The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-06-12
An Historical Reminiscenco.

human race. 1t is part Of our legitimate
province TO rescue the fame Of such individ-
uals from oblivion, and by enacting the part
Of historian, to hand their names and the
record Of their achievements down to the ad-
miratlon and gratitude offutnre generations.
The village philanthropist, or the benefac-
tor ofa local community, is as much pa:t
Of the history Of his time as the heroes o. o
State. or as the sacred geese whose gabbling
at the rock Siberia saved Rome from the
horrors ofa sack Our duty in the present
instance is to relate similar occurrence
which transpired much nearer home.
Years ago when the course Of trade ran in
q counterdivision what we now behold, ow-
ing to severe drouth, the city Of Sandusky
underwent all the horrors Of protracted
famine. The water on the bar at the mouth
of the Bay was 50 low that vessels Nero un.
able to reach the port, and rs there was no
land transportation at that time which could
be relied upon in case Of sudden emersen-
cy, ii appeared rs ifProvidence had forsaken
the place entirely, and that its Inhabitants
must soon perish. For days and weeks their
stock Of provisions had been gradually dis.
a"pearing, until soon all was gone, and
their only reliance was upon the few fish
which they were enabled to obtiin from the
waters of the Bay, and an occasional meagre
supply from the neiShboring forest.
At the time Of which we write, the woods
in that vicinity, and in fact throughout the
Western Reserve, were frequented by vast
numbers of wild hogs which obtained o
bountiful subsistence and grew fat upon the
shack which everywhere abounded. These
hogs were doubtless original estrays, but
the spareness Of the population in the inte-
rior, and the rapidity with which they mu'-
tipled, rendered them strangers to men and
very shy of his presence. During the drouth
of which mention has already been
made, large droves Of these animals wcnded
their way to the lake, in the neighborhood
of which they continued to remain.
Sandusky Bay in particular was q favor.
itc place of resort for them, in the waters
ofwhich they were accustomed to wa.low af-
ter shaking their thirst. Those who are ac-
quaintcd with the locality of which We
speak, will remember tho annoyance to
which the early settlers were exposed in the
shape ola fine, red sand which covered the
beach, and which, in times Of high wind
was not only exceedingly troublesome but
dangerous. Thousands of hogs in consc-
qucnce Of frcquentlng this spot became to
tally blind but still with all the cunning
which belongs to this pervcrsc race in their
natural state, they continued to clude their
hunters One day when the famine in the
city was at its hei aht, and when it was APP
parent that the strongest must succumb,
Joe B-took down his gun, and resolv.
ed to make his last effort to rescue his vile
and little ones from fate the most horrible
of which the mind has any conception. All
day long had their sunken eyes and shrivel-
ed hands lmplored him for bread-and alas!
he knew too well that not within tho whole
city was there mouthful to I've had, though
he were to offer in exchange thrice its weight
in gold. Ncrvcd to desperation by this re-
lection, but with feeble steps, he took his
way to the forest, resolved not to return
without relief in some shape.
For a long time he hunted in vain, travers-
ing miles Of weary pathway, without so
much as seeing single evidence of animat-
ed nature, until he was on the point ofyield'
ing to despair. At this moment noise, as OF
approaching footsteps, attracted his atten-
ton, and he paused, with every faculty .en-
dercd keen by hunger, to listen. Nearer
and nearer came the tramping, and just as
Joe, to screen himself from observation,
took lhclter behind tree, a wild hog emerg-
ed from thicket, and advancing directly
towards him, followed by another and
another still.
TIE hunter trcmbled with anxiety and
excitement. raised his gun. but suddenly
paused in astonishment at che singular
phenomenon before him. The drove (for
drove there was) was approaching him In
Indian file. and headed directly for the Bay.
The second hog held in his mouth the tail Of
the first. that OF the second, and so on, to the
number Of sixty and upward, each was hold
ing fast to the caudal appcndagc of his pre-.
decessor, and all being led by the foremost
of the drove, and he, being the only one
that could sec, was thus conveying his af-
ficted companions.
The hunter comprchended the scene in
moment, and instantly decided upon his
course. Raising his gun deliberately, he
fred and severed the tail Of the leader close
to the roots. His affrishted leadership, with
loud squeal, bounded ito the thicket and
dis. ..ppearcd, while his blind companions
came to dead halt. Joe quickly divcsted
himself Of his boots and crept stealthily up
to the .rst Of the band which stood quietly
holding in his mouth the amputated tail OF
his former conductor. This the hunter
seized and commenced gently pulling on 1t.
First one hog started, then another, until
soon like train Of cars, NIL were IN motion
and, without pausins to rest for a single
instant, Joe led them quietly into huge
pen near his residence, where they were soon
slaughtered, and the city eas sdred.
DISCLOSURES or LroroR DEALER. Mr..
Delyan President, Of the New York State