Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-06-04
A BLACK sQUALL ON LAKE 4IOH-
IGAN.

Mr.. T.. f. Strattou Of the Franklin
County Observer thus relates an in-
odent which for few minutes was
really u thrilling one :-"Airiving At
Chicsgo-rhe Queen City by the
lakes the early morning of FRI
day, the excursionists were met at
the depot by Mr.. Frank Psrmalee
with II number of elegant carriages,
and conveyed to the Palmer House,
Que of the most magnificent hotels in
the United States, were we were en-
,crtained in princely manuer.
Durin. Friday the party divided up
into little go-as-you-please squads,
spending the day as best suited the re-
spectlve tastes of each. The writer,
im company with Capt. Lesueur, wife
and daughter, aud Miss Lizzie
Shields, ut Lexington, aud Hon. G. :,
n. Bennett and Mr.. Sat Rowden. of
Vienna, Maries county. went out in
IL small boat about 5 p. m. for e sail
on :he lake. Our boat was tho Doug
las aud was manned by Capt. John
johnson aud Axel Auson. The
sDouglas' sailed out beautifully, all
enjoying the ride e1ceedingly-par'
,icularly Miss Shields, who was over.
whose sallies, generally directed at
the good-natured skipper kept
the party almost continually tn .
roar of laughter. When about six
| miles out We turned about to return,
bat before long the wind ceased and
VIC came to . dead stand.still. We
were .becalmed.' For about two
hours we made little progress, when
| IL: IN 0un nA
slowly toward the harbor. When
within about two miles Of the pier,
looking to the northwest We were
deeply concerned to note that the
clouds which We had noticed for
appearance, aud in less than 1t re.
ieeliugs of horror what appeared to
be terrific cyclone bearing down
upon us; and our feelings were not
at all allayed when the skipper
remarked in q nervous and excited
manner that it was the worst lookup
one' he ever saw The ladies were
seut down .iut0 the little cabin; Capt.
Lesueur, having some knowledge Of
navigation, seized the helm; both
sailors set to work to lower the can.
vass, aud fortunately this was accom-
plished before the full force Of the
squall struck US. The wind, which
was exceedingly cold, soou lashed tho
waves into fury and every moment
threatened to tear our little craft la
pieces. Notwithstanding the iMmi-
nent peril Of the situation, there was
no panic. The ladies remained
quietly in the little cabin, betraying
no emotion; Lesueur remained ut the
helm, and while he must have felt,
aud did feel. the deepest concern for
the safety of his family, he stood
there. as he had stood upon more
than half . hundred battle. fields, his
cheek never blanching by q feeling
of fear. Bennett was cool aud col
lected, notwithstanding the prospect
Of again meeting the loved ones at
homo he must have considered er-
ceediugiy small. Rowden's conduct
WAS phenomenal. The situation
seemed to be III accord with his ieel-
ings for while the storm was at it's
height, he stood upon the steps Of
the iittles cabin, looked out upon the
wild aud terrific scene aud actually
laughed heartily. We, entertaining
the sentiment, If not repeating the
language, of "farewell vain world y
thought that laugh was the most
ghsstly sound we had ever heard.
While the storm ragged our little craft
was driven so far 10 the southeast
that when the wind subsidized SUN.
ciently to permit her to again take
her course, We were unable to make
the harbor and put into shore 10 the
south, but succeeded iu making the
breakwstsr, aud reached the dock Al
about Q o'clock at night, amid blind.
ing ram. We had gained some ex'
.. periencc, but had paid dearly for 1t,
and congratulated ourselves when
again upon terra tirma"