Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 7, 1912)
Txe Wrecks or the New OALQO y & . Iff rA 2 VlLEVUR JP..NESJEHT E3eE 3 Nun m r v Ml . N THE department of the llfo saving service at Washington they BomotlmcB speak of " a night's work on tho Jersey coast," which, to a casual listen er, carrlos no especial signifi cance. It 1b only wlion ono Is ' curious enough to probo behind tho matter-of-fact attitude of tho Js- J department ofllctals, or dig into t-J I tho tlmo-yollowod reports of tho coast patrol that ono obtains a glimmer of what this branch of government service expects of Us Borvants, and of the unemotional heroism that Is concealed in that casual phraso "a night's work.' From Washington, If you go down into tho life saving stations along tho Jorsoy shoro, you will find tho same casual Indifference to tho story of ono night which Is now history an lndldorenco that might lead to tho belief that tho occasion was a trifle, were It not for the fact that In tho memories of tho old men of tho servlco Its de tails are still vivid. It was tho third of February, 1880. Two storms were rushing along tho Atlantic coast. They met off tho Jersey shoro, a howling, roaring conflict of wind nnd weather, Bnow-ront and sleot-rlvon. As darkness settled the life-saving crows In tho stations along tho wind-swept coast watched tho sea with foreboding in their heartB. At midnight tho storm was at Its height. In tho next twolvo hours during Its continuance tho apprehensions of tho Jersey patrol found realization. Within those twolvo hours there wero flvo wrecks within tho scopo of four consocutivo stations, whllo another disaster engaged a station a short distance beyond. Tho men of tho stations rescued forty-throo persons, toiled hungry and half-frozen In darkness and tempest, established, a standard of bravery and fortitude that Is unlquo and went through tho ordeal with that offhand carolossncsa of personal risk which characterizes (hose of their calling. At ono In the morning Keeper Charles H. Val entino of Station No. 4 lay gravejy ill of pleurisy. At 1:30 Surf man Van Drunt, staggering Into tho drift of tho galo on tho weat patrol, caught the red gleam of a light In tho breakers. So flerco was tho wind, filled with driven Band and sleet, that ho could not look Into Its teeth, but by shielding his eyes and looking across It ho saw tho outline of a largo schooner. Sho was tho E. C. Dabcock of Somers Point, and sho was on a bar closo to shore. Van Drunt ran for tho station and gavo tho alarm. Desplto his Illness, Keeper Valontlno roso from his bed and in person led his crew to the rescue. Baffled by tho biiow which lay thick along tho beach, by tho galo that toro scams In their faces, nnd by tho lntenso cold which froze fihot lino nnd boaeh apparatus, tho llfo savers fought for two Jmurs to get a lino aboard tho stranded vossel. At length thoy Buccodded, nnd a man came ashoro in tho breeches buoy. Ho said that tho captain of tho Dabcock had his wlfo nnd two small children on board. Tho brooches buoy was Bent out again and the captain came ashoro In It, his six-year-old daughtor In his arms. Ills wlfo followed. Then camo tho mate with tho other child. Last camo the rost of tho crew. Tho llfo Bttvors went back to tho station, and In tho early hours of tho Btormy dawn wero hastily rearranging tho apparatus when ono of tho men saw a largo brig coming head on for tho ahoro. Koopor Valentino had gono back to bed, but onco moro ho aroso and insisted on leading his men ngaln to tho scene or danger. Deforo tho crow could got tho half-prepared bonch apparatus to tho surf, tho brig, running furiously before tho tremendous sea, her Balls split and tattered, struck with terrific) Impact. Tho tldo waa very high, and tho brig, tho Augus Una from Havana, camo up closo to tho station nnd well lnsldotvtho breakers. Just before Bho struck the llfo savors could see a mau at tho wheel, apparently steering composedly, his face cmotionlesB, a pipe In his tooth. Wheu tho Bhock camo a torrent of frothing seaB broke over tho vessel's stern, covorlng tho lielmsnn; but a momont later ho could bo seen standing at tho wheel, unmoved. Then tho brig swung broadsldo to tho fuBlllado of thundering flurf, and her crow fled forward to tho bltts. IJy this time tho llfo savers wore on tho beach vlth tholr gun, whllo a crowd of somo hundreds of persons watched from tho sholtor of tho higher dunoB. Tho brig was so close to shore that Buff: man Garrett White, following n receding sea down tho beach, succeeded In throwing a heaving j.tlck nnd lino on board her. This tho crow secured, and hauled the whlp Ilno on board, but, getting tho tallblock, did not Jtnow what to do noxt In vain tho llfo savers .signaled and shouted to them. Thoy