The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-07-16
Calls an0 Sketebes,
SWEATLAND'S ADVENTURE ON
LAKE ERIE.

| UCIj 1Old, COlOIIOu OhGdLlhHu, o
Con cant, on the Ohio shore of Lake
Erie, had risen at the earliest dawn t.
enjoy his faVorite amusement Of hunting
deer This exciting sport he had been
accustomed to follow in conuection 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 aud shoot them with,
out difficulty. On the present occasion
he had lef. his cabin without his co; OF
waistcoat, to listen to the bayiDg of the
dogs as they drove the deer. The wei
come sound soon greeted his ears, and
he was surprised TO find that a noble
buck had already taken the water, and
was some little distance out in the lake.
In the enthusiasm of the moment be
threw his hat upon the beach, jumped
into his canoe, aud put off af er the an
imal, with every nerve thrilling with in
tense interest iu the pursuit. The wind,
which had been blowing steadily from.
the south during the night, had now in
creased to gale, but he was too intent
upon securing the valuable Prize which
was breasting the waves in advance to
heed the dictates of prudence. The
race prom lsed 10 be long one, for the
deer was q powerful animal, and was
not to be easily beaten by a log caloe and
a single paddle. A considerable Gis-
lance from tie iaud had been attained,
and the canoe Lad already shipped .
heavy sea before he overlook the deer,
who turned and made for the shore.
Upon tacking to pursue hiuI, Swaziland
was at once spprised of his Danger by
the fact that, with his utmost exerti"us,
he not ouly made no progress in the de-
sired direction, but, on the contrary, was
drifting further out to sea. He had
been observed in bis outward progress
by his neighbor, as well as By his Own
family, and as he Disappeared from sight,
considerable apprehension was felt for
lis safety. The alarm was soon givct.
in the neighhorhood, and It was decided
By those competent TO judg dge that his re-
turn would be impossible, and, unless
help could be afforded him he was doom.
eG to perish al saa, Actuated by slose
generous impulses whjgh often induce
men to risk their own livss to save those
of others, three eig'bors-Messrs. Gil
bert, Cousins and BelIen-took light
boat and started in search of the wall
derer. They met the deer returning,
but could see nothing of their neigL bol
and friend. They made stretches off
shore in the probable direction he had
taken, until they reached Il distance ot
five or six miles from land, when meet
ing with heavy sea, they deemed it im-
pcssiblc for canoe to live, ard seeing
no signs of it on the vast expanse of
waters, they reluctontly, and not with
out difficulty and danger, returned to
shore, and Swaziland was given up as
lost. Meantime the object of their search
was laboring at his paddle, in the vain
hope that the wind would abate or that
aid might reach him from shore. One OF
two schoeners were IL sight in the course
of the day, but Notwithstanding he made
every effort to attract the attention of |
their crews, he failed to do SO. For a
long time the shore continued in sight,
and as lie traced its dim and fast-rcced-
ing outline, and recognized the spot
where stood his cabin, within whose pre-
cincts were TIE cherished objects of his
affections, how doubly dear from the
prospect of losing them forever, he felt
that tb last tie which united him ir
ccir 1nship with his fellow men was /
a o be dissolved, AID the world,
v all it's busy Interest," forever hid
d from his sight Fortunately he pos |
s-ssese ed cool hea3 and Il stont heart,
which, united to u considerable share of |
paysioal strength and power of endur-
ance, emineutly fitted him for any cmer-
gency. He was a good sailor, and his |
experience taught him that " while there
was life there was hope" That expe-
rienee taught him also, as the outline of
the far-off shore disappeared from his
sight, that his only ezpedient was to en-
ieavor to reach the Canada shore, dis
lance of fifty miles. 1t was now blow
ing gale and the sea was evidently in
,reasipg, so that it required the most
exertion on his part, to trim
MS uDcouth vessel to the waves. He
vas obliged to stand erect, and move
cautiously from one end to the. other,
we'll aware that one lost stroke of the
paddle, or tottering movement, would
bring his voyage to sudden termina-
tion. Much of his attention was like
vice required in bailing out the canoe,
which he managed to do with one of his
shoes, a substantial pair Of stogies.
he had been blessed with the
light of day, but to add to his distress,
night was fast approaching, when he