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About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (March 9, 1907)
THE MORNING ASTOMAN, , ASTORIA, OREGON. SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1907 Through Straddle Rock Cove By GEORGE E. WALSH CojiyrUiUl, im, by Gvorge K. WaUh BOGGLES camp aboard nt Hall fax a stranded, battered dore liet of the sea-auxious to stall to the north coast. He wai suffering from a plethora of hard luck, but to Mr. Pierce he lnnl the appear ance of one recovering from a period of dissipation. Annette saw only the picturesque Hide of Boggles, and lie was tentatively engaged on the spot. "I know the Newfunudland coast better'n I know the chart of ine owu face," confessed the pilot In a soft, pleading voice. "Seeing that I was born In Straddle Rock Cove an' lived there until I was old enough to run away, I ought to." Annette was romantic, and she an ticipated his thoughts. "And you want to visit your old home again?" she asked sympathet ically. "Yes, ma'am. I'm dying to do that; been trying to get back In the old "OH, BOGGLES 1 WHT DID THIS HAPPEN?" home port for well nigh twenty year", .but what with hard luck au' other things I've always missed It. Once at St John's, I says to myself, now I I! see Straddle Rock ag'iu before I die. I was so sartln of It that I hud U break a leg celebrating the event. O course no one wanted a sailor with n game leg, an' I had to stay In port un til the season was too far advanced to go north. Then I shipped to the Stalo; ag'ln to keep from starving." Boggles limped a trifle yet from his broken leg, and one eye seemed to squint with diabolic cunning when y .v. looked him square in the face, but .An nette saw none of the ugly sides of the subjects she liked, and Boggle.; charmed her. Mr. Tierce grumbled at the bargain. but finally submitted. Mots familiar with the north coast were scarce ii: Halifax, and the season was late anr way. "Well, it's for Annette's sake I'm up here," he confessed, "and I sup pose I shouldn't object If Annette ap proves." "He looks honest, but a bit hardened on the surface by too much contact with the world," ventured Dr. Lang don, with a smile. "I think his story of being born and nurtured In Straddle Rock Cove is a myth, however. I doubt If there Is such a place." "We must visit Straddle Rock Cove," said Annette positively one day. "Mr. Boggles" she always dignified the old pilot with Mr. "can guide us there. It's nn immensely dangerous harbor, and no one can enter it in a storm except Mr. Boggles." "Boggles may be all right," drawled the doctor, "but I draw the line at go ing Into Straddle Rock Cove with him In a storm." Annette ignored the interruption. Mr. Pierce was bored with the whole trip, and he was willing to yield anything for peace. "You will visit the cove, papa, where Boggles was born?" Annette continued. "You will make him happy again. He's been dreaming of this trip for twenty years." "If you will be satisfied to return home then we may run in the harbor," craftily replied Mr. Pierce, anxious to shorten the trip by striking any sort of a bargain. "Yes," reluctantly, "after we stay there a few days." Straddle Rock grew dally in Impor tance thereafter. It was the first defi nite point of entry for the yacht. Cap tain Reed looked the place up on the charts. There was a group of small rocks off a dangerous point of the coast, locally known by the fishermen as Straddle rocks. They were marked "Dangerous" and "No Safe Harbor For Ships or Yachts." He carried his In formation to the owner and grumbled with mutinous iutent. . "Oh, it doesn't mutter in the least, captain," retorted Mr. Pierce, annoyed by the new Interference. "Annette 1 persistent, and you must oblige ber. Really, It's none of my affair." "But, sir, tVIs" man Boggles way wreck lis," Mr. Plorce waved his hand entreat Ingly. "Talk to Annette," ha mur mured. , Annette checked