The Iron Boys on the Ore Boats; or, Roughing It on the Great Lakes

by Percy F. Westerman

  CHAPTER XIV

  STEVE SAVES THE CAPTAIN

  FORTUNATELY for Steve Rush the load scooped up by the unloader, chancedto be a light one, only a few tons being in the scoop itself. That lefthim head room so that he was not crushed against the upper side of thegiant shell. Still, his quarters were cramped and the sensation was, ifanything, more trying than had been that when he found himself alone inthe waters of Lake Huron.

  "I'm done for this time, I guess. Hello, there! Stop the machine! I'mcaught!" he shouted.

  In the groaning and creaking of the great crane his cries for help wereunheard. Steve felt himself being borne swiftly through the air. Up, upswung the great shell, swaying dizzily from side to side after it leftthe deck of the ship. As it passed out of the hold Steve uttered a shoutlouder than the others. He was not frightened, but, as was quite naturalunder the circumstances, he wanted to get out of his unpleasantpredicament.

  Bob Jarvis, who was at the rail, heard the cry. He divined the truthinstantly. Springing to an open hatch he leaned over, bellowing out thename of his companion into the hold. There was no response. Bob did notbelieve there would be.

  "Stop it! Stop it!" he shouted.

  It is doubtful if the crane man heard, and if he did he failed tounderstand, for the big shell kept on mounting to the top of thetrestle.

  "What's the matter!" demanded the mate. "You're enough to raise thedead."

  Jarvis did not stop to answer. He sprang for the side of the ship,leaped over the rail, and, catching the sides of the ladder, shot downto the pier without touching a single rung of the ladder. The instanthis feet touched the pier the lad darted off to the trestle. A cleatladder extended up the side of the trestle to the top. Bob ran up itlike a real sailor and rushed over the ties to the place where the trainwas being loaded for the furnaces.

  In the meantime, Steve Rush had been hoisted to the top. He knew whatwas coming. The lad braced his feet and shoulders against opposite sidesof the scoop, hoping thereby to hold himself in place. He had forgottenthat the shell would open up at the proper moment in order to dischargeits load--would open up so wide that not even a fragment of anythingwould be left within it.

  Suddenly the great jaws of the shell opened with a crash and a bang.There followed the roar of rushing iron ore as it dropped into thewaiting ore car on the track.

  Rush dropped like a stone. He landed in the railroad car, half buriedunder the ore, dazed and bleeding from the sharp pieces of ore that hadhit him on the head during his descent.

  "Hey there, stop it, stop it!" shouted Jarvis, running toward the spotas the crane was swinging the scoop off toward the ship for anotherload.

  "Stop what?" demanded the foreman of loading.

  "You've dumped a man from that scoop! Which car was it?"

  The foreman laughed easily.

  "I guess you must be crazy."

  "Which car is it, I say? Answer me quick. He may be killed, or----"

  "That's the car right there, the last one filled and----"

  But Bob was bounding toward the place with desperate haste.

  "Steve! Steve!"

  "Ye-yes, I'm IT again," answered a muffled voice, dragging himself fromthe ore, shaking the dirt from him.

  "Look out for the shell! It'll be on you again before you know it,"warned Jarvis. He had heard the creaking and groaning of the machinery,sounds, which told him the big scoop was on its way upward again withstill another load of the red ore.

  Rush staggered to the edge of the car.

  "Jump!" commanded Bob.

  Steve did so, not knowing where he would land, but with perfectconfidence in his companion's presence of mind. No sooner had the ladcleared the car than a load of ore was dumped on the spot where he hadbeen standing but a few seconds before.

  Bob grunted as the heavy body of Steve Rush landed full in his arms,causing the former to sit down heavily on the trestle with the dirt fromthe dumping shell, showering over them.

  "Good for you, Bob! You saved my life. Let's get out of this place."

  "I am perfectly agreeable to that. How do we get down?"

  "There are two ways. One is to jump off and the other is to go down theladder. The latter is the way I'm going. Perhaps you prefer the other,judging from your past performances as the horsemen would say. You havemade some pretty good records as it is."

  Bob made for the ladder, followed by Steve. When the two boys climbedover the rail to the deck of the ship, the first mate gazed at them inastonishment.

  "I thought you were down in the hold, Rush."

  "So I was," laughed the boy.

  "What did you come out for?"

  "I couldn't help myself. I went up in the scoop, which caught me whenthe lights went out down there. Something is the matter with yourelectric arrangements down there, I guess."

  Mr. Major gasped.

  "You don't mean you went up in that thing?"

  "I guess I do."

  "He got dumped on an ore car," added Jarvis by way of explanation. "Andhe lives to tell the tale."

  "Get down in the hold. The ship is listing to port. They are taking toomuch out on that side. Jarvis, you run back and tell the engineer tohave his electrician find out what is the matter with the lights in thehold. Look out for yourself, Rush, this time. I am beginning to thinkyou are a hoodoo."

  "And I am beginning to hold the same opinion," answered the Iron Boy.

  "If you keep on we won't be able to get a sailor to ship on the samecraft with you."

