The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-05
The Broce Little Skater.

Notable among the pretty stories that
history hands down to us is the saving of
the little town of St. Geniere, the Upper
St. Lawrence, by a boy aud pair of skates.
The town was besieged by Indians, and
the few settlers, hardy Frenchmeu, took
refuge in the block-house fort. For DAYS
and days the besiegers held on. worrying
their victims where they might. well know
ing that hunger must at last force them TO
surrender. But sill the Frcnchmen kopt
their flag flying, meted out their provisions
in scaut rations, and hoped and prayed for
help. To get out and attack the Indians
was certain defeat and death to snrrenuer
was no better. They must wait and starve
unless succor came to them from the Brit
ish fort, twenty miles below. So they wait
ed and waited, but no help came. Could
they bu: get a message To the fort they
were saved. But the redskins surrounded
them on all sides, aud to show head or foot
beyond .he walls Of their narrow prison
was 10 court death by poisoned arrow.
Every day their provisions grew less, till at
length their only choice seemed 10 be be-
tween death by hunger or massacre. Men
were weak and dying from starvation;
women and children were crying for bread.
The last ration had been given out. ano all
hope was gone. Nothing 10 cat ammu-
milton nearly exhausted. and no help from
the fort. But just then the wind veered
round to the north and it began to grow
cold. Every minute it grew colder, and a
gauzy film of ice formed on the surface Of
the St. Lawrence. In an hour the film had
turned to a sheet of glass. When the sun
went down the river was covered with hard,
sprincy ice.
Then brave little French boy, whose
name history has forgotten, but whose no.
bic deed will be remembered forever, said
that he could save his countrymen. The
block house fort stood on the river bank
the British fort was within gunshot of the
shore, twenty miles below. He had skates
and knew how to use them. AT midnight,
when the ice had thickened, his father
should lower him with a rope from the
rampant 10 the ice below. and well-aimed
should be the arrow that would harm him
in his speed through the darkness. When
his mother protested that lie was rushing
into certain death, that the river bank was
lineG with hostile Indians through all the
dangerous route, lis il not better" he re-
Piled, THAT / should die trying TO reach
the fort than that we all should stay here
and starve?' So he vent. At mihnic hit
he dropped quickly down the rope, with
skates already strapped to his feet, and
almost before his friends knew that he had
touched the ice he was flying down the
dark, dangerous river. On he went, over
the slippery ice. Now and again quick
strokes were head on the shore and a ran
dom arrow sped after him. Flying over
thin places, narrowly escaping one obstruc-
ton after another as il came in his way on
lie flew. The fierce wind was at his hack
and helped him on his voyage for life.
The moon. as if to shield him from danger.
hid herself behind a big, black cloud, till,
exhausted and painting, lie reached The fort,
aud then she shone out IN all her silver
glory in honor of his heroic deed. In an
hOur rnt, IN n, ft-pasS aud iapua, 10 g,.,
made the tiip. Before the sun shone again
the Kings relocated men, equally swift
in their mission of mercy, were at the block
house fort. st. Geniere was saved. The
brave boy aud the trusty skates had done
.heir work.