The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-26
THE LINE ASHORE
Keen Wits Combined With Little Land Training Will
Sometimes Save Bad Situation at Sea-

the waves were dashing against the shore.
showing. in their fury, what little chance of
escape there would be for the crew once the
keel struck bottom.
Foot by foot the vessel luIched shoreward
With the sensations of man clinging for
life to rope over a precipice, and seeing
strand after strand chafe apart against the
rocks above, each member of the crew wait
ed the end
Suddenly there was crash and the culver
of ship in death throes. The vessel had
struck reef some distance out.
| Vincent involuntarily groaned. for there
was scarcely one chance in a thousand OF
reaching shore safely. The nearest place of
refuge was small pile of rocks, isolated in
the midst of the storm swept ocean. These
were about fifty feet from the place where
the vessel had struck, and undoubtedly
formed part of the same reef. Between
them and the ship, however, was seething
stretch of water that formed terrible barrier.
The captain of the vessel eyed the rocks.
| Lads" he suddenly shouted, pointing
to the pile, there's our only chance! We
must get line over there! Who'll attempt
it?''
All who could swim volunteered. Vim
cent among the number. The captain chose
a burly Swede, whose huge frame and
powerful limbs gave the greatest promise of
~
kicked off his boots, and, at the first OPP
perfume moment, plunged overheard with a
thin line tied around his waist. A matey
paid out the line from the deck.
The captain watched the swimmer intent
ly.
"Pull him in!" he cried all at once.
Willing hands hauled aboard the half
drowned sailor.
LADS" the captain continued, ''its
every man for himself now. Stick to the
ship until she breaks
| Vincent, who had been intently gazing at
rock which projected pinnacle-like above
the others, stepped forward.
81 can get line over there!" he exclaim-
ed.
The captain shook his head commiserat-
lngly. eff Johnson can't get there" he
stated, mo one else cam
But Vincent was already fashioninga run
ming moose at one end of long length of
rope, strong enough to support the weight
of the heaviest sailor. Coiling the rope in
his hands, he waited until the wind let up
a triAe; then with a dexterity acquired on
the Western plains, he shot the lariat straight
towards the projecting rock. The moose
settled over it, and with deft pull, Vincent
frightened the line in the crevices.
A half-suppressed cheer came from the
crew when they witnessed the feat. 1t was
now but a matter of a few moments to at
tach the free end high up on the mainmast
With little ingenuity an improvised
breeches-buoy was fashioned from a circular
life-preserver, some rope, and pulleys, As
the rope slanted down to the rock, sailor
need only enter the life preserver and be
carried by the force of gravity to safety. A
second line attached to the rear of the life
preserver, enabled those still on the ship to
bring the buoy back again.
One by one the crew landed safely upon
the pile of rocks. Vincent was the last to
leave, with the exception of the captain,
who, true to the traditions of the sea, wait
ed until all the others had gone.
During the entire morning they huddled
together, watching the clipper ship, until,
battered beyond recognition, she slid off of
the reef and went under.
AS the afternoon was waning their plight
was discovered by passing fishing smack
which, with matches closed, had safely rid
den the storm outside. The shipwrecked
crew were taken off and the smack was
headed nor'east to the harbor forty miles up
the coast.
The captain of the lost vessel sat down
by Vincent's side.
"Lad," he said, "the clipper belonged
to me and she was insured to the limit, so
won't lose anything. I'm going to build
another, even better, and want you to
come along with me, maybe as mate after
you'v served your apprenticeship. I've
got lots of use for lad who can keep his
wits in time of peril and danger as you
have done. "-Er.