Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-11-29

~ and there's the reason why" With a bony finger,
] Ike Clough Maine lobster fisherman, pointed
pinnacle like rocks
them thar stuns sticking out Of the water that
made off" The old man paused a moment as
he gazed the two surf-woru rocks Il reckon few
pcoplcd understand just what them thar pnncls have
meant R my life
two spre-lke rocks which old Ike indicated
at end of Shipstctn island The stones stood
ike sentries overlooking the mouth OF the Nara
CAUCUS RIXer and thcAt4af}t+e
Until a recent Summer storm washed them away. the
ribs ene-tiHie eoastirt schooner had been rrmy
wedged between the two rocks.
Reckon there b. nothing else like it the Maine
coast the old continued In haf-revcrcnt voice
The story Of how s"ore OFF liquor and why them stis
made me do it goes back nigh onto 40 years
I'm past 10 now and had Just turned so when
sailed out st. John Brunswick, tho little two
masted lumber hooker the Sadie Wells Ben Grecnock
skipper OF that packet and captain the likes er
which youu- He right good saln' man,
but he had much eanin' for You can forgive
drinking. but not the way the skipper hit the
bottle
furr4 out or 81 T0r7 cap n GTcen0cK
brought aboard three four gallons Of rum IN quart
bottles Everything went wen until reached PASSPORT
packet damned fun Of pine boards and shingles
too much reckon fer Bay O Fundy waters.
We'll left Eastport, smack into an
October Worcester AS bound fer Portland, the
Capn figures It fair Mind F-etft Tre
us a big wcstng off Machias Bay orter have
put while the putin good. Probably would have
only Greenock had been samping the pretty free
and it reckless. I reclect he said he
pull Of the steerin wheel spokcs in his
sora' like pitlng his strength against the might
Of the
so when she began blow the skipper just let 'er
before the wind and he headed the Sadie Wells right
Naragaugus Bay The old gal seemed 10 like it, and
spanked right erlong in the breeze.
Then the wind shifted to the east. After that came
the real blow. Big seas began piing up and the old
Sadie started tossin like chip
when I skipper slip below for another snort
went zap to the whccsmana right smart Teller by the
Telurum Jolly.
"Tcurium, says I, we're heading for trouble. We
orter canvas
He gave me a worried look I know he nodded
but the Capn says they stay up, and up they stay
"Thcn Greenock staggered back on deck Longs
live I'll forget that sight. Hair all mussed eyes
bl6olshot bottle in hand, and cooked revolver
in the other.
Gimme that damn wheel va swab" he shouted
he pushed Teurium out Of the way We could that
the drink had driven the skipper plumb crazy.
Teurum gave up the wheel and scurried forward over
the deckload. don't mind admittin scared, and
l followed the double-quck.
wed got forward when saw Greenock
headin the Wells right for the rocky shore
and, with that thar gale blown, war headin thar
we started back to the wheel to try to with
him. But when the skipper us acomn he let loose
with that gun "a his.
II pitched myself down among the gear. Telurium
warn't so quick and the Capn shot i'm right through
He fell to the deck and afore could reach
him, swept him right overheard
Il hung tight to the gear never daring to lift up
could hear the Capn a-screamin and a-cussin as he
wrestled with the wheel.
Then sensing more trouble looked my shoulder
Wells rushing at race-horse speed right
fer Il don't know much that happened after
except heard the plnterin and the rppn of pans
Above it all heard Greenock screama scream that
a hearin In my sleep for the last 40 years
The next knew in the boiling, chuTning water
clnging a board. Then everything went black When
l come lynn the sand and couple of fisher
folk standn around They took over to Jasper
Island
Il was the lone survivor the Sadie Wells and not
much of a survivor that-fer had busted arm two
caved-in ribs and a o bruises
We'll, sir, 1 went TO again. 1 just stayed
right Jasper Island and spent my time digging clans
and dnlng a little lobstcIIngn