The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-11-25

swered. Hicks and Flaherty hitched |
forward In their chairs TO listen.
-Hello. Yes. Red Stack office.
Steamer Yankee Prince. 4.
What's that7 {. silk and ricef !
Half a mile below the Cliff house.
Ehf Sure. I'll send tug right
away. Lindstrom."
Herman hung up and faced the two
shippers. Gentlemen" he announced.
there's q chance for little salvage
money tonight. The American steam
er Yankee Prince Is ashore half
mile below the Cliff house. She's
big tramp with a valuable cargo from
Hong Kong. with the rudder gone and
her crank shaft busted"
ITS high water at twelve thirty
seven," Jack Flaherty pleaded. you'd
better send me- Tiernan. The Bodega
has more power than the Aphrodite."
This was the truth and Dan Hicks |
knew 1t. but he was not to be beaten |
out of his share Of the salvage by
such fimsy argument. Jack" he
pleaded, don't be hog all the time.
The Yankee Prince Is an eight thou
sand-ton vessel and It's two-tug job.
Better send us both, Herman, and play
safe. Chances are our competitors
have three tugs on the way right
now"
"What a wonderful Imagination you
have, Dan. Eight thousand tons
| You're crazy, man. She's thirteen
hundred net register and know 1t be-
cause / was In Newport News when
they launched her, and went out with
her skipper on the trial trip. She's
long, narrow-gutted craft, with en-
gines aft. like a lake steamer"
"WeIl play SAFE" Tiernan decided.
go to it-both Of you. and may the
best man win. She'll belong to you,
Jack, II she's thirteen hundred net and
you get your line aboard first. If she's
as big as Dan says she is, you'll be
equal partners"
But he was talking to himself.
Down the docks Hicks and Flaherty
were racing for the respective CON-
mands, each shouting to his night
Waterman to pipe all hands on deck.
Fortunately, goodly head Of steam
was up in each tugs boilers; because
Of the fog and the liability to COLI
sions and consequent hasty summons,
one engineer on each tug was on duty
: Out through the Gate they nosed
their way. heaving the lead continu
ously, made a wide detour around Mile
rock and the Seal rocks, swung Z
mile to the south Of the position Of
! the Maggie, and then came cautiously
up the coast, whistling continuousl,
e to acquaint the Yankee Prince will
their presence in the neighborhood
4 In anticipation Of the necessity TO
: replying to this welcome sound, Cap
e tain Scraggs and Mr. Glbney had, TO
|, the past two hours. busted themselve
u getting up another head Of steam Il
o the Maggie's boilers, repairing tn
whistle and splicing the wires Of tn
e engine room telegraph. Like the wis
men they were, however, they decline
y to sound the Maggie's siren until tn
e tugs were quite close. Even then, NJ
Chimney shuddered. but needs mus
y when the devil drives, SO he pulle
the whistle cord and was rewarde
r. with a weird, mournfu grunt, dyln
D. away into q gasp.
Is sounds like she has the pip" JAG
8 Flaherty remarked to his mate.
;" Must have taken On some Of thi
~ dirty Aslatic water" Dan Hicks soil
II, uuized, "and now her tubes have goI
'g to glory"
~ Immediately both tugs kicked ahef
under a dead slow bell, guided by
d. series of toots as brief as Mr. Gibn'
VS. could make them, and presently DO
IS tug lookouts reported breakers del
ahead.
ly Dan dicks sent a man forward
se, heave the lead under the nose Of t
m. Aphrodite, which was edglng In g
N, gerly toward the voice. He had
de searchlight, but he did not attem
to use 1t, knowing full well that
ed sueh a fog 1t would be Of no ava
lis Guided, therefore, by the bellowin
lie Of Mr.. Gibney, reinforced by the shl
a yips Of Captain Scraggs, the tug ere
IRE in closer and closer, and when
a seemed that they must be within
hundred feet Of the surf, Dan Hit
gs. trained his Lyle gun in the direct
a Of Mr.. Gibneys voice and shot he
Ter ing line into the fog.
ia Almost simultaneous with the rep
ain Of the gun came a shrek Of pain FIR
lip. Captain Scraggs. Straight and t
the wet, heavy knetted end Of
yr heaving line came In over the Magg
ait quarter and struck him In the moi
, 4 In the darkness he staggered b
dis from the singing blow, clutched W
lib, ly at the air, slipped and rolled Q
No among the vegetables with the
ave cious rope clasped to his breast.
II got It," he sputtered. Il got
the Glib"
ned "Safe, Or Mr.. Gibney bawled. ="
out your hawser."
They met 1t at the taffrail Al
came up out Of the breakers, wet
welcome. pass II around the m
Tug mast, Scraggy." Mr.. Gibney cautio
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