Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-11-10


But before long we came into a heavy SCI
: into which she plunged so vindietively as
bury the jib-boom, and sent the foamin
water clear over all of us. We were rolling
pitching and lurching in this ugly sea, an
IL became apparent that II the sail shoul
give way, our chances would be poor. Sink
ing into the hollow Of the hilly swells, W
saw nothing but the sky, and hills OF lead
cOlored water, The sky was inky, especi
ally in the east. Pie Island was black ant
dreary, mass OF fog enveloping tlfe tor
and innumerable sea gulls were wheeling il
circles, uttering strange cries. Under all TIT
sail the boat would possibly carry, we swep
with prodigious speed towards the shore
and under such breeze, that, as we held oil
TO the windward side, we felt as If our head
would be blown of, and all this time unde
such pelting rain. so abundant as to wetui
through and through. Gallentiy we flew
dashing in foam round a sharp, rocky point
through narrow channel, and darted intC
a deep bay, so strange in its stern loneliness
as TO suggest the idea that we were the first
who ever had been there.
| The headland that formed this little bay,
was mass OF gray, barren rocks, standing
like sentinel on guard, but these rather in
creased than diminished the aspect Of desc
latiOn. But we found place to erect OuI
tent, and then we built n fire, such fire as
never burnt before on this island, and by
its heat we dried ourselves. Ambrose was
doing his best TO get US up a good dinner,
and We sat down 10 dishes that might well
have tempted an epieure. We had corn soup,
well served, then a trout sixteen inches long
and this big fish was fanked by nicely
Drowned brook trout Of small sizes, these
with delicious ham and bread, butter and
tea, enabled us to spend most pleasant
hour.
1t had stopped raining, and the clouds be-
gan TO disperse, and we went to see a vein Of
silver lead, situated near one end of the
island; we found it and got good specimens.
Next day the sun was shining brightly, and
light, fresh breeze was blowing from the
south, so we struck our tent, and again sailed
of. The western part OF the island is bold
and rocky. The Rev. got quite enthusiastic
over the magnificent appearance ofthe bold
Pie. and well he might, for n finer, grander
view Is seldom seen, even here, where every
thing is grand. The Pie proper is a perpen-
dicular mass Of rocks, rising away up from
the lake to a height OF so feet. The rock
itself is q grayish blue trap, colored here and
there by bright tints, and again retreating
into dark assures and shades, and the rich
green of the foliage on top, presented in this
magnificent sunlight, innumerable cOmbi-
nations OF color, most harmoniOusly blended
and sharply and richly reflected in the trans
parent water, to the delight of the artists
eye. The lake is very deep close to shore,
the water wonderfully clear and transpa-
rent TO a great depth. We cast out two
trolling hooks, and soon caught several
fish, but our nice breeze blew away, and left
John and to the oars. Ambrose hauled
in the fish, nice salmon trout, averaging ten
pounds. In an hour we had fifteen, and then
deeming it useless to hook any more, all
took TO the oars and soon landed on Sheep
Island, a little, rocky isle covered with n few
shrubs and some dwarf pines.
Here I shot a beautiful summer duck,
(AndsspoHSa) which stuffed and presented
TO a gentleman at Fort VIM. also remarked
the common klIldeer( (choUdrias Uociftras) and
a little sparrow, with white throat, which
I think is the Fringella dI6icoHis. We were
often startled by the cry Of the loon, and
have seen as many as dozen together, but
so shy are they, that you can scarcely get
within gun shot, and then at the flash, they
will dive, only to come up again some dis
tance away, and the gunner will hear their
moclSing laugh, "Hal har' This is the great
northern diver, and breeds in this region
and to the north. In winter they are
seen so for south as Ohio. It
seems strange that a bird Of such large size,
and disproportionately small wings should
travel SO far, but they are fast flyers, and
will equal in speed any of our species Of
ducks. Itsscientific name is COLUMBUS glGeid-
lis. Wherever we camped at night, we in
found the whippOowiIl (aRtrOtonVes
and heard its voice all through
the night.
From Sheep Island we sailed undera COM
Ing breeze gaily toward Currend River, our
home camp, where all were glad to see us;
there we sought our several tents, and
changed our things for something more Z
for in our absence We had an
addition Of strangers TO our camp, namely 1
the Hudson Bay Cos. Governor. Mr.. Hop !
zins and Lady, who came in long birch /
canoe, accompanied by their servants, ten I
Iroquoi Indians, who padded the boat.
That night we sat round the big fire, that I
we always burnt in front of the tent, and by I
is cheerful blaze, told stories after stories Of
adventures on the deep and in the woods,
md sang the songs Of 'AuldLang Syne," till ,
ong after midnight, when We all sought our /
tents, there was not a cloud in 1
n the heavens to intercept the clear light Of 4
he siIvery moon and the shining stars, and
oon- all was at rest and silence reigned.
Warren, Not ls69S'n's CHAs. II.