  "I don't know that I should blame them much for feeling that way.Trouble is tied to my heels, but somehow I manage to get through on apinch," laughed the boy, hurrying for the stairway that led down intothe entrance to the ore hold.

  The ship was fully unloaded at midnight. All hands were dirty, dusty andtired when they started aft to wash up and get ready for bed.

  "Where's that soogy barrel?" yelled one of the deck hands, meaning thereceptacle holding hot water, well soaped, from which the men filledtheir basins for washing.

  "It's down in the engine room being steamed out. There's another onedown in the lazaret. We'll fetch it up and have it filled before thoselubbers down below get the old one ready."

  "We'll help," cried Steve. "Come along, fellows. I guess the whole crewought to be able to get the barrel up without calling any of the dockhands to help us."

  They started away, laughing, and the barrel was hoisted from the lazaretor storeroom near the stern of the vessel, quickly filled from ahot-water pipe and a good portion of the contents distributed among themen.

  In another hour all hands save the anchor watch were sound asleep, thecaptain with the stoicism of the sailor, sleeping as soundly as therest, notwithstanding the fact that he might wake up in the morningshorn of his command, a disgraced man.

  Instead, on the following morning the "Wanderer's" master received amessage from Duluth ordering him to report immediately for a hearing. Hewas instructed to bring with him certain men of his crew. There was notime to be lost. Without waiting for breakfast the captain ordered Mr.Major, the first mate, the Iron Boys and the wheelman on duty at thetime of the collision to make ready to accompany him to Duluth at once.The message further stated that the ship would be taken to Duluth forsurvey and repairs by a master who was then on the way to Conneaut.

  The party got away within a few minutes, the second mate being left incharge, and thirty minutes later they were on their way to the north.

  The examination took place that evening immediately after the arrival ofthe officers and men from the "Wanderer."

  The examination was to be a strictly company examination, but thegovernment officers in charge of the licensing of pilots on the GreatLakes were on hand to listen to the testimony and to decide whetherfurther investigations were necessary. Mr. Carrhart and thesuperintendent of the line of steamships belonging to the company werepresent to take an active part in the investigation.

  Captain Simms was the first witness called. He gave his version of thea
ccident, explaining the position of the ship, the course it was sailingon at the time and all other facts in his possession. The fact that hewas on duty at the time, and that the ship was sailing under reducedspeed, was a point in his favor, though it did not by any means serve torelieve him of the responsibility for the accident.

  "Who was on the bridge at the time of the accident?" asked Mr. Carrhart.

  "Stephen Rush. Jarvis was on watch in the forepeak."

  "We will hear Rush next," said Mr. Carrhart.

  The Iron Boy was called in from an adjoining room, where the witnesseshad been placed. When a witness finished his testimony he was permittedto sit down in the room and listen to the proceedings. This CaptainSimms did. Steve took his place in the witness chair.

  "You were on the bridge watch on the night that the 'Wanderer' collidedwith the 'Macomber,' were you not?" asked the superintendent, who wasconducting the examination.

  "Yes, sir."

  "State what occurred."

  Steve, in a clear, firm voice that carried conviction with it, relatedbriefly and tersely all that he knew of the collision. He omitted hisexperience in drifting ashore, but a few questions from Mr. Carrhartserved to draw out that most interesting recital. All hands listenedattentively.

  Each face, as the narrative proceeded, expressed silent admiration forthe wonderful pluck and endurance of the Iron Boy. But his hearers didnot feel surprised at what he had accomplished after they had studiedthe firm set of the lips, the square-cut jaw and the clear, steady eyes.

  "You had sighted the side lights of the 'Macomber' some time before thecollision, had you not?"

  "Yes, sir; about half an hour before the crash came, I should say,roughly speaking."

  "What was the position of the two ships?"

  "I don't know that I can explain it so that you would understand. I candraw a diagram of it if you wish."

  "Do so."

  Rush quickly outlined the position of the two ships on a pad of paperand handed it to his questioner.

  "Do you know what the course of your ship was?"

  "Not so that I could name it. I would know if I had a compass--I mean Icould point it out."

  The superintendent called for a compass card, which a clerk brought fromhis office. Steve studied it a moment, turning the card around until hehad placed it in the desired position.

  "This is where we were, up to the time the fog came down and we couldn'tsee anything more," he said, placing a finger on a point on the card.

  "But you were on the bridge. How could you know this?" demanded thequestioner.

  "I was watching the bridge compass, trying to learn something about it.You see, this is my first experience on a ship and I was anxious tolearn all I could."

  "Then your course was south-south-west-one-half?"

  "I don't know, sir. The little mark on the compass rim was on the pointthat I have indicated, previous to the time the fog settled."

  Thus far the lad's testimony had corroborated all that the captain hadsaid.

  "Have you had any talk with Captain Simms as to what you should testifyto?" interrupted one of the government representatives.

  "Certainly not, sir," answered the boy flushing. "Captain Simms is notthat kind of man. He expects me to tell the truth, and that is what I amtrying to do."

  "We understand that, Rush," interposed Mr. Carrhart, soothingly. "Youare giving us some valuable information. The gentlemen merely wish toget at all of the facts."

