The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-04-13
By the Merciless
Waves
By DWIGHT NORWOOD

got there 1 was not permitted to go
to the scene of conflict. Not caring to
return Immediately 1 went to a hotel
on the seashore, intending to spend sew
eral days there.
The weather was cold, and the chan
mel, stretching out indefinitely toward
the northwest, was a gloomy sight to
behold. One morning heard boom,
ing out at sea. but had no knowledge.
of what it portended. During the day
there was always booming ON the land
north and south of me, and sometimes
1t came family from the east. These
sounds continually reminded me that /
was surrounded by war and its conse-
quent distress.
But it was the channel that most af
fected me. / knew that out there
many merchant crew was sailing in
danger of being sent to the bottom of
the cold, black waters. Many sub
marine crew was dreading lest their
vessel become entangled in the enor-
nous wire nets laid by the British
trawlers to trap them.
One evening when there was misty
moonlight was tempted to go out and
walk on the beach. was warmly
clothed and enjoyed the icy air that
blew against my cheeks. So enjoyable
was my jaunt to me that walked for
AN hour toward the north, then was
in1, 20 f1rysr
when 1 saw something denser than the
surrounding atmosphere a short dis
lance ahead of me.
l stood watching it. A thin cloud
that had covered the moon passed from
it face, giving a slight increase of light
and revealed what seemed to me to be
a knot of men huddled together |
had once seen ship at sea about to
founder, and these shadowy beings re-
minded me of it's crew standing togeth-
er about a mast, doubtless gaining some
slight comfort from one another while
waiting. for the fatal plunge.
Curiosity led me to, approach what ]
saw, and I walked forward. But
somehow got NO nearer to them.
though they gradually became less in
distinct, for by keeping my eyes fixed
upon them they became individuals,
though confused with one another.
Their relative position was that of men
discussing some mOmentOus question.
Nevertheless heard no sound. nor
could l discern any one of them adj
dressing the rest.
Then it seemed to me that they were
all looking toward me, but this was
rather their position with reference to
one another, for had no evidence that
they were facing me- Immediately
after this they began to move away
from me- I followed, and since l did
not gain on them l fastened my steps.
But the faster walked the quicker
they receded. Sometimes it seemed
that they were tramping, sometimes
that they were moving from me with
out taking steps.
When at last 1 saw them, or what
they appeared to be, leave the beach
and move out on the surface Of the
water 1 began to suspect that some
thing was wrong with me. 1 swung
my arms, pinched myself, rubbed my
eyes. The group remained in my vi
sion till they had gone a few hundred
yards from the shore, then stopped and
slowly settled down, it seemed, into
the water-either this or they faded
before me; I could not tell which.
This was the end Of my dream, hal
lucination or whatever it might be. /.
waited for some time,, peering out to
where the men had disappeared, won
dering if they would return, but they
did not, and I considered it high time
that went back to my hotel. Before
doing so I noted the locality that /
might know it again. There was lit
tie stream of running fresh water that
flowed from lake or swamp short
distance from the beach.
The next morning after an early
breakfast 1 started to 60 over my walk
Of the night before. Soon after leav-
ing the hotel l found myself in an I'M
frequented region. There was not
house in sight. 1 walked to the runnel
| had seen and knew that was where
my vision had disappeared. Turning
seward, scanned the waters. 1t
was ebb tide. The waves were high
under west wind. Presently, after
wave had rolled over certain point,
saw in the hollow it had left some
thing that. looked like the top of a
small steamers smokestack. Another
wave passed over it, and when it had
moved on saw the article again.
had no glass, and the interval be-
tween the waves was too brief to en-
able me to get Q good view of it. So
far as 1 could jodge, I saw the top of
a smokestack of sunken vessel.
concluded to return to the hotel and
report what had seen. l made no
mention Of my vision. After a good
deal Of talk and many assurances that
had seen evidence of wreck a tug
was sent to examine what had seen.
was aboard and directed the captain
to the point sought. AS we approach
ed it he swept the water with a pair
Of binoculars and presently exclaimed:
Its the periscope of submarine"
And so it was. 1t was subsequently
raised and proved to be German tor
pedo boat In it were twelve Germans.
all dead.
This is the only mention | have ever
made of my vision or whatever 1t was.
and to this statement my true name is.
not appended do not care to be con-
sidered either liar or fool or to have
broken down nerves.