Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-02-26
How the City Of Sandusky was Saved
- from Famine.

The Buffalo Republic is responsible for
the following, which is as good as anything
Of its kind since Locks moon story:
years ago, when the course of trade ran
in counter direction to what we now be-
hold, owing 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 so low that
vessels were unable to reach the port, and
as there was no land transportation at that
time which could be relied upon in case OF
sudden emergency, it appeared as n Prov
idenee had forsaken the place entirely, and
that its inhabitants must soon perish. For
davs and weeks, their stock of provisions
had been gradually disappearing, until
soon all was gone, and their only reliance
was upon the few fish which they were en-
abled TO obtain from the waters of the bay
and an occasional meagre supply of game
from the neighboring forest.
"At the time of which we write, the
woods in that vicinity, and in fact through
out the Western Reserve, were frequented
by vast numbers of wild hogs which OBJ
tanned bountiful subsistence and grew fat
upon the shack which everywhere abound
ed. These hogs were doubtless original
ly estrays, but the sparseness of the popu-
lation in the interior, and the rapidity
with which they multiplied, rendered them
strangers to man and very shy OF his pres
ence During the drouth, of which men
ton has already been made, large drovcs
of these animals wendell their way to the
lake, in the neighborhood of which they
continued to remain.
"Sandusky Bay, in particular, was ia
vorite place Of resort for them, in the wa
tiers of which they were accustomed to wal
low after shaking their thirst. Those who
are acquainted with the locality Of which
we speak, will remember the annoyance to
which the early settlers were exposed in
the shape OF 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
consequences of frequenting this spot, be-
came totally blind, but still, with all the
cunning which belongs to this perverse race
in their natural state, they continued to
elude their hunters.
Zone day when the famine in the city
was at its height. and when it was appa-
rent that even the strongest must soon sue
cumb, Joe B-took down his gun and
resolved to make a last effort to rescue his
wife and little ones from fate the most
horrible of (which the mind has any concep-
ton. All day long had their sunken eyes
and shriveled hands implored him in vain
for bread-and alas. he knew too well that
not within the whole city was there mouth
full to be had, though he were to. offer in
exchange thrice its weight in gold. Nerv-
ed to desperation by this reflection, but
still with feeble steps, he took his way to
the forest, resolved moi to return without
lief in some shape.
"For long time he hunted in vain, trav-
ersing miles of weary pathway, without so
much as seeing a single evidence of ANNA
ted nature, until he was on the point, OF
yielding to despair. at this moment a
noise, as if approaching footsteps. aattract-
ed his attention, and he paused, with every
faculty rendered keen by hunger, to listen.
Nearer, nearer came the tramping, and just
as Joe, to screen himself from observation,
took shelter behind tree, wild hog en-
| erged from thicket, advancing directly
towards him, followed immediately by an
other, and another still.
1.-The hunter, trembling with anxiety
and excitement, raised his gun, but sud-
denly paused in establishment at the sin
gular 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 the third of the second,
and so on, to the number of sixty and up
ward, each was holding fast to the caudal
appendage of his predecessor, and all were
being led by the foremost of the drove, and
he being the only one that could see, was
thus conveying his afflicted companions.
1.-The hunter comprehended the scene in
moment, and instantly decided upon his
course. Raising his gun deliberately, he
fired and severed the tail of the leader close
to the roots. His affrighted leadership,
with loud squeal, bounded into the thick
ct and disappeared, while his blind com
panions came to dead halt. Joe quickly
Invested himself of of his boots and crepi
steadily up to the first of the band, which
stood quietly holding in his mouth the am
putated tail of his former conductor. This
the hunter seized and commenced gently
pulling upon it. FIRST one hog started,
then another, then another, until soon like
a train of cars, all were in motion, and
without pausing to rest for asingle instant
Joe led them. quietly into a huge pen neal
his residence, where they were soon slaug L
! foro1 <r,,J fke r;fzf .r1s o.,,oJ >,
Lord Chatam said, 81 would inscribe or
the curtains of your bed, and on the
walls of your chamber. IF you do not