Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-06-28


Turner stood on the gunwale and as
| the stern rose was quickly lowered with
a wire rope and, perching himself on
| the rudder, endeavored to pass II
| through the ring. Before he could dc
| SO the stern descended, bearing him
| with it. Necks were craned over the
rail to see, when the rudder rose again,
If he would still be there. Few be.
| lieved that he would. But as the stern
came up there he was, his knees press
ing the vessels sides, his hands clutch
ing the ring
| A wave swung the rudder to star
board, and the man On it would have
been dashed against the side of the
ship had he not saved himself by throw
! ing himself on the other side. Before
it was swung in the reverse direction
down he went again toward the bottom
Of the ocean. When he came up, hold
ing the ring by one hand, he tried to
pass the rope through 1t, but the rudder
was not still long enough for him to do
so. He was not only becoming benumb-
ed with the cold bath, but must be ever
watchful to avoid being banged against
the side Of the vessel, which would, to
say the least have dislodged him.
And SO he continued to fight for the
lives Of the fifty or more people slow
~ drifting toward the breakers, whose
distant roar could now be family heard
above that Of the wind Every time
he was carried down he came up with
shorter breath and more exhausted.
But every time be renewed his attempt
to put the rope through the ring Of the
swaying rudder Then, when he had
failed and gone down again, on rising
he let go the ring to rest, swinging,
soaked with ice water and pierced by
the cold wind
At last, watching his opportunity
when the ship plunged and the stern
rose, swinging with the ring, he grasp
ed at it, caught it and this time passed
the rope through it.
Half his work had been done
Another wire rope was given him,
but how could he hope, having lost so
much of his strength and benumbed
taken so long to attach the first rope?
It was period of terrible suspense for
those drawing near those dreadful
breakers, whose roar was now every
moment growing louder. Again he
made his dives; again he chung to the
rudder, watching to avoid being dash
ed against the ship, trying to put the
second rope in place.
And so, sometimes swinging at the
end of his rope and sometimes taking
his cold baths, he kept on trying. The
knowledge that lives depended upon
his success gave him strength, but
whenever he felt that he could not en-
dure another swing in the blast or an
other dive in the ocean he would think
Of that life behind bars which was de-
throning his reason and he would per-
severe.
At last feeble call from below an
nounced to those above that the sec
ond wire rope had been passed through
the ring. To the ends Of these ropes
those on deck passed heavy chains,
which the convict shackled in place,
and when this was done he was drawn
up.
AS he appeared above the taffrail
shout was raised But he did not hear
it. The moment his work was done
he tainted. Liquor was poured down.
his throat, and he was hurried below.
There he was stripped Of his soaked
clothing and put into hot blankets.
While he had been at his work men
on deck had dashed boom across the
poop, projecting on each side The
rudder chains were passed through
pulley blocks at each end of the beam
and around a drum made by boarding
over the stearing gear. The moment
the ends Of the chains were attached
to the ring the rudder was made serv-
iceable, and the ship was turned from
the white line where now, but mile
away, the mad waves were tossing
their heads as if disappointed at losing
their prey.
When Turner came on deck again he
was dressed in a suit of the first mates
clothes, and every one pushed forward
to grasp his hand and shower bless
ings upon him. Each and every per-
son vowed not to betray him, and
some suggested means Of obtaining
pardon. But Turner told them that he
preferred to remain aboard the ship,
which, after touching at New York,
was to sail for a foreign land. So
great was his dread of a return to
prison that he determined to lose him
self in a country where he would not
be known.
Under the improvised steering gear
the ship weathered the gale and made
her way to Philadelphia, where she
put in for repairs, and her passengers,
going ashore, took land route to their
different destinations. Before leaving
the ship they held a meeting and col
lected considerable sum to be paid