New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-02-02
How. sandusky was Saved from Famine
AN HISTORICAL "REMINISCENCES.

One of the most agreeable duties Of journalism is
to chronicle the heroic deeds of those whom chance
or natural developments have rendered beneactor to
the human race. 1t is part Of legitimate pro-
vince to rescue the fame of such individuals from
oblivion, and by enactng the part OF the historian,
to hand their names and the record of their achieve
ments down to the admiration and gratitude of tu-
ture generations. The village philanthropist. the
benefactor of local community, is much part of
the history of his time the heroes of State,
the sacred geese whose Cabling at the rock of Tar
pela saved Rome from the horrors of sack. Oar
duty in the present instance, is to relate similar
occurrence which transpired much nearer home.
Years ago, when the course of trade ran in a coun-
ter direction to what we now behold, owing to q
severe drought, the city of Sandusky underwent all
the horrors of a protraGted famine. The water on
the bar at the mouth of the bay low that
sells were unable to reach the port, and there
no land transportation at that time which could be
relied upon in a case of sudden emergency, it ap-
peared as if Providence had forsaken the place
trely and that its inhabitants must perish. For
days and weeks their stock of provisions had been
gradually disappearing until soon all gone and
their only reliance was upon the few fish which they
enabled to obtain from the waters of the bay,
and an occasional meagre supply Of game from the
neghboring forest
At the time of which we write the woods in that
vicinity, and in fact throughout the Western Reserve,
frequented by vast numbers of wild hogs, which
obtained hountifu subsistence and grew fat upon
the shack which everywhere abounded. These hogs
were doubtless originally estrays but the spaiseness
of the population in the interior, and the rpidity
with which they multiplied, rendered them strangers
to man and very shy of his presence. During the
drouth of which mention has already been made,
large droyes of these animals wendell their way to
the lake, in the neighbolhood Of which they con-
tnned to remain. Sandtlsky Bay in particular was a
avorite place of resort for them, in the waters of
which they were accustomed to wallow, after shaking
their thirst. Those who arc acquainted with the To-
caty of which we speak will remember tile annoy
ance to which the carly settlers were exposed IL the
shape of fine red sand which covered the beach,
and which in times of high wind was not only ex-
ceedingly troublesome but dangerous. Thousands Of
hogs, in consequence of fequenng this spot, became
totally blind, but still. with all the cunning which be-
longs to this peryere race in their natural state they
continued to elude the hunters.
One day when the famine in the city was at its
height, and when it was apparent that even the
strongest must soon succumb, Joe b took down
his gun and resolved to make last effort to rescue
his wife and little ones from fate the most horrible
of which the mind has any conception. All day long
had their sunken eyes and shriyeled hands lmplored
! him in vain for bread-and alas he knew too well
that not within the whole city was there monthul
to be had, though he TO offer in exchange twice
its weight in gold Neryed to desperation by this
Election, but still with feeble steps, he took his way
to the forest resolved not to return without relief in
some shape.
| For long time he hunted in vain, travcrsing miles
! of weary pathway, without so much seeing sin
gle evidence Of animated nature, until he on the
point Of yielding to despair. AT this moment noise
Of approaching footsteps, attracted his attention
and ne paused, with every faculty rendered keen by
hunger, to listen. Nearer and nearer came the tramp
ling, and Just as joe to screen himself from 0bserva
tion took shelter behind a tree, wild hog emerged
! from a tnicket, advancing directly toward him. fol
lowed Immediately by another and another still The
hunter trembling with anxiety and excitement
raised his gun, but suddenly paused in establishment
at the singular phenomenon before him. The drove
(or drove there was) was approaching him in Indian
| le and headed directly for the Bay. The second
hog held in his mouth the tail Of the first the third
that of the second and on, to the number of sixty
and upward, each was holding fast to the caudal ap
pendage of his predecessor and all were being lee
by the foremost Of the Drove and he being the only
one that could see, was thus conveying his afflicted
| companions.
! The hunter comprehended the scene in a moment
and instantly decided upon his course. Raising hi!
gun deliberately, he fired and severed the tail of the
leader close to the roots. His aifrighted leadership
with loud squeak, bounded into the thicket and dis
appeared, while his blind companions to a deat
halt. Joe quickly Invested himself of his boots, ant
crept steathy up to the first of the band, whcl
stood quietly holding in his mouth the amputaed tai
of his former conductor This the hunter seized ani
commenced gently pulling upon it. First one hog
started then another, until soon like train of cars
all in motion, and without pausing to rest for
single instant, he led them quietly into huge pei
near his residence where they slaughtered
and the city was saved!