The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-06-23
An Irish Heroine.

Chicago. Is moaksof our readers prob.
ably know. gets its drinking water from
Lake Michigan. About two miles out
in the lake is the Crib, where the
water il taken into the great pipe under
the lake. Kalstrom is the name of 4
gigantic Finn who had charge of this
crib. The Chicago Tribune tells the
following story Of bis wife's devotion:
: sKalstrom was known about the
wharYes as Big Charlie. His claim to
distinction is that he commanded q
bark of dousand duns, in which, he
says, he sailed the north seas, and in
which, viking like, he had carried off his
wife, bright-fa Irish girl. from
Drogheda, one of the east ports of Ire
land
She was q woman with gray eyes and
long, black lashes. She had strongly
marked eyebrows, and mass of waving,
black hair crept IN little curls around
her temples and neck. She had the
piquant nose of her race, and generous
mouth filled with strong, white teeth.
"It was in March. The sun shone
warmly, and the great lake seemed to
dream of springtime.
lib lOOA Wh6 OAC A0g kSOtbiAk OC0lC0s
and Kalstrom took his small boat and
rowed ashore, for the purpose of getting
some.
the shops the wind changed; and, wnen
he reached the shore Of the lake with his
stores, he found it churned up to the
fury peculiar to inland seas.
ssHe did not dare to venture upon it;
and, though somewhat worried, he
had such confidence in his little Irish
girl, as he called her, that he spent the
night in the city without serious anxiety.
ssThe next day found the storm as
wild as ever; and he spent the hours of
daylight striding up and down the
shore, for by this time he knew the few
provisions had given out, and that his
wife was suffering for food. Twice he
launched his boat, and twice it swamped.
''At dark, the light cleaned out from
the crib-top, but TO Kalstrom's eyes it
had baleful glare; and morning found
him determined ito go, ev hev to swim
vor it,
Fortunately, the wind was more
quiet; and, after hard work, he came
under the lee of the crib walls.
''Hls wife had seen him, and cast him
noosed rope from the top story of the
crib: for the waves were SO high that all
the storm doors and shutters were bat
tened down, and the white caps spit at
the lanterns as they drove before the
wind.
He caught the rope, and passed up
his bundle of supplies. She dropped it
the second time; and just as he got ii
under his arms, a great wave swamped
his boat, leaving him clinging to the
wall, blinded and bruised, and depend
ing on the little woman up aloft for
his life.
.'She began hauling ON the rope, and
pulled at it until she had drawn him as
high as the window sill, he TRUSTING his
| fingers and toes into whatever crevices
offered.
"As he reached his right hand up, the
! wind came around the corner with 9
| yell and tore him loose. dropping him
| into the lake; but the heroic Irish gir
| paid out the line as fast as she could
He caught it and found himself with 0
chance Of life still within his reach.
| up he came, hand over hand; and, al
| he entered the window, he saw strange
discoloration of her face, a black stain OF
| the bright rag-carpet, and the fact tha
| her dress was torn to rags in front.
HE quickly picked her up and foun6
| the wedding finger of her left hand en-
| tirely gone, and the tendons actuall,
torn out up to the elbow.
cit had been caught between the rope
and the stone casing when he fell; ant
his great weight, playing against th
wedding ring, had done the mischief
But as she said Tt weren't a time fo
fainting,' miss And she had hauled
him up with her right hand and the he'll
of her strong white teeth.
''The rugging of the hemp had cut he
mouth cruelty, and she had ground he
knees against the walls so desperatel,
that the thick stuff gown she, wore wa
frayed through and through.
s'That night the lake shrieked an
roared till the lake went mad with th
noise, and the waves threw their spra
among the pigeons under the ewes Of th
lantern roof; and the injured woma
moaned throught the house for the RI
lief that could not come.
"Kalstrom signalled and signalle
J for help, and four days after the acc
dent boat got out, and Mrs. Kalstrol
J was taken to the hospital, where th
: wound was dressed, and where she la
for many weary day.
"When I first say her, I noticed wit
great satisfaction What o fall of prett
lace covered her mained hand, and ths
Big Charlie under his rough hask, ,hel
real reverence and affection for her.
+ ITO these feelings, he bore witne.
/ everywhere; and when his friends woul
play upon him. and say half in jest an
/ half in earnest
8 'Ah, Charlie, you are fine felloy
ain't you? he would answer with mai,
concelt and confidence
+" Vase, am, for hef commanded
, bark of dousand duns; but dere's
better one dan me at home. And ev AM
body says, 'Kalstrom' vine veller,' yo
can dell him Vase, but Kalstrom's wi
is viner.'
Trees Around Farm Buildings.