Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1886-08-13
A DARK MYSTERY.
The Extraordinary Incidents of Trip Oh
Lake Michigan.

The Extraordinary Inctdents OF Trip Vi
Lake Michigan. 5
We had no sooner left Petoskey thar
something got into the old steamboat
She began to bow and duck and kick up
and perform in such queer mannrl
that we held meeting and appointed 8
committee to wait on the captain and
ask for information. The committee
never returned. Whether the captain
threw 'em overheard, or they got tired
out and lay down under the piano tc
rest we never knew.
Pretty soon after that Lake Michigan
began to act like a born fool. 1t would
rear up in front and kick up behind,
and such horse-play on the part of g
lake fifteen thousand or twenty thous
and years old was disgusting. We held
another meeting, but as we failed ia
fasten the responsibility on any particu
lar person no resolutions were passed
l have always been sorry we didn't lay
d. it to Christopher Columbus and give his
memory hail Columbia.
Half an hour after being out it seem
ed as if some one ought to go to the
captain and ask him if there was any
particular object in the boat behaving
in such manner. A man on the
wharf might be greatly amused to see 8
steamboat trying to stand on its head
but man aboard of her takes it more
seriously. There was a fat woman
from Chicago among us who insisted
that it was altogether irregular and be-
yond endurance, and she started out ia
tell the Captain. The next time | saw
her she lay under one of the tables, hel
head TANNED into basket of buckle
berries and her feet kicking the ribs OF
dying young man.
Some folks might think IL made q
difference to passenger which end the
boat stood on, but we really couldn'
see any. 1t was when she rolled from
side to side that we felt relief. During
these rolls we were pretty sure of bring
ing up against sofa instead of piano
and we could feel the difference right oil,
We were very friendly for a mixed
crowd. There were some Chicago arts
tocrats aboard, but they went with
the rest and made no objections
i saw lumberman worth million
dollars pitch head-frs under table in
the society of half-breed Indian worth
less than two dollars, and he never
raised an objection when the Indian
came out on top. The friendly spirit
cropped out IN suggestions. We sug
gested lemons, peppermint, sassafras
ammonia, -camphor and various othel
things, and man who had pint o
cod-liver oil in his sachel generousl,
offered to divide with the assemblage
We passed resolution of thanks, bu
he had gone to rest before he could b.
notified. @
There were several things l wanted t.
speak to the captain about, but for som
reason he held aloof from me. l wante
to ask:
l. "Will we ever reach portp
2. "How deep is this part of tn
lakep
8. Don't you think you could stan'
three months on dry land?
4. "Why not try castor oil? II
donate four-ounce bottle.
5, lis sucking the head of cane an
better than biting the leg of a table?
6. ''Do you think the conduct of TIL
boat is guided by honorable motives?
z. WHY not give fellow his choic
between cholera and seasickness?p
AS | said, the captain held aloof. BIT
he was serene in the presence of such a
hunted him and asked him to head tn
old boat for the bottom and end the ur
certainty. He acted as unconcerned q
if we were heathens.
After about an hour the few of us VIII
still sat up drew closer together, and
feeling of confidence was NANTES
Each wanted to unbosom himself to til
others. We owned up to stealing hen
calves, sheep and horses-to Robin
stores, banks and churches-to murde
ing drovers and tin peddlers and boo
agents.
We all felt better for these confe
SONS, and as we buckled on life-pr
servers and shook hands and whispere
our sad farewells the hour was in
pressive.
Whether we went down or got
land in safety have never been able
remember. and have never met one
the passengers who would come squar
ly out and inform of the truth Of Il
matter. Whenever / have accidental
run across one he has seemed to avo
me as if was man to be Stunned.
II. Quad, in Detroit Free Press.
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