The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-12-18

sOIis VINO nave Deen missing
3 since the tug Reliance struck on
the rocks off Lizard island last
Wednesday have been saved ac-
cording to reports from the tug
Gray, which reached the wreck to-
day.
Chicago, Dec. 18.-Battling foot by
foot through towering seas and free
zing spray, the men who 60 down 10
the sea in ships are fighting an
epochal battle across the icy wastes
of Lake Superior to keep navigation
open far beyond it's usual time and
bring down the lakes the last cargo
of the year.
Already the fight has claiped its
toll of lives, and before the last ship
has been accounted for-or been Civ
en- up for lost-the toll may be great
er.
Nearly dozen died a few days
ago when Canadian steamer was
dashed to pieces within a stone $
throw of safety at the mouth of the
Portage lake ship canal.
Last night twenty-seven more
were added to the probable death toll
when survivors of the tug Reliance,
wrecked last Wednesday on Lizard
island, reached Sault Ste. Marie after
almost incredible hardships.
y Navigation on the upper lakes
usually closed December l. This year
it was decided to keep the waterways
open until December Is because the
coal and rail strikes had cut down
the coal shipped to the northwest
and delayed the movement of grain
east. "
Nine Big Freighters
As a result nine big freighters
loaded with grain-$28, 100000 worth
of ships and cargo-were fighting
their way down Lake Superior TO-
ward that grave yard of gallant yes.
sells, White Fish Bay, trying to viii
through to Buffalo for winter, stor'
age.
In Mud Lake, part of St. Mary''s
river, another big fleet, was ice
bound waiting for the arrival of the
nine which left Fort William, Ont.
three days ago before trying, with
the assistance of ice breaking tugs
to win past detour to the open wa
ters of Lake Huron.
At Eagle Harbor and Grand Mar
ais, White Fish Point and detour
Alpena, Mackinac island and Manis
tique naval radio operators were
keeping a tireless vigil, guiding thu
freighters through the night witt
radio compass signals, and waiting
for the calls for help which ma!
come.
The story of the fate of the tug
Reliance, owned by the Superior
Paper Company of Sault Ste. Marie
was told yesterday when seven sur
vivors reached the 500.
Dashed to Pieces
Five days ago the tug with crew
of IA and % passengers, was dashet
to pieces on the rocks of Llzar<
island, rs miles north Of Point Aux
pins, the western entrance to ST
Mary's river and 12 miles from th'
mainland. The captain and n mel
took one boat and Mr.. and Mrs. Johl
Harten, cooks and seven others, tool
the other.
The captains boat has not bee'
accounted for, but the other, ate
drifting several hours in the storm
finally was blown ashore on the On
tario mainland, IS miles north o
Duluth.
Mrs. Harten was so exhausted tn
MARTY was forced to rest 36 hour
At an Indian hut before starting tn
twenty-mile tramp inland to tn
railroad, When the railroad wa
reached Mr.. and Mrs. Harten wer
suffering so much from the col
that they were left at station TO
medical treatment while the otne
seven survivors went on to Sault Ste
Marie.
Held Little Hope
.. They held little hope for the cap
tain and his companions. If the part
succeeded in reaching Lizard islam
thew may find huts there, but Will
pame was plentiful they have n
weapons. ,
The scene Of the wreck OF "a
Reliance is one Of the most desolat
spots on the upper lakes.
From Batchewana Bay to Mlcnlp'
coten harbor, distance OF NOR
than so miles, there are not settle
ments. The only inhabitants ar
lonely woodsmen, trappers and IN
dians. :,
The Lizard islands are off tn
main steamer route, and are seldo.
visited except by woodsmen and fish
ermen, or in the summer, by an oe
casional inter-island boat. II tn
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