The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-11-07
A MOURNFUL BAPTISlL.
The Sad Story of tho Christening
OF Lake st. Flour.

Amid the wild, yet picturesque
scenery OF the BLACK GlaLC-.' lics oro
OF the most sercnc Lake. in Dakota. l.
bears the sweet, suggestive ululc OF St
fleur.
Connected with tho history OF this
littlc gem OF tho Wilderness Is e sad.
romantic narrative which gave 10 tho
calm waters their mourn3ul baptism,
and which is full OF pathetic interest
Is told 70 me.
The story itself IS sad enough 20
bring tears TO the eyes Of any listener
anywhere, but when heard b. the sC-i-
tary grave under the bowling willows Il
borrows an additional solcmnity- and IS
more sorrowful than the moan Of the
water at the foot OF the bluff
1t was in the year IS, when tho
steady march Of industry had brought
the sturdy lumbermen t. the North,
and the solitary depths OF dark pine
woods resounded with the echoes OF in
dustrial life.
Among the dilIgcnt workmen was
young and handsome German, VINO
nevcr entered into the jovial songs and
rude Jokes of his fellows. Always calm
and unobtrusive, yet withal pleasant,
lie won friends among the more refined
classes of the laborcrs and the name OF
prince Earnest" from the rudcr grade,
which stood in derisivc antaEonism OF
one whom it could not comprehend. Al
though the grand appellation was gwen
him by way OF contempt 1t accorded
with his lordly bearing and earnest
spirit perfectly.
With the disappearance OF wintcr anu
the ice spring came, and the rafting be-
gan in earnest. The more fearless and
| yenturesome raftsmen went careCring
over the water with an easy hcclioss-
| ness, while the timid and uuinitiated
were circumspect and slower OF moye-
ment.
Among the latter was prince
| Earnest" And il any ono OF the rude,
| uncultured experts could run him
| down, " il proved n source Of great hllar-
ity at his expense.
| One morning in being thus tupedod
by 4 careless Irish raftsman, who, per
haps, had no idea Of any serious conse-
| auonces resulting, he lost his presence
of mind and footing IS well, and
slipped from the raft into tho chilling
water
.sIIe can't swim a stroke, and you're
the death OF him," called one Of the
mon in the rear, who had seen tho un-
fortunate man fall. Frightened at this
the Irishman sprang into the lake 70
the rescue. The logs had iOated over
him. but with timely assistance he was
brought from beneath them. Tho burly
rescuer lifted the inanimate burden uT
to two pair Of strong, willing arms, and
then climbed out of the water himself
shivering with cold and excitement, and
with u very white, alarmed face.
1t was but the work OF = few minutes
TO get the unconscious man on shore
and into the warmth OF the lodging
house. Here every available means o.
resuscitation were thoroughly triod, bu
in vain. prince Earnest was past res
toration-
TORY McCOrman, she peFpetratOr o
the fatal Joke, was the first to spoai
after tho futile attempts were aban
doned. Coming forward, he caresse'
the cold, calm face with his toil-worI
palm. and exclaimed: "An shure y
| only meant 70 taze him a little, an
Oi've kilt i'm intoirelEi Oi shall be re
piRtin' ~ it till mo heart IS broke"
The men looked furtively st ono an
other as McCorman staggered 20 cor
ner, sat down and coyered his fac
with his stained hands.
His triends2" suggested one; bu
man knew any thing OF the dead
mans affairs
His belongings were searched Tor
a Glow as to his relatives, but their &c
ward was meager, for only portion Q
a letter was brought TO light, and il
! this missive, written in q fine feUinin
! hand, the writer had addressed the de
| ceased Dear 81. FleUr, only.
"Was il mother, sister or swee'