Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-01-06
Anoat en- the Ice in the Mississippi
ny MARTHA NJ. THOMAS.

Christmas mornifg dawned cold but
clear. The children played in the house
all the morning. After the great dinner
of turkey, venison, and pic, John and
Hattie, and Charles Sanders, a boy Of
Johns age, went out upon the river, slid
inc ut first near the shore, but graiu.
ally getting further out. They were re
called to the house by The word that Mr.
Sanders was agoing TO fire the cannon
90 yes," said Charlie, "Capt Hart
who commands the steamboat Hunter,
gave father such a large cannon, and
he said he should fire it to day"
They hastend to the front of the house,
where the whole family had assembled
around the cannon, which MIR. Lape
was loading. The girls shudderingly re-
moved to distance when they saw the
match about to be applied. and put their
fingers in their ears, but the boys crowd
ed closer.
After four shots. the women ran inside,
and Mr.. Sanders said. ave have only
one good charge of powder left; we will
keep that until supper time. and have a
sumner"
After warming, the children took Leo,
and went on the ice again. Fastening
the dog to sled, the boys had mnch
fun in trying to make him draw Hattie.
Every little while he would back on them
and they would fall in heap, when Leo
would be the first to extricate himself,
and shake the snow all over them. Tired
Of this, they were about returning to
the house, when Charlie called them to
see some fish frozen, in the ice. They
were near the edge, looking at the little
things when they were start led by the re-
port of the cannon.
"OT' exclaimed Hattie, springing up,
@I was So
''What is that?" John interrupted. as
loud, long. cracking sound was heard.
'''rhe ice is broken run, run y Char
lie, followed by them. started for the
shore. The edge of ice they stood up.
on had broken from the main portion
the crack, which looked no wider than a
thread when Charlie pointed, widened
rs they ran; they could feel that there
was motion beneath them. Startled by
the same noise, their friends on shore for
the first time. perceived them, and be-
came aware of their danger.
Shouting to them to hasten they al
the same time ran downthe bluff to their
aid. The seam became wider and wi.
der, and just as both parties were with
in few feet of either edge, the detached
portion came into the influence of the
current, and swept out, leaving a chasm
it was impossible to cross.
The sudden impetus staggered Hattie,
and she pitched forward on her face-a
few inches more, and she would have
been in the icy river. The boys drew
her back, and in obedience to a command
shouted by Mr.. Sanders, withdrew &c
the middle of the piece of ice. AS they
did so, Leo-whoc could easily have swan
the space-gave long howl, and fol.
lowed them, lying down at Hattie's feet
Half frantic with terror, Mrs. Lape and
Mrs. Sanders, who had come ont with
only shawl thrown over their heads
ran along the ice by the shore as the
cake moved of. calling to the children
and regardless of anything their husbands
said. Hattie. who trembled so she could
net stand, sat in the center of the cake,
Leo at her feet, and the two bows beside
her. Every few minutes, as a piece ri
ice would come against them and iar
them, or fragments would break from
that they were on she would half spring
TO her feet, and Leo would give that ter
rible, long drawn howl.
The current of the river was swift
where it was free, and they moved quite
rapidly.
"There is no boat" said Mr.. Sanders
sand if we bad one it would be of little
use. John" Ito laborer) put the hors
es in the sleigh, with robes and blankets
and bottle of whiskey, and follow us
driving down the river road"
"They will be stopped at Boston,
said another laborer, " if they are no
drowned afore; the river is gorgec
there" VIZ [&t.
my God!' exclaimed Mr.. Lape
'that is fifteen miles of, and that edg'
ice does not look strong"
ait is rotten, you can bet on that
was the answer. ''or the dog would no
howl so."' esz1f sCafE fes
All this time they were running along
on the sound ice, keeping as close to The
edge as possible, calling cheering words
TO the children.
So they ran for a couple Of miles,
The boys would answer, but the vino
was against them, and only occasionally