Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-12-25
IT WAS NO GHOST.
Thrilling Adventure In Michigan
Forest.
BY DELBERT s. WINS.

20 ~ WAS near the close OF daY--the
fourth of July, 1860 that found nv
self by spring brook that crossed the
old Traverse Trail, about four or Ave
miles south Of Pine River, and about
thirty miles south of Grand Traverse
Settlement. In Michigan.
had parted with my wife and babe
at the Settlement that morning, and,
wearied by my long walk, was re-
lolced to find this beautiful bubblinQ
brook OF crystal, cool water with which
to Stake my thirst and battle my heated
brow.
l was on my way to Kalamazoo, and
had abont fifty miles more OF this
lonely, deaolate wilderness to traverse
before reaching the next settlement:
or, as the Traverse people would have
said, before / could get outside.
As 1t was near shutdown, and watar
was an object along this trail, / decided
to camp here Tor the night. i acoor5.
ingly went q few yards. ,ap the hrnol
and discovered 1.-THE los s,es coyarad
with bark, which had probably been
she winter quarters of some trapper or
hunter the previous winter.
Iais is the very place I have been
WASHING for thought /, and soon be-
gan to gather some dry fuel with which
TO smoke away the ravenous MOSQUITOES,
which hoyered about like swarminr
bees. 2
After fixing snug little pallet
snf henaleek 5eHgfass iii ii one curuer OF the
cabin on which to repose. I.teok from
my pocket paper and tried to read.
but could not; inc letters would ali
run together, After several attempts
ana fal1ares, put the paper in nv
poe6et. then filed and lighted nay ipiise.-
A strange, indescribable feeling came
over mes / began to grow restless and
uneasy, when q strange whisper came
TO my ear, distinctly calling my name.
Don't stop here; this cabin is haunt
ed,
! confess that I was startled; I looked
about and tried to discover from whence
the strange whispers came, but no clue
could l discover.
I stepped out of the cabin and looked
around; the birds were warbling their
evening carol: the sun, which was lust
setting, looked like like O great
ball of fire, and the wiud
made dreary, lonesome noise among
the tall pine and hemlock trees, which
stood thickly about ON all sides. 1
meditated only a moment; my resolve
was quickly taken. I stepped back
into the hut, picked up my carpet-sack
and started. 1t was only few steps to
the trail, and as soon as / reached il I
stopped and meditated a moment. and
then was ready to retrace nv steps.
What fool [ am" thought /, ito
leave this comfortable little cabin and
this delightful brook, and here, just at
night, start out on this lonesome old
trail and, ten to one, get lost! No, I'll
risk the phantoms and stay here. I"
After returning to the cabin pro-
cured more fuel, and then tried to read
again, but could not concentrate NV
mind long enough upon any article to
finish it.
I flung the paper down, filed and
lighted my pipe again, and in the course
OF an hour or SO was pretty well COM
posed.
Wearied with my long walk, it was
scarcely dark when / sought my hem
lock couch, and PRAYED feryently that
sweet Morpheus might take charge OF
me and release my mind from worldly
care till the incoming of another day.
A half hour later l had fallen into
gentle slumber. of five or ten minutes
duration, when fearful scream aroused
me from my lethergy.
In an instant was Frightening up
my fire, which-hy this time had nearly
died ont. In q few moments it was
burning brightly.
For perhaps minute remained in
breathless silence, as ii paralyzed,
striving to catch the slightest
sound, but the dull, dreary rustling of
the leaves, with an occasional sough
and moan of the breeze. as it swept
with varying current through the tall
pines and hemlock. was all that could |
now distinguish with the sense of hear
ing.
MY reverie was soon disturbed by a /
sound entirely different from the ,,re-