Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-25
Thres Years q Captive.

On Friday, the 9Th of Novemoers 1864
n stiff breeze was blowing off the shore
of Lake Superior, when the steamer
arrived at Eagle Harbor, but the wind
blowing too strong, the steamer did mol
dare TO come in TO the dock, but anchored
ON the outer reef and sent in her pas
sepgers, mails aud light freights IN
yawl After distributing the mail, Mr.
Seibold, the postmaster and express
agent at Eagle River, hearing there was
some express matter for him on the boat,
procured small boot and with a single
oar proposed to scull out toward the
Irousides. The wind had been rapidly
gaining strength in the meanwhile, and
some friends endeavored to dissuade him
from going, but he persisted and started
Oh. Not being very good boatman, the
wind drifted him in II direction that took
him past the boat out into the lake, not
withstandiDg his utmost endeavors TO
return, but not much attention was PAID
To his shouts, none of them thinking he
was in actual danger. Shortly it became
rumored around the village that Selbold
had drifted out into the lake. Another
boat was manned with skilled boatmen
and sent out by the citizens, which
cruised around till sometime after dark
without discovering anything of Seibold
o. his boat, though they rowed far and
hailed him long and loudly. From that
time until last Thursday nothing was
heard or seen of Seibold or his boat.
After waiting a considerable length OF
time for any possible intelligence of
him, his friends in Germany we're In
formed of his death, and his estate was
administered upon and settled up. Three
wears have rolled by, and a letter is re
ceived at Eagle River, directed in plain
strong hand, to the Postmaster, Eagle
River, Michigan" 1t is postmarked,
"Detroit, September 81, but has the
following written in the same hand across
the left end: Port Washington, by
kindness of Captain Murray" 1t is
given verbatim, that the reader may
Judge of its genuineness by the con-
struction
FoRr ABERoRoMBIE. 1867. NEAR MONTREAL.
To the Postmaster at Eagle Harbor;
Sir-I have at last succeeded to escape
from iailors which kept me prisoner in
great Wood Lake three years. am too
much exhausted to give you any particu'
lars / arrived at the North shore in an
almost dead condition, and was picked
up by the Saginaw Indians, whose fires |
had seen the night before alta great dis
lance. | was unable to walk for two
weeks. | made several efforts to reach
Fort Williams, and twelve weeks for this
place, until at last succeeded. / hope,
though, through the help of the priest at
this place, to be at Eagle River in two
weeks. Your people will hardly know
me, butt am in good health, and hope
to resume my business. Thousand
greetings to all my friends. | will give
you all the particulars when reach you.
/ feel too weak to write any more, since
| have not handled pen in three years,
you will excuse my bad writing.
WIN. SEIBoLD.
Fort Abercrombie is United States
military post in Minnesota, situated at
the head waters of the Red River of the
North, two or three hundred miles north
west of St Paul. In few days other
letters are expected, when they will de-
termine whether or not this one is
forgery. To every one who has read the
letter the impression is conveyed that it
is genuine, and the hope is revived that
his friends will soon see him well and
alive.