Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-08-19
From the T. S Magazine.
SWEATLAND'S ADVENTURE ON
LAKE ERIE.

had risen at the earliest dawn TO enioy his
favorlte amusement of hunting deer
This exciting sport he had been accustom-
ed to follow In connection with a friend
and neighbor, who, by the aid of dogs.
would drive the deer into the lake, where
Swaziland would pursue them in his canoe
and shoot them without difficulty. On the
present occasion he had left his cabin
without his coat or waistcoat. to listen for
the baying of the dogs as they drove the
deer. The welcome sound soon greeted
his ears, and he was surprised to find
that noble buck had already taken the
water. and was some little distance out in
the lake. In the enthusiasm of the mo-
ment he threw his hat upon the beach,
jumped into his canoe, and put off after
the animal, with every nerve thrilling with
intense interest IN the pursuit. The wind, ],
which had been blowing steadily from the
south during the night, had now increased
to gale, but he was too intent upon Sc
curing the prize which was breasting the
waves in advance to heed the dictates of
prudence. The race promised to be a
long one, for the deer was powerful one,
and was not to be easily beaten by log
canoe and single paddle. A consider
able distance from the land had been at
tanned, and the canoe had already shipped
heavy sea before he overlook the deer,
who turned and made for the shore. Up
on tacking to pursue him, Swaziland was
at once apprized of his danger by the fact
that, with his utmost exertions, he made
no progress In the desired direction, but,
on the contrary, was drifting further out
to sea. He had been observed in his out
ward progress by his neighbor, as well as
by his own family, and as he disappeared
from sight, considerable apprehension was
felt for his safety. The alarm was SION
given in the neighborhood, and it was de-
cIded by those competent to Judge that his
return would be impossible, and, that I'M
less help could be afforded him he was
doomed to perish at sea. Actuated by
those generous impulses which often in
duce men to risk their own lives to save
those of others, three neighbors-Messrs.
Gilbert, Cousins, and Beldent-took
light boat and started in search of the
wanderer. They met the deer returning,
but could see nothing of their neighbor
and friend They made stretches off
shore in the probable range of the fugi-
tive, until they reached distance of five
or six miles from shore, when, meeting a
heavy sea In which they deemed it nm
possible for canoe to live, and seeing
no signs of it on the vast eXpanse of wa
ters, they reluctantly, and not without diff
ficulty and danger, returned to shore, and
Swaziland was given up as lost. Mean
time the object of our search was labor
ing at his paddle, in the vain hope that
the wind would abate, or that aid might
reach him from the shore. One or two
schooners were In sight In the course Of
the day, but Notwithstanding he made ev-
erv effort to attract the attention of their
crew, he failed to do so. For long time
the shore continued in sight, and as he
traced its dim ana last recedlng outline,
and recognized the spotsswhere stood his
cabin, within those precincts where the
cherished objects of his affections, Snow
doubly dear from the prospects of losing
them forever, he felt that the last tie that
united him with his fellow men was about
TO be dissolved, and the world, with all its
busy Interests, forever hidden from his
sight Fortunately he possessed cool
head and a stout heart which. united to a
cons derable share Of physical strength
and power of endurance, eminently fitted
him for any emergency. He was good
sailor, and his experience taught HIM that
while there was life there was hope"
That experience taught him also, as the
outline of the far-of' shore disappeared
frsm his sight, that his only expedlent was
to endeavor to reach the Canada shore, a
distance of fifty miles. 1t was now blow
ing a gale, and TIE sea was evidently IN
creasing, so that it required the most IN
credible exertion on his part to trim his
uncouth vessel to the waves. He was o.
blged to stand erect, and move cautiously
from one end to the other, we'll aware that
one lost stroke of the paddle, or a totter-
| ing movement, would bring his voyage to
sudden termination. Much of his at
tention was likewise required IN bailing
out the canoe, which he managed to do
with one of his shoes, a substantial pair of
stogies. Hitherto he had been blessed
with the light of day, but to add to hls dis
tress, night was fast approaching, when
he could only depend upon kind Provl-
dence to guide him over the dark waste
/ of waters The sky, too, began to be
overcast and an occasional star which
clistened through the haze was all the
! light afforded INN through that long and
fearful night. Wet to the skin by the
constant dashing spray; part of the time
/ in water half way up to his knees; SO cold
that his blood seemed chilled in his veins,
aud almost famished with hunger, he felt
that death was preferable TO such long
continued suffering, and nothing but the
thought of his family sustained hifa IN hls
exertions to keep his boat trimmed and
! headed for the land. When morning
dawned the outline of the Canada shore
greeted his eyes, and he found he had
made land In the vicinity of Long Point.
Here be met with another difficulty, in an
adverse wind and heavy breakers, bat the
same hand which had sustained him thus
far guided him in this emergency, and at
ter thirty hours of unremitng and ;ncred-
| ible exertions, he succeeded IN landing IN
safety. What his emotions were on again
/ H., orroa,a and SOll1 earth. we