AN AUTUMN STORM
On Sunday, Oct. 12, there was a
very severe storm. As we were be
ginning the evening service word was
brought that the big skilf, used in
carrying silsge and hay, had broken
from her moorings. Six bovshurried
to the beach to see if it could be res
cued. They started in pursuit with
the launch, caught the skiff, which
bad dragged her anchor and had
drifted near the Kodiak shore, where
the anchor had caught again. They
we>e starting back when a sea was
shipped which put the ignition sys
tem out of order. After many vain
attempts to get the engine started,
they tied the launch to the stern of
the skitf, in their hurry having for
gotten to bring an anchor, and took
chauces on the boats being able to
ride out the storm safely. The
boystheu started for Kodiak in the
otter boat au£ after hard Towing
reached the town, wet to the skin and
almost exhausted. In the meantime
we "had tried by telephone, togetsome
large power boat from Kodiak to go
to the rescue of the boys and boats,
but none would venture out in the
storm.
Our anxiety was greaily relieved
w hen a few minutes later the boys
telephoned from towu that they were
safe, however they said they feared
the boats would not weather the gale.
F.arly next morning they went to
see if the boats were still afloat. They
found the launch on the shore right
between two reefs practically unin
jured. It was the only place near
where a boatcould have gone ashore
without being wrecked and it would
have taken considerable skill to have
run the launch in there without in
jury if th ey had been trying todo it.
The big skiff wasaafe, tbothe anchor
line had chaffed until only a strand
or two remained.
Through the kindness of Mr. W. J.
Erskine the “Valdes” brought the
boats and thi boys home about noon.
We were very thankful indeed for
so fortunto an ending of what looked
for a time as if it were goiug to be a
very sad and disastrous affair