the incipient mutiny by closeting herself In the chart room with the captntu for two whole hours. When they emerged both were smiling. No orders were given to change the course of the yaelit. The waters of the north wast twt them a week later. They were cold and icy, with the breath of floating bergs hovering over them. Boggiest was consulted by the captain, and his meek, submissive air sloughed off to make place for the otllclal bearing of "Mr. Boggles, the north cot pilot." Boggles was to report for duty the following morning. As his last unotli- clal act he helped the mate to repair i the small acetylene gas generator In , the forward part of the yacht. ,1I' j wu useu ui euH-rgvocics lor uiu ior- ward searchlight "We've got to keep a sharp lookout for Icebergs now," Captain Reed had warned, "and that forward searchlight must be fixed up." Boggles didn't kuow much about acet ylene gas. Neither did the first mate. They tampered with the plant for two hours, ami then n muffled explosion for- ward alarmed every member of the crew, it was the first mate who ex claimed lucohereutly: "The thlng-the tank exploded right hi our faces, it was so sudden that 1 could not say how." Boggles couldn't explain, for he was blinded and his body was blazing like a huiuau torch covered with pitch. The j captain aud Ir. I-angdou squelched the flames, so the yacht was safe, aud An nette, with two sailors, rescued Bog gles from Incineration. Sir. Pierce was angry and bored to the point of saying: "How auuoyiug! Any one hurt?" "Boggles is pretty well done up," the doctor replied, scraping the charred skin from the blackened face. "He's blind as a bat for one thing, and" Boggles groaned and stammered hi a hoarse whisper: "I knew I'd never see Straddle Rock Cove agin. 1 might have knowed something would happen. Oh. why didn't I stay away?" Captain Reed called another meeting to consider the question of changing the yacht's course. "Mr. Boggles Is now Incapacitated," he exclaimed, "and of course no one e'.se is familiar with this coast." "That's so," retorted Mr. Tieree, with sudden enlightenment. "Theu we must return at once." A malevolent light of Joy Illumined his features. "Exactly," replied the captain. "I shall order the course changed." "Not today, captain," interrupted An nette sweetly, 'it seems like like sac rilege to turn around and run home so soon after Mr. Boggles is laid up. I-I think we should keep on a day or two. There is some hope. Dr. Langdon, isn't there?" The doctor shook his head. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Annette, but there's none. Boggles is blind totally blind. He may in six months or a year recover some of his sight, but it is a forlorn hope." Annette's face darkened. Mr. Pierce thought she was about to cry, aud ho hastily said: "We might keep on the same course for a day or two, captain, out of re- j 6pect for B iggies, and" I "Yes, ,yes, certainly.'' ! Aunette gave them both a grateful j smile, and Ahe conference was ended, i Boggles absorbed more attention now j than before the accident. Every one 1 paid him deference, but that was partly i because all, from the humblest to the j highest, knew that the trip was to be j abandoned in a day or two. But Bog- gles didn't know, and he kept mouulug: I II never see the Straddle rocks ! ag'ln! If I could see 'em I'd die in J peace! Ah, there they; are! Are you ; here, ma'am? Look at 'em! See the I sun on 'em! There's where I was ' born twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years I ago, ma'am!" "Oh, Boggles!" moaned Annette hi j return. "Why did this happen?" j Now, the meeting of the cold breath ; from the north coast aud the warm rent "'l'1 t,1,! craft forward with ac wind of the southern summer plays ! derated speed. havoc with the sea at many points '. 