wero Span ish, nnd tho directions on tho billet attached to hc lines wero In Italian and Rngllsh only. At this moment tho llfo savers were Oiled with horror. Tho crow of tho grounded brig, unablo o solve the mystery of rlglng tho breeches buoy, were preparing to take a terrible risk, Ono of then Mlted the line, and started the attompt of coming In on it band over hand. Mtantim the wreck of tho Dabcock, a quarter of zsJte op the beach, had broken up, and tho fraxujU of tlxj reil. together with her cargo of rd'ooL being swept by tho current doa hbout the Auguitlna, filling tho surf with tuuihliuc debrln which well-nigh insured tho drli of iuijwue who fall Into IL In a momont tin; whip Jin, over "which the sailors wero pre paring to conie Jul. fouled in the wreckage. Dls-re-sardine the bbouts to wait, the first sailor, clad ouy lu a pair of trouujrs, m;lzed tho lino and be uuii working his way lu on it hand over hand. KuHbiug waist doep into the breakers, Whlto eelr-ed tho inuu, aud as the brig roiled inshoro ajud the Hue thickened he slipped tho bight from the Bailor's neck. The .next fctxxmd both wero caught In tho In ruth .of wood and -water and torn from tho lino to he hurlfd beneath the breakers. Dy a ter rific effort Whito succeeded In regaining his foot ing; and. still clutching tho sailor, dragged him out of tho surf. While this struggle wus taking placo two moro sailors had started down tbo lino from tho brig, fiurfnian Van Drunt sprang Into the v.utor to aid them, but was swept from his feet, Ills llfo hang ins on a straw In the deadly mass of tumbling - timbers, Ho was curried down-shore a hundred yards, whero mendly wavo shouldered him up on tho beach. At tho moment Van Drum's peril piJ ""-fc i il IP fcwM . '"? st t)rfitS,. was recognized by those on shore, Surfman Pot ter leaped to his assistance, only to bo himself unfooted nnd flung on to a floating mass of drift. Ab ho lay thero struggllnlg to get to his feet, tho lluo suddenly tautened In tho current and falling across his breast held him pinioned under water. For fully a mlnuto ho lay there helpless In Bight of his comrades and slowly drowning. At last, nearly dead, a wavo washed him free. Moantlmo ono of tho two sailors was torn from his hold on tho rope and washed ashoro uncon scious. Surfman Ferguson went for tho other and brought him In. Surfman Lockwood rescued tho fourth man. " And so, ono by ono, In grim hand-to-hand com bat with tho storm, the crew of tho wrecked brig Wero rescued. Hours later sho was boarded In tho BUrfboat In the cabin, lying in his bunk, a pistol bullot through his head, they found tho captain. Ho had been part owner of the vessel, and when ho had seen that she was lost, ho had gono below, scrawled n noto In Spanish saying ho wns ruined, nnd shot himself. Whllo tho men of Station No. 4 were battling at these two wrcckB, thoso of Station No. 2 wero rescuing seven men nnd tho cnptaln's wlfo from tho threo-mastod .schooner Stephen Hording. While flvo miles off shoro tho Harding had been in collision with tho schooner Kate Newman, which had gono down with all hands, save ono man, who, as tho vessels came together, lenpedW over tho bulwarks of tho Newman on to the deck of tho Harding. At the same tlmo Stations Nos. 11 nnd 12 wero waging ono of tho grimmest nnd gamest fights against masterful odds in the history of the service. This struggle was at tho wreck of tho schooner doorgo Tnulane. Tho night beforo tho big storm Bho was off Navcsink, running steadily in tho growing wind. An hour found tho snow shutting thick ovor tho rim of tho sCo, nnd tho galo In creased to a hurricane. It waB two In the morn ing when tho craft found herself In distress. At that hour tho deck load of lumber, plied high, broke loose. Tho terrific roll of the schoooner In tho high sea sent huge timbers tumbling about hor decks, making It almost Impossible for tho crew to slay above hatches. Twenty minutes Inter flno was discovered on board. Flames shot aft from tho forccaBtlo, Igniting tho dock load. With her progress somewhat arrested toward, shoro by the dragging anchors, tho Taulano be gan drifting parallel to tho shoro, getting In close to It very slowly. At this tlmo sho was discov ered by tho llfo savers of Station No. 11. This crow, leaving beach apparatus behind and knowing that no lifeboat could llvo lu tho breakors, followed the craft as she drifted along tho const, calculating that she would ground near Station No. 12 and depending on that station for apparatus. Shortly afterwnrd the wreck was seen by Keeper Chndwlck of Station 12, who ordered out his crew with beach cart and gun. At this tlmo tho vessel was about half-way be tween tho two stations. On ono Bide tho crew of Station 11 wero following her along tho