The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-29
a Life ut StuHo,

"tlave you never heard the story told
by Jerry .. Rogers, Of skating the whole
length of Lake Hur0n2 No! Well, /
will give il to you, merely prcfacng that
he recitcd it to me last summer while |
was passenger on the elegant steamer
Nyack, of which he is chief engineer. 1t
was lovely night the moon was shining
brightly and VIZ were cleavlng It's silvery
beams reflected on the broad bosom of the
serene Huron, when Jerry, who had been
dreaming over fragrant Havana l gave
him, turned to mo and said -
81 never pass through This lake that a
thrill OF horror does not shoot through my
velns'
'Ever been shipwreckcd on lt2 asked
NO, but l have had an experience
such as l hope my bittcrest enemy may
never have
"'What was it asked, rouslng from
the languor that had possession Of mo TOR
some time. There was something in his
manner that had told me as plain as words
could that his story was worth listening to,
and squared myself so rs to assume the
attitude Of an interested listener as he re.
piled -
81 have an ho'r before my watch COM
mcnces, and as do not care to turn in
will tell you. 1t was in the fall of 1872.
late too, that the steamer 1 was engineer
on was frozen in at Sailors Encampment
in the Sault Ste. Marie. What boat was
it2 The Atlantic, Captain Miller We
reached the canal III season to get through,
| as we thought but cold weather set in and
when we reached Sailors cncumpment we
could proceed no 1urthcr. | thought
had been out in cold weather before, bat
II was spring to what we got then. Why,
1t was 80 cold that the orders Captain
Miller shouted to the mate frozc and fell
at the feet of the first officer in irregular
cakes. We hadn't grub enough to last
until spring If all hands remained, 80 it
was arranged that some of us should start
for Nlackinaw Island. In company with
the clerk, MIR. Maltby, the chambermaid,
colored woman, who was dressed in male
attire for the occasion, and two or three
deck hands, l started. The day was
pleasant, the air keen and cold, and
although we struck ont at lively pace 1t
was difficult TO keep our blood in clrcula.
lion. The Clerk became drowsy and had
TO secure a switch to keep him in motion.
Just before sunset VIC marched into the
john Jacob Astor House, and were wei
coined ny jim Cable, the proprietor, who
left nothing undone to make us comfort
able. In the morning said to jim -
How arc we going to reach home e
Cross over to the mainland on tho Michi
gnn side and strike an Indian trail. | will
send scout who knows the country to
pilot you and in four or five days you will
reach the railroad, he replied. That would
not do ne, and | told jim 80. l had to
reach Buffalo in two days time, as | was
to act as best man to friend who was to
be married, and asked Jim If he could
loan me a pair of skates. Skates be
blowcd, he answered. what could YOU
do with skates3' Why, skate down Lake
Huron, was my reply. IIe tried to laugh
Inc out of the notion, but when he saw 1
was determined, and in earpest, he brought
forth a pair of od-fashioned turn. overs
which he said his grandfather had used on
the Connecticut river, The rest of the
party thought to discourage me by talking
about wolves, but ! smiled at their. fears,
strapped on tho skates, filed my pipe with
plug toeacco,2 lighted 1t, and bidding good.