'lll('n th,i 1(iHt ils turbulence and between Newfoundland and Labrador. the " l'0VVHr for -'vil- Protected Fierce elemental struggles of the nt- on u11 fM,'H '' "butments of rocks, the mosphere shake the sea and earth, and sheltered cove was like a mill pond for days and nights no ship Is safe in compared to the raging sea. those far regions. ' ' ' "We'll anchor here, captain," Boggles The Grayling was a stanch yacht. waB sa.v'ng. "The tide Is not so swift but rather undersized for a cruise s j far from port. When the wind struck her she danced lightly In the choppy seas, but as the storm developed she grew troubled and frightened. Boggles had recovered from his feverish delirium and was rational. He heard the storm and found an atom of consolation In It. It relieved his mind of the weight pressing upon It For a night and day the yacht drift ed. Then In the blacknes of the sre ond night the vortex of the frightful storm was readied, with the craft l!i prepared to meet it. The forward watch re;r,rfe:l Ire:.:: era ahead, and the .'r: .-ed vi'.Y.w . ' rocks was seen la Cz'.szt . !.:c'.; ground. The Grayling was drirtia steadily toward them. I! vns a r.:r ter of an hour before Mh w uld sir;!.: Annette heard the s:;::;:::i; I j.n pare for the warut. The ',-:) r. which were left wauld hold X'.lj c:v and passengers, and .there i- :' ternative but to trust their 1! ;q ( the tender mercies of the breiUr : them. "Boggles, you must rise and go v.'i.i! me," Annette said. "I'll lo-d We're drifting on the rocks." "What rocks-Straddle rocks?" "I don't know," laughed Annotlo by terlcully. "It would be funny If they were." "No, ma'am, It wouldn't, for they're d.incerous- very tinngorotn In n storm like this " "Oh, If yon cculd only sih, Mr. Bog gles, you would snvo us!" "Yes, I'd save you. I know tho coast." llo pressed u hand to his throbbing head. "What rocks did you sny they were?"' lie queried again. "I low do they look tall, ragged au' straddling, as If they wanted to block up the entrance to the cove? That's them. Yes, I know them." "I dldu't say, Mr. Boggles, wkit Wiey looketl" "Yes, I know that sound." Interrupt ed the man suddenly. "That's oft" the -va tv antiit piuim' , Ainu wt m t" ,,,. lVn ,ne!, ,0 tho west of the entramr. I know my rock- onluK mw f take the yacht." "Mr. Boggles, It Is"- Annette start ed to Interpose, but the old pilot was at the door of his stateroom. "There, take those things away!" he said Impatiently, stripping the band uges from his forehead. "I can't see with them on!" Aunette mechanically picked tip the discarded strips of tine linen and fo! ber erstwhile patient through the door. Boggles was on deck befor her. All was confusion and blackness there, but the pilot wended his way through the obstructions to the plio' house. "I'll take her, captain, now," be an nounced gently. "I've got my bear Ings. That's the Saddle's hump, an' over there's Straddle rocks. It's nasty weather In here." Captain Reed stared at the vision, but It was too dark to see clearly. Hi own nerves were considerably r:tilr . by the recent series of events, and In' stepped buck in something like super stition. "Let her go ahead full speed, cap. tain," Bogules continued. "The t) !c runs like blazes through these chan nels." The sailors halted In their work an. 2 left the boa;s swinging half down tl).' davits. Mr. Pierce shouted angrily: "What's he doing wrecking us os his blamed rocks';" "Wait u moment. Mr. Pierce," Dr. Langdon said, the intuition of a vision possessing him. "He can't make mat ters worse." "Isn't he blind?" snorted the owner. "Yes, we're all blind." answered the doctor meekly. The crash of the breakers on their right drowned all further conversation. The wind veered and shrieked a new tune, and the Grayling cleared the line of rocks by a scant yard. "That was as close as we could run to the hump without going on," ex claimed Boggles, with U)th hands on the wheel. "Now," with a sigh, "for the Straddle rocks. They're worse, much worse In this weather." "Good Gxl! Then we're lost," groan ed Mr. Pierce. "We can't live In any thing worse than that." "Hush, papa!" whispered Annette. "I think Boggles may know." The yacht yawed and swung wide of the next line of breakers, then faced the black towering rocks. Boggles held her steadily toward them. There w:m no opening. The sea dashed mountain high against their precipitous ftu-: The white foam spattered the bow of the boat. Mr. I1rce could stand It no longer. He broke loose and shouted la a frenzy: "We're crazy! That madman will wreck us! Take the wheel. Captain Reed! I command you! 