New Britain herald., 1922-12-18
Great Lakes Sailors Making Effort to Keep Navigation Open-Boats and Cargoes Worth $as,0oO,oOO Trying to Break Through to Buffalo.

l Chicago, Dec. 1S.-iBy Associated | Press. )-Battling through towering seas and freezing spray, the men wht go down to the sea in ships are fight ing an epochal battle across the icy wastes of Lake Superior to keep navi gation open far beyond it's usual time and bring down the lakes the las cargo of the year. Already the fight has claimed it's toll of lives and be- fore the last ship has been accounted for--or been given up for lost-that toll may be greater. Heavy Death Toll.
 Nearly dozen died few days ago when Canadian steamer was dashed to pieces within a stone's throw of safety at the mouth of the Portage lake ship canal.
 Saturday night several were added to the probable death roll when sur vivors of the tug Reliance, wrecked last Wednesday on Lizard island, reached Sault Ste Marie after almost incredible hardships
 This year it has been decided to keep the waterways open until De cember 15 because the coal and Fail strikes had cut down the coal ship ped ~ the northwest and delayed the eastern movement of grain.
 Worth s2s,OOO,OOO.
 As a result, nine big freighters loaded with grain--s2S, 100000 worth of ships and cargo-are fighting their way down Lake Superior toward that graveyard of gallant vessels, White fish Bay, trying to win through to Buffalo for winter storage.
 In Mud lake, part of the St. Mary's river, another big fleet is icebound waiting for the arrival of the nine which left Fort William, Ont, three days ago, before trying,wi the assist ance of ice breaking tugs. to win past detour to the open waters of Lake Huron.
 Radio Men On Guard.
 At Eagle Harbor, Grand Marais, Whitefish Point, Detour, Alpena, island and Manistique. na- val radio operators are keeping a tireless vigil guarding the freighters through the night with radio com pass signals and waiting for the calls for help which may come.
 The story, of the fate of the tug Reliance, owned by the Superior Pa per Co.,, of Sault Ste Marie, was told yesterday by the seven survivors who reached port.
 Reliance Is Wrecked.
 Five days ago the tug with crew ,f 14 and 22 passengers was dashed | 70 pieces on the rocks of Lonely Liz lrd island, 75 miles north of Point Aux Pines. the western entrance to he St. Mary's river, and 12 miles rom the mainland, the captain and v men took one boat, and Mir. and Mrs. John Harten. cooks, and seven 'thers took the other
 Suffer Great Harsiships.
 Mrs. Harten was so exhausted the ,arty was forced to rest 36 hours at n Indian hut before starting the 20 nile tramp inland to the railroad When the railroad was reached, MT. nd Mrs. Harten were suffering so nuch from the cold that they were aft at station for medical treat , lent, while the other seven survivors 'ent on to Sault Ste Mdr1e.
 Is Lonely Section. The scene of the wreck of the Re- ance is one of the most desolate pots on the upper lakes. From atchewana bay to Michipicoten har- or. distance of more than 50 z iles there are no settlements. The V nly inhabitants are woodsmen, trap | arc and JnJiopc The Lizard islands are off the main route and are seldom visited .cept by woodsmen and fishermen, or k the summer by an occasional inter- T land boat. If the launch carrying r e captain and his 26 companions i fled to reach the islands yet sur I ved the gale and drifting ice it may o i've been blown ashore on the main- a nd, miles from human habitation. U such was the case it is improbable i- at the seamen weakened by long r. posture in the intense cold could III we survived long, unless like those
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