The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-04-14
EVAN COGsWELL's ICE.FORT.


In the early days of Northern Ohio,
when settlers were few and far between,
Evan Cogswell, a Welsh lad of sixteen
years, found his way thither and began
his career as a laborer receiving at first
but two dollars month in addition to
his board and ''home- made clothing
He possessed an intelligent, energetic
mind in sound and vigorous body, and
had acquired in his native parish the ele-
ments of an education in both Welsh and
English.
The story of his life, outlined in a
curious old diary containing the records
of sixty-two years, and an entry for
more than twenty-five thousand days,
would constitute history of the region,
and some of its passages would read like
high-wrought romance.
His first term of service was with a
border farmer on the banks of a stream
called Grand River, in Ashtabula Coun-
ty. 1t was rather crude farming, how
ever, consisting mostly of telling trees,
cutting wood and saw-logs, burning
brush and digging out stumps, the ak
and pick-ax finding more use than ordi-
nary farm implements.
Seven miles down the river, and on
the opposite bank, lived the nearest
neighbors, among them a blacksmith
who in his trade served the whole coun-
try for twenty miles around. One
especial part of his business was the re-
pairing of axes, called in that day
jumping, or ''upsetting." ,,.
In midwinter Evans employer left
couple of axes with the blacksmith for
repairs, thejob to be done within week.
At this time the weather was what is
termed settled" with deep snow, and
good slipping" along the few wildwood
roads.
But three or four days later, there
came january thaw." Rain and a
warmer temperature melted away much
of the snow, the little river was swelled
to great torrent, breaking up the ice
and carrying it down stream, and the
roads became almost impossible. When
the week was up and the farmer wanted
the axes it was not possible for the horse
to travel, and after waiting vainly day
or two for turn in the weather, Evan
was posted off on foot to obtain the
needed implements. Delighted in the
change and excitement of such trip,
the boy started before noon, expecting
to reach home again ere dark, as it was
not considered quite safe to journey far
by night on account of the wolves.
Three miles below, at narrow place
in the river, was the bridge, consisting
OF three very long tree-trunks reaching
parallel from bank to bank, and covered
with hewn plank. When Evan arrived
here he found that this bridge bad been
swept away, But pushing on down
stream among the thickets, about half a
mile below, he came upon an immense
ice-jam, stretching across the stream and
piled many feet high. Upon this he at
once resolved to make his way over to
the road on the other side, for he was
already wearied threading the under
brush. Grand River, which is a narrow
but deep and violent stream, ran roaring
and plunging beneath the masses of ice
as If enraged at being so INSTRUCTED; but
the lad picked his path in safety and
soon stood on the opposite bank.
Away he hurried now to the black
smiths, so as to complete his errand and
return by this precarious crossing before
dark.
But the smith had neglected his duty
for the axes. At length they were done
and with one tied at each end of strong
cord and this hung about his neck, he
was off on the homeward trip. To aid
his walking, he procured from the thicket
a stout cane. He had hardly gone two
miles when the duskiness gathering in
the woods denoted the nearness of night;
yet as the moon was riding high, he
pushed on without fear.
But as he was skirting a wind-fall of
trees, he came suddenly upon two or
three wolves apparently emerging from
their daytime hiding place for hunting
expedition. Evan was considerably
startled; but as they ran off into the
woods as if afraid of him, he took cour-
age in the hope that they would not mo-
lest him. In few minutes, however,
they set up that dismal bowling by
which they summon their mates and en-
large their numbers; and Evan discov-
cred by the sounds that they were fol-
lowing him cautiously at no great dis
lance.
Frequent responses were also heard
from more distant points in the woods
and from across the river. By this time
it was becoming quite dark, the moon
light penetrated the forest only along
the roadway and in occasional patches
among the trees on either side. The
rushing river was not far away, but above
its roar arose every instant the threaten
ing howl of wolf. Finally, just as he
reached the ice-bridge, the bowling be-
came still, a sign that their numbers en-
boldened them 10 enterin earnest on the
pursuit. The species of wolf once SO
common in the Central States, and max
ing the early farmers so much trouble,
were peculiar in this respect; they were
great towards singly, and would trail the
heels of traveller bowling for recruits.
and not daringto begin the attack until
they had collected force that insured
success: then they became fierce and
bold, and more to be dreaded than any
other animal of the wilderness. And at
this point, when they considered their
numbers equal to the occasion, the howl
ing ceased.
Evan had been told of this and when