beach; on tho othor tho crow of No. 12 wero coming In to meet hor. It wns between nine nnd ten o'clock when tho two crows met. Tho horses that had started with tho beach cart of tho men from Stntlon 12 had refused to ford tho sluices between the hills and had been loft behind, tho men dragging tho cart themselves. Tho helpless Taulano was then still holding qft the bar by her dragging anchors, and still drifting along shore. The two life-saving crews now joined forces In a strange nnd ter rlblo battle. Tho vessel was 400 yards off shore, her men In her rigging, the boob breaking and tumbling white all over her hull. Hut sho was still moving, steadily, Burely, alongshore, her koel froo of the sand. Tho llfo savers at onco placed the surf gun and a lino which was fired foil across tho Tau lano out of reach of her shipwrecked crew. De fore another could bo fired tho vessel had drifted southward out of ruuge. Loading tho gun and apparatus into tho beach cart, the two llfo-savlng crows started aftor her alongshoro, laboring manfully In the sand and flooded sluices to keep paco with tho drift or tho vessel to leownrd. In ordor to do this thoy wore obliged to proceed nt what wns almost a run. Aftor twenty minutes of breathless work they were again opposlto her, tho gun was onco moro planted, nnd another shot fired. At this portion of tho bench tho sand dunes wero low and tho only point of vantage from which tho gun could bo shot was tho tap of tho knolls. Tho knoll on which tho effort wns mado was In an indentation In tho shore, mnklng It farther from tho vessel, mid, tho lino being wet and heavy, It failed to reach tho Taulane. Onco moro the crews of Stations 11 and 12 loaded tho heavy beach cart and staggered on after tho fast drifting schooner. As the chase led to thu south, tho conditions on tho beach became worso. Tho surf washed In higher, tho sluices beenmo more numerous, and tho dry sand duno tops further separated. Tho next dry hill was 400 yards farther on, ADVANTAGES OF TRAP NESTS Oy Use of Device Number of Eggs Laid by Each Hen May Be As certained Without Trouble. Tho primary obiect of using trap nests is to develop a heavy laying strain. It has been found by tho use of trap nests that tho number of eggs laid per hen in an average flock varies from 40 to 246. Without using trap nests, the results from such a flock would bo uncertain and probably un satisfactory. It 1b tho object of the poultryman to breed and build up tho strain which lays tho heaviest, bj breeding to tho heavy producers. For fanciers, tho trap nest Is India- nnd tho beach that, lay beforo It was well-nigh impassable. After twenty minutes of grim effort it was finally gained only to find that tho vessel had passed It and was drifting on. Perhaps tho best account of tho romnlndor of tho terrible march to Its ultimate end Is given In tho report of tho servlco of 1880, which Bays of It: "From first to laBt tho difficulties of the llfo saverB and the perils which beset them never Blackened a moment. The wheels of tho cart, lu coast phrase, 'sanded down' so rapidly that is, sank bo quickly In tho Infiltrated soil thnt tho conveyance had to bo kept on tho movo lest It should bo lost. Often the cart had to be partial ly unloaded and portions of the apparatus car ried by the crows to lighten it sufficiently to make progress possible, and at other times tho men would havo to fling themselves upon the wheels and hold them with all their strength to prevent tho cart from being capsized by the inequalities of the submerged ground or tho overwhelming lnburst of the Bea rushing high over the nxleB. "Tho escapes wcrq numerous. It was with great difllcutly that the men could keop their feet in this constant onslaught and pelting of drift wood. Dut not a man fell away or flinched from tho work before him. "Not tho least difficult of their tasks was that of keeping the lines, nnd especially tho guns and powder, dry In tho universal drench around them, and it Is difficult to understand how they con trived it; for, aside from tho number of actual firings, wherever a momontary pause of tho vos bcI ns she grazed bottom, or a slowing of her motion, offered an opportunity for action, at least a ddzen times, nnd probably more, tho cart was hurriedly unloaded on tho nearest eminence, the gun planted and tho shot-line arranged for tho effort, when tho wreck would suddenly roll away upon her courso, and the men would have to re load the cart and toll on again aftor her. In this way and with these interruptions, they worked down along tho beach to station No. 12 and a quarter of a mile beyond it, when a chanco of fered for another shot; but tho line parted. Tho crow again moved stubbornly on. It was now noon, and suddenly the man so long seen hang