  "Now, Mr. Rush, let me understand this clearly. You say that the coursewas south-south-west-one-half just before the fog settled?"

  "Yes, sir, if that is the course indicated by that point," again placinghis finger on the compass card.

  "Am I to infer then that the course was changed after the fog camedown?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Ah!"

  The spectators straightened up at this. Their faces were grave. Animportant piece of evidence had been brought out. It might be againstCaptain Simms, or it might be in his favor. All depended upon the boy'sfurther testimony.

  "What was the course after the change?"

  Steve again pointed to the card.

  "We swung over to this point."

  The superintendent and the government representatives examined the pointindicated by Steve very carefully.

  "South-south-west flat?"

  "If that is it, yes sir."

  "Captain, you may answer where you are. Did you change your course asindicated by Rush?"

  "I did. The boy is right. He hasn't eyes in his head for nothing. Hesees more than any one else on my ship does."

  "Did you think what the reason for that change of course was?" demandedthe superintendent, again turning to Steve.

  "I thought it was to make sure that we should clear the other ship."

  "Yes; according to the position of both vessels, the 'Macomber' had theright of way," interjected the captain. "I changed the course to clearthem, and I should have done so. I don't understand, yet, why I didnot."

  "Why did you not tell us of this in your testimony?"

  "I did not think of it."

  "Even though it was in your favor?"

  The captain nodded.

  The captain of the lost "Macomber" was called in.

  "What course was your ship steering when the collision occurred?" he wasasked.

  "I supposed it was the course as indicated on the report made by me."

  "You were in your cabin asleep?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Who was on duty in the pilot-house?"

  "The mate and the wheelman."

  "They were lost?"

  "They were."

  "You know of no reason why they should have changed their course so asto throw your ship squarely in front of the 'Wanderer'?"

  "No earthly reason."

  "They were thoroughly capable and experienced men?"

  "Yes, so far as my observation went."

  "You admit that the course of your ship was changed, do you not?"

  "If what the young man and Captain Simms say is true, our course musthave been changed. I cannot but think the mate must have lost his head,or else failed to note the position of the compass while he was busypeering ahead. That is probably the explanation, the wheelman forgettinghimself in looking ahead also. He knew there was a ship under theirbows; both knew it and they were naturally anxious."

  "You would not have mentioned this had not the young seaman Rush broughtit out?"

  "I might not have, because I did not know it. It puts the matter in anentirely new light."

  "You admit, then, that your vessel was in the wrong?" interposed one ofthe government officials.

  "I am obliged to, granting that the statements we have heard arecorrect, and I have no idea that they are not. While I am responsiblefor the safety of my ship, I do not see how I can be held accountablefor the disaster. I did not know there was a fog and no word was broughtto me to that effect. A man must get sleep at some time, and what bettertime than when the skies are fair and the sea is calm?"

  The officials cleared the room, after which they went into executivesession with the government men. Their discussion lasted little morethan half an hour. The two captains were then sent for, the witnessesbeing allowed to enter the room also.

  "Captain Simms," announced the superintendent of the steamship line, "wefind you free from all blame in this matter. You did all that you could.You let your ship swing off sufficiently to have cleared the 'Macomber';you were under reduced speed, and you were at your post where you shouldhave been under the circumstances. Besides this, you and your crew didheroic service in rescuing the men of the ill-fated ship. You lost twoof your own men in so doing and nearly lost a third. Especial credit isdue to Seaman Robert Jarvis, who bravely saved several lives at the riskof losing his own. As for you, Captain," he added, addressing the masterof the "Macomber," "I am sorry to say that we shall have to lay you offfor sixty days. While you were not physically responsible for the lossof your sh
ip, you are morally responsible. Had you been at your post,and had there been no errors of judgment on your part, you would havebeen freed from blame. At the expiration of your suspension you will nodoubt be assigned to another ship. The government officials here concurin both decisions. They agree that Captain Simms is wholly blameless forthe disaster."

  Captain Simms did not smile. His face was grave. He was sincerely sorryfor the other captain. He knew how easy it was for a man to lose hisplace in the line through no immediate fault of his own. Simms himselfmight have been in the position of the other man had it not been for onekeen, honest, observant boy.

  "Gentlemen, I wish to say a word," announced Mr. Carrhart, rising. "Iwish to say that this board owes a vote of thanks to Seaman StephenRush."

  "We do," assented several voices at once.

  "I know Mr. Rush and his friend Jarvis very well, and I have watchedtheir careers for the last two years. They always do well whatever isset before them to do. Had it not been for Rush's very explicittestimony--for his keen observation, we probably should not have gottenat the facts, and a great injustice might have been done to CaptainSimms, though that would have been largely his own fault. Captain Simms,you will proceed to Detroit in the morning and take charge of the'Richmond,' our new steel, ore-carrying steamer, which is ready to gointo commission at once. I presume you will take these two young menwith you on the new boat?"

  "I certainly shall if they will ship with me," answered Captain Simmspromptly. "I wish I had some more men like them. Even half as good menwould do very well."

  The captain stepped across the room and grasped Steve by the hand.

  "I owe this whole business to you, Rush, and you bet I won't forgetit!"