1913] NORTHWARD HO! 11 



with each roll the smoke-stack rose at least a foot 

 through the deck, causing grave fears that she could 

 not possibly stand the strain. 



The sharp list of the ship made it impossible to keep 

 water in one of our boilers, and Mr. Grossman, our chief 

 engineer, declared that, for the safety of the ship and 

 men on board, he dared not risk keeping up the fires. 

 An explosion was imminent ! Yet, upon the high water, 

 steam was absolutely necessary in the attempt to back 

 the ship from the rocks! He was persuaded to keep 

 the fires bright and a full head of steam on, regardless 

 of the consequences. 



On the flood, the Stella Maris passed us a hawser, 

 dropped her anchors well off to sea, and started her 

 steam-winches and propeller, we on board the Diana 

 starting our steam-winches and reversing our screw. 

 The Diana did not budge. We kept feverishly at the 

 work, lightening the ship, knowing that she must come 

 off if relieved of her weight. The crew offered no en- 

 couragement whatever. Most of them had packed 

 their bags and had carried them ashore, declaring 

 that no ship wrecked on Barge Point had ever left 

 the rocks. 



As I feared for the safety of our food and equipment 

 on the land, I placed Ekblaw, Green, Allen, and Tan- 

 quary as guards. Hunt and I remained on board the 

 ship, directing the work of unloading. At night on the 

 high water, when we again attempted to pull the Diana 

 from the rocks, we w^ere both down in the hold of the 

 ship filling the coal-buckets, and coal was going over the 

 rail in a steady stream, when a shout arose from the 

 men on deck that we were slipping off into deep water. 

 Gap tain Waite at last seemed to come out of his reverie, 



2 