ing in tho rigging fell Into tho sea and was gone. Tho crew still followed the vessel with unslack oned activity. Half an hour later they saw an other man drop lifeless from the ratlines. "Laboring forward now for tho rescue of the re maining live, thoy suffered a misfortune. In stag gering and floundering through ono of the worst sluiceways with tho cart, the gun toppled oft Into tho flood and was lost. A desperate search was mado at once, and finally it was found in four or five feet of water, fished up and wiped dry, and carried thenceforth by tho slout keeper on his shoulder. A man was dispatched back to No. 12 for a dry shot-line, while the crow, moved on to a point three-quartern of a mile below tho sta tion, whero they got another chance to flro a shot, which, however, fell short, the tide having forced tho firing pnrty farther and farther back on tho hills ns they ndvaneed, and the line, too, being weighted with moisture. "The cart was again reloaded, and tho , march resumed. A mile below the Btatlon tho man over took them with the dry shot-line nnd, chanco of fering, the last shot wns fired. This time it was a buccosb! Tho lino How between the foremast and the Jib-stay, and, the cut sweeping the bight of the fine in to the side of the vossol, the sailors got hold of It and fastened It to tho foro and main rigging. "As the BChooner still continued to drift and roll, nothing could yet bo done, but whllo the greater part of tho force loaded up tho cart und trudged on with It, threo or four kept fast hold of the shoro end of tho shot-line, and kept paco with the wreck lu leash. At tho end of- another qunrtor of a mile tho vessel suddenly Btruck the tldo setting north, stopped, swung head offshore and worked back to her anchors under the comb of the breakers1. The tlmo had como at last; and tho whlpllne, with Its appurtenances, was bent on to the shot-Hue, hauled aboard, and made fast by tho tall of the block to tho mainmast head. "Tho wreck now slued around broadside to tho sea and rolled frightfully. Tho hawser followed the whlpllne ou board, nnd tho breeches-buoy was rigged on, but tho vessel rolled so that It was Impossible to set tho hawser up on hore in tho usual manner, so It was rove through tho bull's-oye in tho sand-anchor, whllo several men held on to the end to glvo and take with each roll of tho vessel. Tho work of hauling tho snllorn from tho wreck was now begun with electric en ergy. After two men were landed, the vessel took the ground, hut tho clrcumstunccs Increased rnthor than diminished her rolling, and somo con ception of this powerful motion may bo derived from the fact that in ono Instance tho breeches buoy with a man In It swung In tho off-shoro roll fully fifty Teet In tho nlr. "The strain and friction upon tho hawser were so great thnt the llgnum-vltno bull's-eye through which It ran nt tho Band-anchor, despite tho hard ncss of tho wood, was worn fully hulf an Inch deep during 30 minutes of use. Within thoso 30 minutes, howover, tho flvo men woro safely land ed, tho last man getting out of the buoy at half past two." And so closes tho Btory of thnt which In the department nt Washington, Is spoken of casually as "A night's work on tho Jersey coast." TiA r Irtim Intro I fnxo ,m-io,t Iter Jr lltfCT ft I aM vS Ayr ft 2C-2r3 il -' UII4.IM.r.Htffifl3 Sectional View of Nests. pensablo on account of tho fact thai in tho ordinary pen there are from six to 12 females to one male. If trap nests are used, and there are as man; ns thero nro females In tho pen, It Ii possible to distinguish each hen'c eggs, while if the trap nests are not used, this is impossible. Tho uso of trap nests goes far tt prevent tho hens forming the habit ol egg-eating. They nro likely to form this habit If kept in limited quarters If so kept, they aro probably not given the very best fdod, nnd probably not enough of it, especially animal food. Tho accompanying drawings of i bank of trap nests aro self-explana-tory. Tho nests aro built without anj top or bottom. Tho hen enters through the back of, the nest, brushing undei tho hanging wire, which releases th door. Sho then passes on to the nest compartment toward the front end To Inspect tho nest, and to remov the hen, ascertain her number, and se cure tho eggs, tho front door Is elm ply unbuttoned, and let down. It will be noticed that tho two doors aro fas tcned together with a cord, so that when the front door is let down, the trap Is automatically set again. The hen will find it difficult to leavt through tho back door at this time, aa the hanging wlro permits her to gc ono way only. These are so simple that in making them in almost anj quantity, tho materlnl should not cost over 15 cents, at most, per trap nest. PERCH SPACE FOR CHICKENS Small