'lake It!" But the captain fumbled in speech and movements. Then he was urrestcd by a most violent lurch of the yacht. There was a grinding and grating of steel against an unyielding substance. Some one shrieked nwf ullv. It seemed an eternity for the bewildered specta tors, but Boggles sighed and said: "There, we're through the Straddle now! We're safe, captain!" The towering wall of rocks had mi raculously opened, and the Grayling shot thri-vjh z tr.iiViTici so narrow that ner sides scraped the outer edges of the strange formation of granite. The cur- insioe tne dckb, an' tne bottom is sandy. I'll take a rest now. I'm tired, nn' It's getting dark, very dark. I never knew the cove to be so dark be fore. I can hardly see the rocks. I thlnk-I'm falling." It was Annette's arm he clutched, and Annette and the doctor led him be low to his room. A Question. "My wife thinks she will never find a better cook than the one we now have." "Humph! TJh er say, what would yon call your wife, a pessimist or an optimist?" Cleveland Press. Those Wicked Clubs. Doctor (to wife whose husband Is 111) Is not your husband a hypochon driac? Wife Oh, v doctor, he doesn't belong to any society at all! Meggen dorfer Blatter.- It is better to lose all In the search for good than to be content with the worst Van Dyke. Mind is the partial side of man. The heart Is everything. RIvarol. CLASS If you have a want that you wish to advertise step to your nearest phone and "Phone It" to The Astorlan.. No need of waiting your time walking bloeka to do a thing that ean bo done in your Immediate surroundings. Call up Main 601, ask for the want ad do paitment which Is at your eery ice. ay or HELP WANTED. WANTED A THORIUQHLT AC To learn printing trade. Apply at Astorian Office. WANTED A THOROUGHLY AND accurato lady bookkeeper and cash ier, now employed In large wholesale house in K. C Mo., desires to como to the Coast. Bank and mercantile ref erences furnished. Ten continuous years with ono firm. Bond furnished If desired Address 661, care Astorlan. WANTED SAl ESMEN. MANY MAKE $100 to $150 per month. Some even more. Stork clean; grown on Rr ration, far from old orchards. Cash advanced weekly. Choice of territory. Addrea Washington Nursery Company, Toppenish, Washington." 9-SA-tf WANTED A GOOD SMART BOX to carry papers Inquire at this office. WANT ED-TWO GOOD 8UBSCRIP tlon solicitors to work. First class proposition, good pay. Apply Astorlan office. WANTED MEN EVERT WHERT good pay to distribute Circulars, adv. matter, tack signs, etc. No Canvassing. National Adv. Bureau, Chicago. ros KZHT FOR RENT MODERN HOUSE FOR rent. First anJ Bond. 2-l-tf FOR RENT SUITE OF FUR nlshed house-keeping rooms, 677 Exchange street. WANTED rtOOMS. WANTED UNFURNISHED. .ROOM In the Central part of city. State price and location. F. W. J., P. O Box 42. WANTED TWO OR THREE UN furnlshed rooms for housekeeping. Inquire at this office. PROPOSALS. OFFICE OF C. Q. M., VANCOUVER Barracks, Wash., March 1, 1907. Sealed proposals, in triplicate, will be received here until 11 o'clock, a, m., April 1, 1907, for furnishing fuol, fuol oil, dogfood and mineral oil, at posts in this Dopartment, for the year end ing June 30, 1908. Information fur nished here or by quartermasters at post U. S. reserves the right to reject or accept any or all proposals, or any part thereof. Envelopes containing proposals should be marked: "Propo- galu for at ," adJressed Sam. R. Jones, C. Q. M. CALL FOR WARRANTS. CALL FOR WARRANTS NOTICE IS Hereby given to all parties holding Clatsop county warrants endorsed pri or to Sept. 1st, 1906, to present same for payment to county Treasurer's of fice Ifo. 433 Commercial street. In terest censes after this date. WM. A. SHERMAN Treasurer Clatsop County, Ore. Dated Astoria, Ore., March 7, 1907. 