The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1885-09-05
OGDENsBURG, y. !.


A cold, disagrceablc rain has
been falling since morning. Thro'
the old-faShioned window Of my
coscy little room | can look out
across the foamy water Of the
st. Lawrence and see the old stone
wind mill, which q, occupied by
the Polish exile, Van Shultz, during
the battle Of "Wind Mill Point
in the Patriot war Of 1897,
A CHEEKY fire Of hickory wood is
burning in the quaint cid fireplace,
and nothing save the crdckle ofthe
embers and the rapid strokes of
two pens break the dreamy silence
of our pleasant quarters.
Seated at Il table near my own is
a young man busily engaged in
writing, only raising his eyes
occasionally from his Ms. to look
out upon the white capped waves
of the river that are dashed up
against the small dock beneath our
very windows. lie is indeed a
very singular young man, and in
Introducing him to my readers tits
my purpose only to state such facts
regarding his past history rs is
necessary to give him the ap-
pearance of a tangible reality in
stead Of presenting him in the garb
OF a being OF fiction. Since my
earliest remembrance he has
followed me like u shadow. His
existence began at so nearly the
same time as my own that we have
never been able to decide which
one of US was the senior. What
ever | have done hehas attempted.
And now as | travel from place to
place, in my present work, | am
not surprised TO still find him my
compagnon de royaqc.
Isle Royal, or "Chimney Is
land, " as it is more commonly
called, lies about five miles below
this place, in the st. Lawrence
river, and on the American side of
the boundary line. During the
occupation of Canada by the French
it was strongly fortified, and the
high entertainments and walls ofthe
forts may still be seen from the
decks Of passing steamers.
In the month Of August, 1860,
it was beseiged and taken by
Gen. Putnam. On the night be
fore the capitulatlon large amount
of government tire s re held by the
French commandment was buried
here, and at the present time 1t is
no uncommon thing in visiting tLo
place in the morning, to find large
excavations that have been made
during the night bysome tancitul ad.
venturer in the hope Of becoming
the possessor Of tho rich treasure
whlct in AL probability actually
lies hidden beneath the ruins Of
this dcsolate old spot.
The many tales which are told
OF this place had a powerful attrac.
ton for Simon, so much so that DIES
pite my persuasions to the contrary
he set out at an early hour yoster
day with the purpose Of visiting
the island.
During a period of his early boy.
hood Simon was so unfortunate us
to fall a victim to a savere attack
OF cholera morbus, which very I'M.
happily went to his brain, or more
definitely, to his Imagination, and
since hal time, on the annual re.
turn Of the cucumber season, he Is
afflicted with serious flights Of the
fancy, and to such a degree, that
the inspiration Of such a place as
he is now visiting is liable to work
sad havoc with his entire intellec
tual'apparatus. 1t was for thi
reason that my apprehension were
not in the least ~consoling, when, a,
It beran 10 grow dark, he I'D no.
return daspatehe3 p searching
rar.y Do She island. buf Uu t~r,,eas e.