The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-11-11
HUN.ING ADVEN RE- IN iHh NORTH
WOODS.
A Thrilling anu re. ilors Experienc,

A Thrilling anu re. ilOTs Experience
A correspondent of the New York Re.
auhlc writing from the n orth Woods"
tells the following story:
At the foot of the Lower Cedar, about
fifty yards from the shore, is small and
low. rocky island, not more than thirty
feet In diameter. having few shrubs
growing upon it, with a single scrubby
spruce and young mountain ash i'm the
centre, neither of which is twelve feet in
hight.
1t was January.
John lett his home, some sixteen miles
away, taking bag Of provisions and a
few spring-traps to be absent a week or
more, in pursuit of mink and marten. It
was an open season. Little snow was
upon the ground, and all the lakes were
unfrozen. john made his way alone to
the Lower Cedar lake, deposited his pro-
vision bag in the log shant7, aud taking
his boat and traps rowed over to the little
island which has just been described
Running the boat up on the rocks, he
stepped out with trap, and went to the
opposite side of the island. distance not
exceeding twenty-five feet, carefully set
his trap and returned to the landing.
What was his dismay to find the boat
canght lightly upor low rock about two
rods from the island.
Here was serious predicament for the
incautions trappcr There was not tree
nor branch by which he could reach the
boat. There was no withes nor bark
which being tied together and attached to
a stone, could be thrown into the boat
He had never learned to swim stroke
Between him and the rock on which his
boat was stranded were the waters. dark
cold, and ten feet deep. What was to be
done?
John was an iron hearted man. but
while deliherating in much agitation. had
the added horror of seeing the boat sway
ed first by the wind, then grating harsbly
upon the rock, at last disengaged, and
drifted slowly out into the middle of the
lake. The case now seemed absolutely
hopeless
As the hunters and trappers frequently
go forth alone in the winter. and are abb
sent several weeks his stay would attract
no attention at the settlement. No hui
man dwelling was nearer than sixteen
miles. Confronting philosophically, there
fore his alarming situation, Re secured
the island in search offueI, which result
ed in his finding small quantity of sub
stance resembling peat. He now began
the construction of kind Of earthwork,
in semicircular form, as protection
against the wind. Gathering enough Of
the peat to keep his han Is ard feet from
suffering, as the early darkness drew on
he wrapped himself in his coat as closely
as possible, and lay down for the night
Long, dreary. dreadful were those hours,
relieved by occasional snatches of sleep
Morning came. but it was barely welcome.
1t only revealed his desperate condition,
and brought no intimation of relief.
The sun arose, climbed the sky, sank to
his setting: no food, no fire, lest he
should exhaust his stock of fuel: no sight
or sound of hope Night settled all It's
shadows upon his heart. Hungry. faint
and wretched. he lighted his meagre fire
and laid him down. That night he slept
from sheer exhaustion. Again the morn
ing; the live-long day the sinking sun.
the ba'nk shadows, the furnishing body.
the bowling wolves. the thoughts of
horror. the vision of inevitable death!
Thus dragged the hours till the sun arose.
And thus. with fast failing powers half
hewidered mind, he lived. or rather was
diving, through fonr days and FIVE nights.
During the fifth night the wind changed
to the north, with bitter, freezing cold.
Now. thought the trapner, the end has
come. Still, pitiless frosts fell from the
crystal heavens. IT., had no hone Of
seeing the morning light But what he
forehoded was to he his destruction was
Gods wondrous provision for his saliva
Tho lnl- 4,o1o on1 EftIpu
his eyes in the morning a new hope strug-
gled with he sunheams in his desparing
soul Stiffened, emaciated and unable
to stand, he thought Life is dear. and
home is sweet. | can but die if ven
ture forth. To linger here another day is
certain death. I will try the ice.
Crawling forth from his damp lurking
place to the edge of the lake. he cautious
" felt lis way out upon the thin. trans
parent ice. As well from inability to
stand as from consideration Of prudence.
he crept on hands and knees over the
treacFerous surface. 1t bore his out
spread weight, Slowly he moved, with
trembling advance, for long seams shot
from beneath him and clicked like the re-
port of a pistol to the opposite shore.
Once the faithless floor gave way at his
knees ana the Cnllilng wafer came ndiI
wav over him. but. with the energy of
dying man, he sprang upon the unhrok-
en- surface, and with shivering fear again
moved on. Again he broke through the
ice again he saved himself with desper-
ate strength. Aut at length-joy un
speakahle, and that almost overcame his
exhausted nature-he drew himself upon
the solid shore!
Resting awhile from his superhnman
exertinns, and now, with hope and home
rising like twin stars in the east he made
his way slowly to the cabin where his
stock of provisions had been left. There
were bread and dried venison, but he
could not eat. Nature had borne the
fame too long. He laid down and was
almost instantly buried in slumber. from
which he did not wake until the shades
of evening were drawing on. Then he
fonnd himself able to take refreshment,
lay down and slept until broad daylight,
rose and ate again, and in its strength
felt his precarious way toward his home.
which at eventide he reached. emaciated
almost beyond recognition, more nearly
dead than alive, but restored at last
from the jaws of an unmarked grave saw
cd from the vulture and the wolf, and re-
ioicing in the arms of wife and children
about his own freside