The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-05-10
EVAN COGswELL,s ICE.FoRT.


In the early days of Northern Ohio,
when settlers were. few and far between,
Evan Cogswell, Welsh lad of sixteen
wears, 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. te &F
The story of his lie, outlined in q
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 itspassages would read like
high-wrought romance.
His first term of service was with a
border farmer on the banks of 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 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.n
In midwinter Evans employer left a
couple of axes with the blacksmith for
repairs, the job 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. s Hi
But three or four days later, there
came q 'sJanuary thaw.n 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 il. 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
ortwo for turn in the weather, Evan
was posted of. 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. Sc
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 ne found that this bridge had been
swept away, But pushing on down
stream among the thiekets, about hall a
mile below, he came upon an immense
lee-lam. 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 narrow
out deep and violent stream, ran roaring
and plunging beneath the masses of ice
as If enraged at being SO obstructed; but
the lad picked his path in safety and
soon stood on the opposite bank.
Away he hurried now to the blaek-
smith $, so as to complete his errand and
return by this precarious crossing before
dark.
But the smith had neglected his duty
and Evan had to wait an hour or more
Ior the axes. At length they were done
ana with one tied at each end of strong
cord and this hung about his neck, he
was on on the homeward trip. To aid
ms walking, heprocured from the thicket
stout cane. He had hardly gone two
miles when the duskiness gathering in
the woods denoted the nearness of niSbt.
YET as the moon was riding hiqh. he
pushed on without fear.
But as he was skirting a wind-fau of
.lees. he came suddenly upon two or
.nree wolves apparently emerging from
snelr daytime hiding place for hunting
eApeditlon Evan was considerably
STARTLED; but as they ran off into the
woods as If afraid of him, he took cour-
~ ~ the hope that they would not mo-
,esSsiima ina few minutes, however.
aney set up that dismal bowling by
wh4eh they summon their mates and en-
i'ige Their numbers; and Evan discov-
efed by the sounds that they wereafol.
tance. - lo 8 otte e usS7 US
frequent responses were also heard
rom more distant points in the woods
:. s'u from across the river Bv this time
was becoming quite dark, the MOON
,shs penetrated the forest only alono
sne roadway and in occasional patches
@hong the trees on either side. The
;ushlng river was not far away, bnt above
.S roar arose every instant fha fhrnater
as howtof wolf Finally, Just as he
nesp resened the ice-bridge, the bowling be.
ha,a ,s,se sun. a sign that their numbers en-
"olsfaea them to enter in earnest on the
pnssaiU The species of wolf once SO
Solhlion ;rli ~ IN the Central States, and max
s sRe early farmers so much trouble.
sras e peculiar in this respect; they were
kIeateowards sinolv. ,ani uro,xl5 ~. :, n.