Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-03-09
A Perilous Adventure.

The Port Huron Commercial relates the
following :-"Leon de Boux, native q
Gaspe, in Lower Canada, and for the last toqr
months at work on the Maniton Island, LETT
his log cabin on Saturday, the I'd inst, with
his dog, large, powerful Newfoundland, IN
pursuit of game. He soon discovered the
fresh tracks of large bear. Cautiously fol-
lowing it he reached the shore Of Lake Hu-
ron, aud saw at no great distance on the ice
thesety anfmal. Climbing over huge blocks,
which the storm of the previous night had
strewn in wild confusion on the rocky coast.
he approached; suddenly the bear stopped
and tried to retraee his steps to the neigh
boring forest. To intercept the animal, De
Boux aud dog went on the ice, which seemed
secure, as the road was for miles uninterrupt-
ed By water. lie gained on the bear from
minute to minute, when hesa9 10 his astons
ishment that the huge beast -stoPpeds tootsa.a
around and retfaced his steps, chasing the
dog before him. He shot. and we'll aimed
ball entered the head and killed him on the
spot. Rushing toward the carcass he did noe
observe that the wind had changed, that tho
ice eroaued and cracked. He reached the
beast and tried to drag it to the shore, more
than three fourths of 4 mile distant, But
imagine his surprise, when he found that the
wind, blowing fresher aud more violent. had
made chasm between him aud the landmore TO
than two rods broad. At once seeing his per-
ilous position, he fired rapidly aud hallooed
at the top of his voice. No one answered
echo alone brought his voice back out OF the
deep recesses aud rocks, and he was rapidly
drifting in 4 southwesterly direction to the
middle of the lake. His position was indeed
most dangerous; the wind increased from
moment to moment, aud when night set in it
blew perfect hurricane, breaking the large
piece Of ice on which he stood into thou
sand fragments, throwing him at one nonent
violently against 10y masses, at another GOV.
eriug him with a freezing -wave." There he
sat on the dead bear, his shivering dog at his
feet, looking wistfully at his master for help.
De Boux saw no help; every moment threat
ened death the cold was intense, unbearai
BILE he prayed and asked God to end his suf-
| fering; the ice in the nieaatime drifted moro
aud more to the Michigan shore, and when
day began to break over the water he could
see far in the distance dark line, which
grew until he could distinctly discover that it
was land suddenly the ice on which he lay
stopped It had Joined huge fields of ice
Exhausted and frost bitten, he walked for
miles towards the shore on the frozen element,
when again the large Island of ice broke,
drifting steadily towards the Michigan shore.
he heard the barking of dogs; he tried to
load his gun aud FIRE; impossible, his hsnds
were swollen and benumbed he hallooed and
shouted-uo help. And again night passed,
and again day broke over the water, and he
lived still. In the meantime the wind had
turned more to the east, and forced the ice
right in to the western shore. Crawling on his
wounded hands, he at last reached terra frntd
about six miles north of the lighthouse, whero
some kindhearted fishermen found him aud
took him to their sllanties"