New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-07-30
Historical "reminiscences.
SWeatland's Adventure ON Lak Ike
Erie.

OepCemDef, Holt, anu DOlOulOL
Swaziland, of Conneant, ON the Ohio
shore. Of Lake Erie, had risen at the
earliest dawn to enjoy his favorite
amusement Of hunting deer. This
exciting sport he had been accust.
omed to follow III connection with
friend and ncighbor, who, by the
aid of dogs, would drive the deer in
to the lake, where Swaziland would
pursue them in his canoe and shoot
them without difficulty. On the
present occasion he had left his ca
bin without his coat or waistcoat to
listen for the baying of the dogs as
they drove the deer. The welcome
sound soon greeted his ears, and he
was surprised to find that a noble
buck had already taken the water,
and was some little distance ont in
the lake. In the enthusiasm of the
moment he threw his hat upon the
beech, jumped into his canoe, and
put off after the animal, with every
nerve thrilling with intense interest
in the pursuit. The wind, which
had been blowing steadily from the
south during the night. had now in
creased to gale, but he was too in.
tent upon securing the valuable
prize which was brcasting the waves
in advance to heed the dictates Of
prudence. The race promised to be
a long one, for the deer was a pow
erful animal, and was not to be
easily beaten by a log canoe and a
single paddle. A considerable dis.
lance from the land had been at
tanned, and the canoe had already
shipped heavy sea before he over
took the deer, who turned and made
for the shore. Upon lacking to pur.
sue him, Swaziland was at once APP
prised Of his danger by the fact that,
with his utmost cxertions, he not
only made no progress in the desired
direction, but, Oh the contrary, was
drifting further out to sea. He had
been observed III his outward pro-
gress by his neighbour, as well as BY
his own family, and as he disappeared
from. sight, considerable apprehen.
sion was felt for his safety. The
alarm was soon given in the neigh
borhood, and it was decided by those
competent tojudge that his return
would be impossible, and unless
help could be afforded him lie was
doomed to perish at sea. Actuatcd
by those generous impulses which
often induce men to risk their own
lives to save those Of others, three
neighbors, Messrs. Gilbert, Cousins,
and Belden. took light boat and
started in search Of the wanderer.
They met the deer returning, but
could see nothing Of their neighbour
and friend. They made stretches
off shore in the probable range Of
the fugitive, until they reached a
distance Of five or six miles from
.laud, when. meeting with heavy
sea ii which they deemed it impos-.
sible for canoe to live, and seeing
no signs Of it on the vast cxpanse Of
waters, they reluctantly, and not
without difficulty and danger, re-
turned to shore, and Swaziland was
given up as lost. Meantime the OBJ
iect Of their search was laboring at
his paddle, in the vain hope that the
wind might abate, or that aid might
reach him from the shore. One or
two schooners we're in sight in the
course Of the day, but notwithstand..
ing he made every effort to attract
the attention of their crews, he
failed to do so. For a long time the
shore continued in sight, and as he
traced its dim aud fast.receding out.
line, and recognized the spot where
stood his cabin, within those pre-.
cincts where the cherished objects Of
his affections, now doubly dear from
the prospect Of losing them forever,
he felt that the last tie which united
him in companion with his fell
low men was about to be dissolved,
and the world, with all its busy In
terests, forever hidden from his sight.
Fortunately be possessed . cool head
and stout heart, which, united to.
a considerable share Of physical.
strength. and power Of endurance,
eminently fitted him for any emer-
gency. He was q good sailor, and
his experience taught him that.
while there was life there was.
hope. Z That experience taught him
also, as the outline Of the far.ofr
shore disappe from his sight,,
that his only expediient was to endea-
yor to reach the canada shore, . dis
lance Of fifty miles It was now
blowing q gale. and the sea was eYi-s