The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-25

the clatCerlng and crashing Oh ITuChs
benches and tools falling from their
places sliding over the floor Of the
hold. The vessel trembled as the
last hawser parted and with a sud
den lurch the Arsulus capsized, car
rying with her to what seemed GER
tain death the four members OF the
Criminology club:
Perhaps to death, but a. death they
would fight to the last! Boxes ana
bales tumbled and crashed about. A
portfolio on the underside bursting
under the pressure of water and
geyser-like stream spouted up. The
men knew that the water was flow
ing in, that it was only matter OF
a short time before the vessel would
be submerged and that the chill shad-
ow of the hold would be added the
shadow Of death! Scrambling from
one box to another they eluded the
| ever rising wave Of water. At last
they had reached the highest point
of vantage they could find. And for
g. short time at least the waters
seemed at a, standstill. Above them
was the cold steel side or tne yes
sci. Below them the cnurn and rush
of water. -.
while Harrison Grant and his
friends fought for their lives in the
| hold Of the wrecked ArslrIus, the
conferenc at the headquarters Of the
Union proceeded Order, was oelng
formulated out of chaos, the long
shoremen's demands were oelng
gathered into shape, and 1t seemed
that a settlement agreeable 10 all
was about to be reached. suddenly
the telephone on the table Jangleo.
One Of the Union officials answered
| it, then turned it over to the cnalr-
man of the Shipowners committee.
The Union Hears of the Sinking.
TITS for you" 49,.
There was a. moments silence
while he fumbled with the receiver,
his greeting, and then another silence
while the voice of the speaker at the
other end Of the line came to their
ears in squeaky accents,
Here, say that over again. No!
Well they've reached the limit. This
means the end" The received banged
into it's socket and the chairman
faced the group Of tense men at the
table.
Gentlemen, the Arsulus has just
been sunk at its dock. You were
warned that if another depreciation
occurred we would lock you out
whether you struck or not" His fist
crashed to the table. THAT ship was
loaded so it would capsize. A million
dollars worth of property has been
DESTROYED. We will fight you now to
the. finish. must bid you good ev-
ening." Calmly and colby he thread
ed his way through the crowds of
longshoremen into whose minds the
greatness Of this new blow, just
struck, was beginning to penetrate.
There was a sudden burst Of sound
as men tried to make themselves
heard, seeking for recognition, yell
ing, shouting. Again and again the
gavel crashed to the table for order.
Finally, reluctantly it came. -
The president of the Longshore-
mems Union looked down at the up
turned faces Of his men.
The Dock Men Outraged.
Boys, this meeting is not Of our
choice. Strange things have happen
ed, We must remember, however, IN
I our excitement and resentment that
! in the past the shipowners have
treated us with a large measure or
fairness. Now we must face these
| new problems. The chairman Of the
Eshipowners committee has just an
nounced ito us that they will refuse
! to treat with US a,
Then let's strike. Give them
! CnSlr answer. SLIlhS!
1t was the German dock foreman
who had leaped to his feet and was
striding up and down the aisle in de-
/ fiance of the gavel beating for order.
One after another the longshoremen
| joined in his cry, hypnottZed by his
/ apparent. earnestness, eager to follow
his evident leadership.
Strike! Strike! Well bring these
| shipowners to their senses. What
| have they done for u.s." =:
! In the overturned hulk OF the Ar
suIus, still fighting the death that
! seemed imminent. the members OF
| the Criminology club racked their
! brains for a means of escape from
+ the waters threatening to engulf
| them. X.
Grant reached out hand in the
darkness and encountered a clench-
ed fist. ''Cayanaugh, is that your"
Yes the reply bordered on a
Some kind of Grating here. I've
got a bale hook I picked up some
where"
"A bale hook? Give 1t to me-
| Cavanaugh handed the implement
to Grant, who dragged himself to the
pinnacle of the debris and began a
systematic tapping on the steel hull
of the vessel with the handle Of the
heavy hook.
= An Impromptu Help Call.
In a moment the operatives de-
ciphered the message he was send
, ing in Morse code.
Send help! Send helpl' he signal
led over and over, and when his arm
was about to fail, Cavanaugh scram-
tapping. How long they waited they
could not tell. Time dragged and
the waters began to rise again while
the splashing about of floating boxes,
drifting among the debris drowned
out the outside noises. Grant, reach
ing up with the balehook to begin
his signalling once more was startled
to see tiny spot of red glowing
above his head in the darkness. A
moment more and the spot changed
ITO white and he lurched sideways
as a kissing drop of molten steel
sung past his ear and dropped into
the water with a burst of steam.
A greenish flame showed through
the steel, the flame of an acetylene
torch, lighting the watery, floating
hold like a CLINT of summer lightning.
And as they watched it, the hole
grew and grew. At last mass of
steel dropped into the water and
through the widened hole, Grant
caught a glimpse of the stars twink
ling in the sky. A shadow fell across
the opening and they heard a voice
believing to them above the sound
of the water.
Who's there?"
Harrison Grant. Cavanaugh, Stew
ard, Sisson!" Four masculine voices
shouted the necessary information.
"Gh, all right, gentlemen! Hold
tight until the edges have cooled.
Just minute now"
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