The Owosso times., 1922-03-03


Hello. Yes, Red Stack Office.
Steamer Yankee Prince. Z.
WHAT'S that7 silk and rice? :.
Half mile below the Cliff house,
Eh7 Sure, III send tug right
away, Lindsfrom."
Tiernan hung up and faced the two
shippers. 'Gentlemen," he announced,
here's a chance for little salvage
money tonight. The American steam
er Ysnkee Prince Is ashore half a
mile below the Cliff house. She's a
big tramp with valuable cargo from
Hong Kong. with the rudder gone and
her crank shaft busted"
TITS high, water at twelve thirty
seven" Jack Flaherty pleaded. "YOu'd
better send me, Tiernan. The BOdega
has more power than the Aphrodlte."
This was the truth and Dan Hicks
knew IL. but he was not TO be beaten
out OF his share of the salvage by
such fiimsy argument. "Jack," he
pleaded, don't be a hog all the time.
The Yankee Prince is an eight thou
sand-tOn vessel and it's two-tug job.
Better send us both, Tiernan, 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 know II be-
cauSa ,raS II, Nauport Nau.c ,,,hny
they launched her. and went out with
her skipper on the trial trip. She's a
long, narrow-gutted craft with en-
gines aft, like a lake steamer"
Wen 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 ne was talking to himself.
Down the docks Hicks and Flaherty
were racing for the respective COM
mands, each shouting to his night
watchman 10 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, heaviDg the lead continu-
Ously, made 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. whistiing continuously
to aeguaint the Yankee Prince with
their presence In the neighborhOod.
In anticipation Of the necessity for
replying 10 this welcome sound, Cap
tain Scraggs and Mr.. 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 wiresu Of the
engine room telegraph. Like the wise
men they were. however, they declined
to sound the Maggie's siren until the
tugs were quite close. Even then, Mr.
Gibney shuddered, hut needs must
when the devil drives, so he pulled
the whistle cord and was rewarded
with weird, mournful grunt, dying
away into gasp.
Sounds like she has the pip" Jack
remarked to his mate.
Must have taken on some Of that
dirty Asiatic water" Dan Hicks sOlilo-
quized, "and now her tubes have gone
to glory"
Immediately both tugs kicked ahead
under dead slow bell, guided by a
series Of toOts as brief as Mr. Gibncy
could make them, and presently both
tug lookouts reported breakers dead
ahead.
Dan Hicks sent q man forward 10
heave the lead under the nose of the
Aphrodite, which was edging in gin
gerly toward the voice. He had
but he did not attempt
to use II, knowing full well that in
such a fog IL would be of no avail.
therefore, by the bellOwings
Of Mr.. Gibney, reinforced by the shrill
yips ef Captain Scraggs, the tug crept
in closer and closer, and when II
seemed that they must be within
hundred feet OF the surf, Dan Hicks
trained his Lyle gun in the direction
Of Mr.. Gibney's voice and shot a heav-
ing line into the fog
Almost simultaneous with the report
Of the gun came a shrek of pain from
Captain Scraggs. Straight and true
the wet. heavy knotted end Of the
heaving line came In over the Mnggie's
quarter and struck him in the mouth.
In the darkness he staggered back
from the singing blow, clutched wild
" at the air, slipped and rolled over
among the vegetables with the pre-
riOus rope ciasped to his breast.
II got it, he sputtered, 81 got It,
Gib."
"safe, Or Mr.. Gibney bawled. "Pay
out yeur hawser."
They met II Mt the taffrail as II
came UP cut of the breakers. wet but
welcome. pass Il around the main
mast, Scraggy," Mr.. Gibney cautioned.
IF we make fast TO the town bits,