The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-02-14
CHAPTER ONE

For many days we had been tenn
pest-tossed. Six times had the
darkness closed owe a wild ant
terrific scene, and returning light
as often brought but renewed dis
tress, for the raging storm in
creased in fury until on the sew.
enth day all hope was lost.
We were driven completely out
of our course; no conjecture could
be formed as to our whereabouts,
The crew had lost heart, and were
utterly exhausted by incessant la
Dor.
The riven masts had gone by
the board, leaks had been sprung
in every direction, and the water,
which rushed in, gained upon us
rapidly.
Instead of reckless oaths, the
seamen now uttered frantic cries
to God for mercy, mingled with
strange and often ludicrous VOWS,
to be performed should deliver
ance be granted.
Every man on board alternately
commended his soul to his Great
or, and strove to bethink himself
of some means Of saving his life.
MY heart sank as l looked round
p O my family in the midst of
these horrors. Our four young
sons were overpowered by terror.
Dear children" said I, eff the
Lord will, he can save us even
from this fearful peril; if not, let
us calmly yield our lives into his
hand, and think of the joy and
~blessedness of finding ourselves
forever and ever united in that
happy home above"
At these words my weeping
wife looked bravely up, and, as
the boys clustered round her, she
began to cheer and encourage
them with calm and loving words.
/ rejoiced to see her fortitude, al
though my heart was ready to
break as I gazed on my dear ones.
We knelt down together, one
after another praying with deep
earnestness and emotion. Fritz, in
particular, besought help and de-
liverance for his dear parents and
brothers, as though quite forget
ting himself.
Our hearts were soothed by the
never-failing comfort of child-like
confiding prayer, and the horror
of our situation seemed less over
whelming. "Ah," thought I, "the
Lord will hear our prayer! He
will help us"
Amid the roar of the laundering
waves 1 suddenly heard the cry
of" Land, land!" while at the
same instant the ship struck with
a frightful shock, which threw ev-
eryone to the deck, and seemed
to threaten her immediate de-
struction.
Dreadful sounds betokened the
breaking up of the ship, and the
roaring waters poured in IN all
sides:
Then the voice of the captain
was heard above the tumult,
shouting, Lower away the boats!
We are lost"
LOST" l exclaimed, and the
word went like a dagger to my
heart; but seeing my children's
terror renewed, 1 composed my
self, calling out cheerfully, Take
courage, my boys! we are all
above water yet. There is the land
not far off; let us do our best to
reach it. You know God helps
those that help themselves!p With
that, l left them and went on
deck. What was my horror when
through the foam and spray ! be-
held the only remaining boat
leave the ship, the last of the
seamen spring into her and push
off, regardless of my cries and en-
treaties that we might be allowed
to share their slender chance OF
preserving their lives; and even
had the crew wished it, the return
to the boat was impossible.
Casting my eyes despairingly
around, I became gradually aware
that u position was by no means
hopeless, inasmuch as the stern
Of the ship containing our cabin
was damned between two high
rocks, and was partly raised from
among the breakers which dashed
,he forepart to pieces. AS the /,
LIQUIDS of mist and rain drove
,ast, 1 could make out, through {
ents in the vaporous curtain, a {
inc of rocky coast, and rugged as I
! was, my heart bounded toward /
as a sign Of help in the hour
{ need. Yet the Of our lone |
: and forsaken condition weighed
cavity upon me as l returned to
family, constraining myself to 9
" with a smile, Courage. dear