The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-01-17
Il Ni0I.t of Terror.
AN ADVENTURE On LAKE wINNEBAGo-
THE PERILs OF TRAVELLING ON ICE.


THE PERILs OF TRAVELLING ON ICE.
he following startling story is given us
by gentleman from Clifton, who youches
for its correctness:
Our readers are well aware that for wears
the wood choppers of Calumet county have,
during the winter months, used lake Win
nebago as highway to transport their
loads of fuel and produce to this city. A
distance of over ten miles of water inter
veies, but, in this northern CLINE. the great
expanse is generally frozen over by the 1st
of December. Still, great cracks and fis-
sures will and have sometimes broken open
and interrupted in a degree the smooth
ness of travel. These cracks are, however,
seldom over two or three feet wide. and
can be easily scaled in the day time, if
the team and the wagon are stout, and the
nerves of the driver are steady; but the
greatest danger consists in their liabilityto
spread in single night, and as suddenly
close again. r.--
On Friday, perhaps one of the coolest
days Of the season, two Germans, named
respectively Lutke and Degol, started from
Clifton, each with load of wood destined
for the Oshkosh market. The latter wasa
new conner from the old country, and had
but recently settled in the village of the
cliffs, and as fate would have it, this was
his first trip over the ice. .... #.
The two, in company with dozen 9TH
ers, successfully crossed to our shore, and
soon had their loads sold upon the market,
after which transaction Lutke and Degol
went around the town to see the Elephant.
Night drawing on, the former went to the
hotel barn, where both teams were lodged,
and waited for his companion, whom he
had got separated from during the course
of the day Lutke waited and waited in
vain, and darkness approaching, hitehed
up his team and started off, not wishing
night TO oyertake him on the road, as n fear
full crack lay about four miles off tie Osh-
kosh shore. D- r ..r
Degol, it seems, had met an old country
friend, and spent a longer time waiting
than he supposed, for night had approach
cd ere he imagined it time to leave.
Eight o'clock was struck by the town
| bell when he got fairly underway, but he
struck manfully out though almost utterly
ignorant of the correct course to pursue.
For nearly an hour he kept his way due
east but suddenly his horses started back
with fright, nearly upSetting their driver,
who now peered forth in the pitchy dark
ness, and saw terrible gap in the ice,
yawning directly before. 1t was, he states,
over sixty feet across, and to Jump it seemed
impossible so turning his team to the
| north he endeavored, for two or three miles
TO find borrower opening, which however,
| not seeming to be found, he turned and
| progressed to the south. Off Black Wolf
/ Point place about three feet in width was
reached, and whipping on the horses, an
| attempt was made to jump the chasm.
! For some time they refused to leap, as,
snorting with terror, they seemed to wish
| to fly away from it but at last they were
forced onward and gained foothold on the
| opposite side in safety.
! Degol now breathed free, and kept on
! his eastward course, seemingly forgetful
| that his own town was far to the north of
/ the point he was aiming fOr-Brothertown.
! He thinks that full an hour and a half pass
! ed away when he was again suddenly
brought to a stand-still by another fissure
! this time wider than before. But the spirit
| of frenzy seemed to have overcome both
driver and team, for the driver goaded his
brutes, and the leap for life was made
Far up i'll the air they sprang, sled, and all,
and came down with crash on the other
side, nearly nine feet away; but the ice
broke! and the square piece on which they
landed separated from the rest and tloated
clear out into the chasm. The situation
was almost to fearful too comprehend.-
The weight of the team and sled submerged
| the cake for nearly two feet, and it seemed
as If that, too, might soon crack and scat
ter them i'll all directions and the horses
snorted and screamed with terror, while
Degei himself tore his hair and raved like
The terrified equines stood like statues
for had they moved an iota they would
surely have stepped off, so small the piece
ON which they flOated. The driver sud
denly gaining strength, stood on the top
Of the wood-rack and lcaped for the sound
| ice, but fell into the water. GraSping the
sound foe, however, he succeeded i'll drag
glng himself out. The horses, seeing their
master safe, seemed suddenly possessed of
strength, and leaped also from their cake,
but not having any firm footing to start
from, they also missed their mark, and,
after the most strenuous effort, the heavy
iron shod sled dragging them down, they
were drowned.
Holriiied almost boy snd measure, Degoi
swooned, but, as fate would have it. was
soon after found by party that had been
sent out to meet him, but had also been
stopped by the crack, and had wandered
south to find narrower opening.
Almost frozen stiff, Degol was carried
home, where high fover attached him,
h'!t with, 1ssFsf,,l ,linrsi'e, he ia
ering.
chill Of horror comes over him when
he tells his tale-the story of a winters
night on Lake Winnebago.- Oshkosh Times.