3-7-10 t. FOR SALE. FOR SALE TWO BEAUTIFUL pair of Elk Horns for sale. Address "A." 20, Astorlan. 1-8-J t FOR SALE HOUSEHOLD GOODS etc., lowest prlces.Send three friends address. Illustrated catalogue free. D. Shaw k Co., 2543 Larkln street, San Francisco, California, 2-Z8-7t ADVERTISING. DT" (Mlqhfc LOST AND FOUND. 1STLALIKS BLACK POCKET book, left on lan night's train. Find er plensu leave at Imperial Cafe. ! The K" Une Steamer - Lurline Night Boat for Portland and Way Landing's. PASSENGERS. FREIGHT. Leavee Astoria dally except Sunday st 7 p. m. Leaves Portland Dally Except Sunday at 7 a. m. ' Quick 8ervloe Excellent Meale! Good Berths. Landing Attoria Flavel Wharf. Landinj, Portland Foot Taylor 8tyOU send your shirts to u.i wo sare too C. M. FOWLER, Agent. Phone Main 2761. Unprecedented Success of DR. C- GfE i f THE GREAT CHINESE DOCTOR V Who is known throughout the United Jlai.i.. . t , kki&Bdihls wonderful cures. So poisons nor drug us3. He guars n tees to ours catarrh, asthma, lung and throat trouble, rheumatism, nervousness, tomach, liver, and kidney, female com plaints and all chronic diseasss. SUCCESSFUL HOME TREATMENT. If you cannot call write for symptom blank and circular, inclosing 4 cents In tamps. , THE C. GEE WO MEDICINE CO. 1C2 Fimt Rt. Corner Morrinon, PORTLAND, OREGON. PlesHS mention the Astorian ( r' 418 BOND ST, j . ASTORIA, OREGON Carries tho Finest Lino of I Wines, Liquors and Cigars CALL AND SEE US THE OREGON 530-530 Commercial Htret. between Eleventh and Twelfth. ASTORIA, OREGON MRS. M. NOLAN, Proprietress. Rooms Single and Suites. Terms, Day, Woek or Month. Steam Heat, Bath and telephone. Telephone Red 2303. j 1 till BUSINESS DIRECTORY COLUMBIA ENGINEERING CO, Office Astor House, Surveying, Platting, Blueprinting and General Civil Engineering. Prompt Attention Guarantied. A. I. TEC, Manager. Phone Main IK. BOAlDIIfO. Til L2CTD2& Room with or without board i ratoe rsaonab!e good aeeocn uodaUoa for tntnslenU. 14th and CtwmoroiU. JAPARISI GOODS, INEXPENSIVE JAPANESE FIXINGS, MADE OF BAM BOO, LIGHT, STRONG, IAND MADE, TABLES, STANDS, CHAI1S, WHAT N0TP "KCASE&BBJXV. IN0, ETC. Yokohama Bazaar 25 Commercial PL. Asterla. ROUSE M0VEBS. FREDRHCK80N PHOH- We make a specialty of house moving, oerpeoWt, contractors, general Jobbing) prompt t tentlon te all orders. Corner Tenth m4 Duane. , tl UNDERTAKERS. j. . orLUAuari x Undertakers and EmbeJmer. Phono Mln 1UL Cur. II and Dwuu. M-4-M I!..... -'..i. ...ii hi.,, i. ii HOTELS. HOTEL PORTLAND Flnoot Hotel U the NorUiweet PORTLAND, ORE. LA INDUES. BUTTON HOLE AT THE BACK. Your exneriru with Ii h.. ' lead to much vexation, nnuil.l nm. , r 1 r fsnlty. Broks your flnprnatl trying to pry it up from tho neck band, oaf You won't have that that iMrlnM If this trouble, and danger of tearing tbs sWrt Try ut and see, TROY LAUNDRY, Tenth and Duane Sta. Phone togi WINES, LIQUORS AND CXOA11. THE SAVOY Popular Ooneert HaU. Good music. All are woleome. Dor Mr SereaU and Astor. OSTEOPATH ISTS. DR. SH0DA C. HICTJ OSTEOPATH Office Mansel, Bid. Phone Black Mil 171 Commercial St.. Astoria, Ore. Eagle Concert Hall 320 Astor St. Tho leading amusement bouse. Agency for Edison Phonogrspbs aaa Gold Moulded Records, P. A. PETERSON, Prof. PROFESSIONAL CARDS. ATTORNEYS AT LAW. HOWARD M. BROWNILL, Attorneyat-Law. Offloe with Mr. J. A. Eakln, at No. 42t Commerotal ft, Aatorla. DENTISTS. ' Dr. VAUQHAN, DKNTI8T Prolan Building, Astoria, Oregon. Dr. W. O. LOGAN DENTT81 Commercial St ., Shanahan Build fa