Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-05-14
correspondence.
To the Editor of NORTHERN TRIBUNE.


Sir-Although | am stranger to you
if do not communicate to you the fol-
lowing news, perhaps no one else will.
On the 30th ult. youth named Will
lam Flynn, half-breed, of Indian Vii
lage, Burt lake, after being on the lake
fishing, when taking gun out of the
boat, which he had had with him, was
drawing it towards him, muzle forward,
when it discharged, sending bullet
against has breast. By drawing the
gun towards him on an angle, the bullet
glanced on the breast bone where it en-
tered about the center and went out at
his side. He is asspinally defOrmed Grip
pie about fifteen years old, about as tall
as boy of ten years. He does not ap-
pear to be in precari0us condition and
is likely to recover.
Having some time at my disposal set
out on the 22nd ult. to see for myself
what the southern part of the county
looked like and the prospects for good
agricultural settlement. Not knowing
with what | would have to contend, |
travelled as the faithful hearted girl
when she went to be married-"On foot
and alone" | determined to have as
much pleasure and comfort as circum-
stances would permit, which, by the way,
were not very cheering, so far as the
roads were concerned, as there was
neither good sleighing or wagOning but
plenty of water and mud.
My business permitted. me to quit
ChebOygan at 8 o'clock on clear day. L
jOurneyed along, now in deep snow
which had been drifted into the road,
now in mud or water, then on good
dry road. | was pleased with the looks
of the country for short distance from
town. The land appeared tOlerably
favorable to agriculture, with very neat
and comfortable Improvements. But
suddenly entered an uninyiting tract
of sandy land, the timber on which was
principally dead. After leaving the tele-
graph line running to Alpena soon
found more hardwood timber. When
probably six miles from town found
myself in settlement again, and after
picking my way for some time L was
kindly invited to ride by one of two gen.
tlemen who were riding in farm wag-
on, though he could not give me seat
| was glad to stand behind them in pref
erence to walking. In moment l no
ticed a marked contrast in the two. One
apparently farmer, (theH driyer), the
other judging by his authoritative ex-
pressiOns and appearances. his father.
They cOnyersed both in French and
English. When the eldest found that
am common school teacher he said he
was kind of teacher also. Then said
you can sympathize with us in our
difficulties, whereupOn he said if was
teacher could probably tell how many
i and and were. said | thought L
might after thinking carefully after
which he Immediately asked me how
many are IL times IL, said / an i'm
proper fraction ga or the mixed number
2I. That is right said he and the ex-
animation was over. A little further
and we were nearly upset in passing
snow drift (Or the remains of it) at which
the old gentleman fOr he had evidently
seen many winters) became quite un-
nerved clutching at the reins but did
not succeed i'm Seizing them, he looked
fiercely at the farmer reprOving him at
the same time, saying had it not been
for me remaining on the high side of
the wagon we would have certainly been
overturned. AS to who or what the old
est might be 1 waslnOt long in doubt, we
soon stopped at Roman Catholic church
door when the old gentleman allghted,
telling me at the same time he would
spend the night i'm that little thing"
meaning small building at the rear of
the church. Just imagine my surprise
and strange feelings at the thought Of
retaining the equilibrium of the center
of gravity in wagon leaning over till
ready to Overturn, Notwithstanding the
fact that portly old priest was (un-
knowingly to me) on the lower side.
Had / desire to exercise authority over
my fellowbeings with a vengeance 1
would like to be r. C. priest. After some
difficulty in travelling over and around
wet places, in some of which the cross
way logs b0bbed in the water like cOrks
as stepped quickly over them, L arrived
at the residence of my very excellent
| friend Mr.. Zenith Mcleod, where l was
most cheerfully and comfortably enter
tanned till the next day, / then pushed
on my way, when itIsOon appeared as
Though Iwere leaving civilization. Af--