Williams news., 1922-02-10

@>/= "The American Steamer Yankee Prince
 Is Ashore Half a Mile Below the
 Cliff House."
 CT Yankee Prince is ashore half 8 mile below the Cliff house. She's a 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 F1aherty pleaded. You'd better send me. T1ernan. The Bodega has more power than the Aphrodite." l"
 This was the truth and Dan Hicks knew it. 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 a two-tug job. Better send us both. Herman, and play safe. Chances are our competitors have three, tugs on the way right now"
 What . wonderful imagination you have. Dan. Eight thousand tons You're crazy. man. She's thirteen hundred net register and I know 1t be
 
 they launched her. and went out with her skipper on the trial trip. She's . long. narrow-gutted craft. with en- zines aft, like a lake steamer"
 "weli play safe." Herman decided. "Go to it-both- of you. and may the best man win. She'll belong to you. Jack, if 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 com mands, each shouting to his night watchman 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 colli- 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 a mile to the south of the position of the Maggie, and then came cautiously up the coast, whistling continuously to acquaint the Yankee Prince with their presence in the neighborhood.
 
 replying to this welcome sound. Cap tain Scraggs and MT. Gibney had. for the past two hours. busted themselves getting up another head of steam in the Maggie's boilers, repairing the whistle and splicing the wires of the l engine room telegraph. Like the wise | men they were. however. they declined l to sound the Maggie's siren until the | tugs were quite close. Even then. MT l shuddered, but needs must | when the devil drives. so he pulled | the whistle cord and was rewarded | with weird. mournful grunt, dying | away into q gasp.
 Sounds like she has the pip" Jack | remarked to his mate.
 Must have taken on some of that dirty Asiatlc water" Dan Hicks solilo- quized. "and now her tubes have gone | to glory"
 Immediately both tugs kicked ahead under dead slow bell, guided by . series of toots as brief as MT. Gibney could make them. and presently both tug lookouts reported breakers dead ahead.
 Dan Hicks sent a man forward te heave the lead under the nose of the Aphrodite. which was edging in gin gefiy toward the voice. He had . but he did not attemp, Q use 1t, knowing full well that in uch a fog 1t would be of no avail. iuided, therefore, by the beIlowings f Mir. Gibney. reinforced by the shrili ips of Captain Scraggs. the tug crept n closer and closer, and when it eemed that they must be within undred feet of the surf. Dan Hicks rafned his Lyle gun in the direction f MT. Gibneys voice and shot a heav- 1g line into the fog. Almost simultaneous with the report | f the gun came a shriek of pain from aptain ScraggS. Straight and true he wet, heavy knotted end of the eaving line came in over the Maggie's | uarter and struck him in the mouth. n the darkness he staggered hack | rom the stinging blow, clutched wild at the air. slipped and rolled over mong the vegetables with the pre- iOus rope clasped to his breast. "I got it." he sputtered 'I got it, ib." Safe, Ol" MT. Gibney bawled. Pay ut your hawSer." They met it, at the taffrail it ,me up out of the breakers. wet but l elcome. Pass 1t around the main xst. Scrasgy," Mir Cibney eautfeEed.