Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-10-16
AFTER FORTY YEARS.
A Singular Meeting on Board q
Lake Propeller.

''It was in the fall of AZ that three
young fellows left Rochester for the
West determined to hew out their
fortunes, or perish in the attempt"
said one Of a party Of four or five, who
We're gathered in the cabin OF a lake pro-
pellor, bound down, one stormy night
One or two of the number had stemmed
the monotony and broken the ice
towards freer feeling by rehearsing
some light anecdotes or "reminiscences,
when gray-haired, rotund gentleman
ventured as above. All attention was
given him, and he then continued;
LAS was one Of them will be more
personal and say that we were strong,
well-built specimens of manhood and
had any amount of grit; and we had
also made up our minds to be fully in
dependent of the world and of each
other. We went together from Buffalo
to DeelciI by boat Arriving at De-
troit and spending day or two in look
ing about, we then, after consultation,
concluded to part company and each go
in the direction he thought best
Before parting we agreed to return
to our old home at Rochester in forty
years, if our lives were spared. This
was putting it long ways ahead, but
this was only another fre3k
well. as before said, am one of the
three, and am now on my way to Roch
ester. in fulfillment of the agreement
made. don't know whether / shall
see the others or not ! have never
heard word from either of them, and
really do not know whether to think
they are alive or dead"
While this was being said, young
man, who had been trying TO read by
the dim, pickering light, put aside his
book an strained eagerly TO catch
every word uttered by the story-teller.
''lt might, in view of this" continued
the man of gray hairs, "be interesting
to you, gentlemen, to have a brief
sketch Of what has happened to me
since that time of my separation from
my comrades-now almost forty years
ago.
''Yes, yes. let us have it" they all
cried.
The old gentleman moved himself
into more comfortable position. while
the young man edged himself little
closer to the group
well, / struck straight north. Took
boat for Mackinaw. and from there
drifted to Green Bay, Wis. There was
nothing of Green Bay then. but | saw
some good land, and by wiggling around
managed to get hold Of some of it |
then held on. 1t was pretty hard work
h,,A I L. slot 10
and, as a result, it Is worth many thou
sands of Uncle Sans big silver dollars
But that is only on one line, and is
little out OF order ! started little
supply store in Green Bay when 1t first
began to develop and as | was having
moderate success, soon got me wife.
We'll, we padded along without
much occurring, until one day big fell
low came into my store-said he was
lum berman-and ordered heavy bill
Of goods. He then went out, and in q
few hours returned considerably intoxi-
Gated and wanted TO borrow $40. |, OF
course, could not let him have it. for
had not found time to look up who my
customer was, and feared he might be
trying TO swindle me. Upon my refusing
his request he became very much en-
ragged, and commenced shooting at me
with big pistol he carried. In defense
of myself l seized loaded gun, that
was standing in a corner, and, in the
heat OF the moment, discharged it to-
ward him, and was imm ediately horri-
fed to see him fall and die at once
We'll, to make a long story short /
was exonerated from all guilt by the
authorities; and yet every little while /
heard some one whisper and look or
point toward me, and it made me feel
very uneasy. So | finally decided to
pull up stakes and go farther West
About this time, however. l was draft
ed into the military service-the war
had isst begun--and went through the
whole campaign, leaving behind those
two fingers" holding up his hand for
inspection, land bringing out the long
scar on the back Of my head