Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-09-20
A Marrow Escape.
BY COL. GRAY.

| 2 by OOlL., GRAY.
During the winter of 1865. the
writer was connected with O. United
States Survey Company, engaged in re.
marking and stalking the international
line between the upper British Prov
inces and land belonging to the United
States, near the Red River Of the
North, on territory known at that time
as Northern Minnesota. It was here
that the following adventure, which
am about to relate occurred.
A company of three of us had been
sent by the chief to explore 10 ediun-
sized lake, through which the interna.
tional survey line ran. Our business
was to ascertain how much of the lake
lay within Uncle Sans limits.
We left camp about two o'clock in
the afternoon, and after a weary tramp
of five miles through q forest, our
way obstructed by logs and under
brush, we arrived on the shores of the
lake. 1t was dismal place. No hab-
ltatlOns were near,-nothing met the
eye but the level stretch of ice upon
the surface of the lake, and wilder
ness of tall pines, spruce and birch,
surrounding it on all sides. =, fGW'
Some time was consume In finding
the marks left there by a former sur
veylng company, and ascertaining the
course marked out across the lake.
But at length this was accomplished,
and we prepared to start for camp, be-
ing at the lower end Of the lake, or the
point farthest from camp. One of my
companions whom I shall call Leigh
ton, had brought his skates. [ never
left camp without mine, not knowing
how many weary footsteps they might
save me, for the country was nearly
one third swamps and small lakes.
But the third man of our party had no
skates. He was a good-natured rolick-
ing Irlshman by the name of Jimmy
Mcclure, and was what is technically
known as an axe man; that is to say, it
was his duty to be always provided
with an axe, for the purpose of "blaz-
ing trees, cutting poles, stakes, etc.
Jimmy had no skates, so, after strap
ping ours on, it was agreed that he
should stand before us with his feet a
little forward, and braced for sliding, so
that we could push him along as we
skated across the four or five miles of
ice that covered the surface of the lake.
1t was coming on night, or twilight,
as we started off, but full moon was
rising, and we did not mind it, as we
had just finished a hearty lunch of cold
ham and bread that we had brought
from camp with us. 1t was easy enough
for us to attain a high rate of speed,
and the Irishman undoubtedly never
had such a slide before. The rate of
speed at which we pushed him along
almost made his boots smoke.
In less than fifteen minutes we ap-
preached the other shore, and here we
slackened spec h. Just then we saw
some kind of animals darting in and
out among the underbrush, like lot of
dogs at play.
We stopped abruptly, almost pulling
Jimmy over backwards, and proceeded
to look more carefully. It was but a
moment or two, and we ascertained
the secret of the mystery, for one, two,
four, six large timber wolves presently
came out from the cover of brush
Five Of them raised their long noses
and gave vent to the long, bloodhound
ling howl, with which all frontiersmen
are familiar.
"Howly father, we shall be aiten p
breathed Jimmy.
1t certainly looked as if his fears
would be realized, for the wolves were
apparently very hungry, and we MOTTO
ed, with a feeling of terror, that they
Intended to attack us on the ice.
No time to be lost, Colonel" said
Leighton, excitedly. ave must put
back across the lake, and go around
Them"
Hastily getting Jimmy before us, we
turned and shot off with arrow-like
swiftness. But the wolves at once took
to the ice and gave swift chase. They
slipped considerably at first, but after
getting under full Roadway, they made
long, rapid bounds, and gained on us
every mement. Besides, Jimmy i'm
peded our progress very much. Still,
we strained every nerve, contested
every inch. A few minutes more
showed that some new device must be
attempted, or they would attack us.
We could distinctly hear their short,
parting breath, and the swift patter Of
their feet.
Colonel, we must dodge!" said
Leighton, as he gave a quick glance
over his shoulder. "They are right
upon us !"
CAL ready!" I exclaimed. "Now
to the right I"
And as Lspoke, we made quick,
short curve. The result was more than
we expected. The wolves, of course,
could not stop at once, but went sliding
by us on their launches, one of them
SO near as to snap at my legs. But in
turning too short We upset Mcclure,
who went down in spite of us, else we
should have gained a fair start Of the
wolves before they could have stopped
their momentum so as to turn.
AS it was, Jimmy mad "slewed"
around when we turned, slipped from
our grasp, AID went sliding On his
back in nearly the direction OF the
wolves.
AS the Irishman rose to his feet, the
wolves turned and rushed directly at
him, only few rods separating them,
while my comrade and myself were sew
eral rods or away