Hens Should Be Allowed Sl Inches, While Larger Birds Should Be Given Eight. Ab a general rule, small honB should have about six inches of perch space, while the larger hens Bhould be al lowed eight Inches. In tho wintoi they huddle closer together, but in the summer thero should bo plenty ol room to allow them to spread" out IMS Perch for Chickens. Perches should bo 12 Inches aparl and not closer than 15 inches to the wall or celling. Show birds, especial ly Leghorns or similar type, should be kept at a greater distance from walls and ceilings, Many good birds are spoiled by "brooming" their, tails against tho walls. There aro several methods of mak ing movable perches. Ono of tho most common Is by hinging them to the wall at tho back. 1 i J! V Vk &&' xXj-" """ -rT"irrn 1 rvlnSH SIM n AN TOE BE STORY "I took a trip upon a ship," my Undo William said; "By somo strange whim or fancy grim to travel I was led. Tho ship waa named Apollyon And had a grip and trolley on. And you must learn thnt on the storn they had the figurehead. "Wo sailed due east a mile at loast and then they took my fare A five-cent pfeco, my little niece, was all I had to spare. They rung it on a register And then tho captain said: 'You stir The slightest speck from oft this deck and we will not get there.' "They then sailed west and stopped to rest and then went north again, Tho captain ate some chocolate and growled nt all the men. Ho said, 'To keep the balance Ml Now reef the maln-to'-gallan'-Vl,' 'Tls riast belief a coral reef they hovo up there and then "Ton miles or more wero wo from shoro when suddenly wo stopped, Theft singing songs of rights and wronga tho rail and hull they mopped. I stood and watched them, worrying. And begged they would bo hurrying, But with a thud that chilled my blood tho anchor, then they droppod. "Tho idle crow had naught to do and tool; to playing cards. The solemn cook perused a book astraddle of tho yards, Tho mate, whose name was Hannibal Talked of a fearsome cannibal With whom, It seemed, or else I dreamed, he had been jolly pards. "O, such a trip on such a ship I nover took before; I begged for speed; they said. Indeed, they'd sail thnt day no more The captnln, very cynical, Was winding up the binnacle Until In deep and peaceful sleep ho snored a dulcet snore. "I dared not cough, I crept right off and walked ten miles to land; I can't forget I got right wot until I reached the strand; I tried to be amphibious And sprained both of my tlblns. And that Is why, 'twlxt you nnd I, hard work I cannot stand." A Polite Expression. "I wish you would build mo a swlno cravat," said the delicately nurtured young man who had become a gentle man farmer. Tho country carpenter puzzled over tho order for a whole day, and at last sought tho gentle child of for tune and confessed his ignorance. "Why, dear me," said the gentle youth, "I do not like to uso tho vul gar expression, but If I must I must. What I require built Is a plgstyo." A Jewel. Mr. Gooph I tell you, DHthorsby'a wlfo Is a jewel. Mr. Wooph Is that bo? Mr. Gooph I should say so. Why, ho went fishing yeBterday and camo home with an empty jug, n can of salmon and two salt mackerel, and she complimented him on his luck. Fertility of Eggs. Tho disposition of tho male bird has considerable to do with tho fortuity of tho eggs. Amalothat Is greedy and quarrelsome Is apt to drive hens away from tho feed and gulp down moro than Is good for him. Such males becomo overfnt and conse qucntly sluggish. On tho other hnnd, tho too gallant male will stand back whllo tho hens aro helping themselves. His condition Is as bad as tho greedy bird, for he le undofed and has not tho propel strength to fertilize. Hen Not Sentimental. Thero Is no sentiment In a hen Her only object In llfo Is to gel enough to oat. If sho is given thai and a wara, well-ventilated house tc sleep In nil night, a dry sheltered place In winter, she will do tho resL The Literary Maiden. "You must have dlscemod my love," sighed Harold Spoonelgh to Beatrice Rltem, "for ray face is as an open page to you." "Huh," sweetly replied tho fair young girl, "ns far as I am concerned your face Is a rejected manuscript." Sage Advice. First Prisonor Now, cully, when you goes beforo de judgo, toll him ryour name Is Shamrock II. Second Prisoner What for? First Prisonor 'Cause ho's ono o these yachtin' sharps, an ho'II glvo you a time allowance. What It Means. Miss Wunder Why do they havo that deep crease In the new Panama hats you men are wearing? Mr. Knowslt Why, that represents tho Panama canal. A Possible Explanation. Mr. Gooph I tell you, young Sport elgh Is a chip off tho old block. Mr. Wooph Maybo that Is why ho 13 bo knotty. M. '-if'' tP : - , s' . i-l iWiWCTSBPVWBWKWWWHBBrn(WI OWJBBP riAWMMhttiriMiMl