The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1922-06-30


Because they we've short-handed
now upon the tug. and also because
consultation was necessary over what
was to be done. the young owner Of
the Miwaka. Captain Stafford, came
down the hawser onto the tug after the
line had been put straight. He came
to the wheelhouse. where Benjamin
Coryet was. and they consulted. Then
Benjamin Coryet learned that the
other owner was aboard the new ship
as well-Ramsdell-the man whose
money you have just told me had built
this and was soon to build other ships.
| did not understand before why learn
Ing that affected him so much.
Stafford wanted us (this Is what
Benjamin Coryet said) to tow him up
the lake; would not do that, but
agreed to tow him to Manistlque. The
night was dark, Father-no snow. but
frightful wind which had been increas
ing until II now sent the waves wash
Ing clear across the tug. We had gone
north an hour when. low upon the wa
ter to my right, saw light, and
ihtiN tduiC " I1C Tic WuiStllttg vi IL
buoy which told me that we were pass
ing nearer than would have wished.
even In daytime. to windward of B0ul-
der reef. There are, Father, no people
on that reef; Its sides of ragged rock
go straight down forty fathoms into
the lake
81 looked at the man with me In
the wheelhOuse-at Sutherland
hated him! put my head out at the
wheelhouse door and looked back ut
the lights, at the new, great steamer.
following safe and straight at the end
of its towline. l thought of my two
men upon the tug who had been
crushed by clumsiness Of those on
board that ship; and how my own
ships had had a name for never losing
a man and that name would be lost
now because Of the carelessness Of
Stafford's men! And the sound of the
shoal brought the evil thought to me.
ship; would it have gone upon some
reef like this and been lost? l thought
that If now the hawser should break,
| would be rid of that ship and per-
haps of the owner who was on board
as well. We could not pick up the tow
line again In so close to the reef. The
steamer would drift down upon the
rocks"
Father PerrOn hesitated an instant
II bear Witness" he said solemnly,
that Benjamin Corvet assured me
his priest-that 1t was only a thought |;
the evil act which 1t suggested was
something which he would not do or
even think of doing. But he spoke
something of what was In his mind to
Stafford, for he said:
az must look like fool to you to
, keep on towing your ship!
"'They stared, he told me, into one
another's eyes, and Stafford grew un.
easy.
WED have been all right he an.
, swered, until we had got help, II you d
| left us where we werev He, too, lis
r tened to the sound of the buoy and OF
l the water dashing on the shOal. You
are taking us too close he said-'to6
: closet He went aft then to look al
( the tow line"
e Father Perron's voice ceased: wha
@ he had to tell now made his fac,
Il whiten as he arranged 1t In his mem
d DRY. Alan leaned forward little ant
e them with an effort, sat straight. Con
e stance turned and gazed Mt him :, bu
o he dared not look at her He felt he
it hand warm upon his; It rested there
,E moment and moved away.
/. There was third man In tn
d wheelhouse when these things wer
spoken" Father Perron said, 'the mat
le OF the ship which had been laid up n
# ManlstiQue."
y Henry Spearman." Sheriff. SUI
|; piled.
d THAT Is the name. Benjamin Coz
e. vet told me Of that man that he wa
a young, determined, brutal and set upo
Is getting position and wealth for hin
,e self by any means. He watched COrvt
ut and Stafford while they were speaI
il ing. and he, too. listened to the shOs
vi until Stafford had come back; then h
e went aft.
Id ~ looked at him. Father Benjaml
= COrvet said to me, and let him go
AS not knowing. He came back IN
pr looked at me once more, and went aga
r. to the stern; Stafford had been watcl
20 Ing him as well as l, and sprang ava
n from me now and scrambled after hin
id The tug leaped suddenly: there W,
no longer any tow holding 1t back, f.
rd the hawser had parted; and I kne'
ts Father. the reason was that Spearmt
NJ had cut 1t
ul 81 rang for the engine to be slOwe
re and | left the wheel and went af
mt some struggle was going on at Il
at stern Of the tug; n flash came fro
NO there and the cracking Of a shot. Su
he denly all was light about me as, ava
at OF the breaking of the hawser al
Ter alarmed by the shot, the searchlight
*. the Miwaka turned upon the tug. T.
ne cut end Of the hawser was still up,
the tug, and Spearman had been tryii
IA! to clear this when Stafford attack
ad him; they fought. and Stafford stru
ew Spearman down. lie turned and cri
ng out against ne accusing me Of h,
ing ordered Spearman to cut the III
he He held up the cut end toward Ran
- dali IN tho Miwuka and crtqd ont