, 1922-12-18
CHICAGO. Dec. ls.-(By
The Associated Press Battling
foot by foot through towering
seas and freezing spray. the men
who go down to the sea in shipS



who go down to the sea in shipS
are fighting an epochal battle
across the icy wastes OF Lake Su-
perior to keep navigation open far be-
yond its usual time and bring down
the lakes the last charge Of the year.
Already the fight has claimed It's
toll OF lives. n befor the last ship
has been accounted for-or been given
up for iost-that toll may be greater
Nearly a dozen d-ed a few days ago
when a Canadian steamer was dashed
to pieces within a stones brow OF
safety at the mouth OF the Portage
lake ship canal.
Twenty-severl more were added 70
tho probable death roll when survivors
Of tho tug Reliance. wrecked last
Wednesday on Lizard island. reached
Seilt Ste Marie after almost incred.
ibie hardships.
Navigation on the upper likes usu-
ally closes December /. This year II
was decided to keep the waterways
open until December 1b, ber-use the
coal and rail strikes had cut ov.--. he
coal shipped to the northwest and de-
iayed the movement of grain eastN
AZ a result MIN big FIRE gnters loadN
ed with grain-s2s, 600 600 worth of
ships and cargo-are fighting their
WY down Lake Superior toward that
graveyard OF gallant vessels, White
Fish Bay. trying 10 win through to
Buffalo for winter storage.
In Mud lake. part OF the St. Mary's
river. another big fleet is ice-bound,
waiting for the arrival Of The nine
which left Fort william Ont. j
days ago tefore trying. vain G.s ~e-
sistance of leo breaking tugs. 70 win
past Detour to the open waters OF
Lake Huron.
At Eagle harbor and Grand Marias.
White Fish point, and Detour. Alpens-
Mackinac island and Manistque, naval
radio operators ars Keeping vigil.
guiding the -frsghters through the
night with radio compass signals. and
waiting for the calls for help which
may come.
The story OF the fate OF the tug Re
lance. owned by the superior Paper
company Of Sault Ste Marie, was told
yesterday when seven survivors
reached the 500.
Five days g the tug with a crew
OF II and ~ passengers. was DASHED
to pieces on the rocks OF lonely LIZ
ard island. 10 miles north OF Point
Aux PirJsthe western entrance to the
st. Mary's river and IL miles from
the mainland The captain and u
men took one boat and Mr.. and Nrs.
John Harter, cooks. and seven others
took the other.
! The captains boat has net been
accounted FOR, hut the other. after
drifting several hours IN the storm.
finally was blown ashpre on the On
tsrso mainland. 50 miles north OF
SaLit Ste Marie
Mrs. Harten was SO exhausted the
party was forced to res, SO hours AZ
mile tramp inland TO the railroad.
When the railroad was reached Mt
n Mrs. Harten were suffering 50
much from the odd that they were
left at a station for medical treat
ment while the other seven survivors
went on to sauit ste Marie.
They hold out little hope for the
captain and his companions II the
party succeeded in reaching LiSrd
island they may find huts there, NJ
while game is plentiful. they have nc
weapons.
The scene of the wreck of the Re
lance is one of the most desolate
spots on the upper lakes. From
Balchewana bay to AIichip'coten. har-
Dor. a distance of more than so miles
there are no settlements. The
inhabitants are lonely woodsmen'
trappsrs and Indiansl
The Lizard Islands are off the main
steamer route. and are seldom visitsd
1 except by woodsmen and fishermen.
or, in the summer. by an occasions
interisiand boat. If the launch car
Continued on Page Four.l