile
ment of soldiers and sailors will never
save her"
He unf3lded his scheme Here is
the lighthouse he said. It's light,
burning steadily, alone makes posi-
ble voyage between those rocks and
shoals. We shall destroy the light;
the ship, misled, will be buffeted to
pieces upon the rocks. The prisoners
have been warned. They will es-
cape in the confusion Perhaps they
will perish; but the chance is better
than the certain death which awaits
them
It was a desperate undertaking, the
little yacht against the armored bat
tleship, but none of US thought of
that. Our hearts were elated with the
magnitude OF our task. That night,
running in close along the rocky shore,
we sighted the lighthouse.
1t was of the old-fashioned type.
The lenses did not revolve, but
steady stream OF light issued through
them on three sides. shooting out like
warning finger far into the dark
ness.
We shall shoot out the glasses
said to Nikolai. "Perchance, if we
snoot out the central Tense, no light
visible from distance will issue.
The Potemkin will sail to her de
struction."
NikolaI smiled rather sadly.
we cannot approach that coast
within two thousand yards he an
swered And, at that distance. no
rifle bullet would penetrate those thick
lenses. Moreover, at such a distance,
who could hit a beam of light by night
or even the lighthouse, by day,
clothed, as it always is. with perpetual
sea-fogs?"
atXHhat tho,
we must take it by storm, he an
swered 1T is guarded by three sol
diers-veterans of the Imperial Guard
Russia leaves little to chance. It must
be captured"
That night the lighthouse was to
be rushed. There was no other way.
At dark we took our way in toward
the shore cautiously by means of the
lead; we anchored at a distance of q
mile and little more, and leaving
two men aboard, the five of us re-
naming rowed cautiously through the
rocks.
More than once cur little boat upset,
leaving us clinging 10 the sharp,
ncedle-pOinted crags. But each time
we recovered ourselves, by some for
tuitous miracle At length. dripping,
frozen and utterly exhausted, we
reached the rocks on which the great
lighthouse stood.
We had brought cutlasses and re.
volvers. At word from Nikolai we
crept cautiously across our slippery
fOothold until we reached the iron
bound door at the base of the tower.
Family within we heard two watch.
men singing a peasant song.
Now, men," said Nikolai. 1T will
be useless to knock. Nobody will open
to the sea. for they know that no
person could some here with anything
but evil intent" He picked up a huge
bowlder, posing it aloft with ease.
Follow mel" he cried. and hurled
himself with his burden against the
door.
That was the mightiest blow that
ever I saw struck. 1t shivered the
oaken timbers from bottom to top
Only the iron bolts restrained the frag
Inents of the door A moment later
and we had cleared away this obstruc
ton, just as two bearded giants step
ped along the flags within and con,
fronted us.
''Yield!" cried Nikolai in Rus
sian, covering them with his revolver
They threw up their hands with
alacrity. Where is your companion? p
Nikolai asked
in the light chamber they answer
cd sulleniy.
We dashed pell-mell up the stone