Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-07
DEATH ROCK.

Bmong the first to build his cabin on
the steep bank overlooking the smiling
valley Of the SacO was a man who bore
the name of Luke Garland.
With his wife and child he had made
the long journey through the trackless
forest from the settlement at Dover to
this spot, which he had selected for
new home.
Once arrived there, he had hastily
thrown up a temporary shelter, COM
posed of rocks and bark stripped from
the trunks of the hemlock and the
birch and with his family housed
therein, he set to work to build a stout
substantial cabin, that could defy the
elements and the wild beasts and saw
ages that roamed through the forest.
1t was the work Of weeks to finish it
to his mind; but at last it was complet-
ed, much to his pride and satisfaction,
and they took up their abode therein.
This done he turned his attention to
the forest below the bank on which his
new home stood, with the determina-
ton of getting as large a spot cleared
as possible for the reception of seed
the ensuing spring. Until then he had
to depend upon his rifle alone to pro-
vide the food necessary for their susten-
ance.
But this was an easy task. The for
est and mountains abounded in game,
and when he went forth in quest of it
he never returned empty-handed.
For a couple of months after they
had become settled in their new home
all went we'll with them.
Luke's wife, who had at first felt
timid at being SO far removed from
neighbors. got over this in great
measure and became contented with
her new home.
Now and then party of redskins
would make their appearance at the
cabin, causing a momentary sensation
of fear, but as they appeared peace
ably inclined this feeling soon passed
off.
The cabin stood almost upon the trail
that led through the Great Notch to the
regions beyond. and it was owing to
this fact that it had SO many visits from
the red men.
Luke Garland always treated them
with courtesy, and, when food was
plenty in the cabins they never. went
away hungry, ~
thus the summer passed and the
early autumn days were upon them.
Already the naples on the sides Of the
mountains had donned their robes of
crimson and gold. and high on the top
most bluffs the snow-white tracks of
winter became visible.
One day the settler took his rifle and
plunged into the forest in search of a
new supply of food He was not so
iucky'as was his wont, and when at last
he started deer his ill-luck pursued
him, for instead of his bullet bringing
the game down it only inflicted "a
wound, and the deer bounded swiftly
away through the forest.
Hastily reloading his rifle Luke fol-
lowed swiftly along the bloody trail.
From the amount of blood the creature
was losing he felt sure that it could not
run far before it would sink to the
earth: But he had miscalculated the
strength of the animal, which led him
over nearly mile of ground before he
came upon it lying dead in its tracks.
Throwing the carcass across his
shoulder he lost no time in turning his
footsteps homeward.
For something like an hour he kept
steadily on his way, and then his course
took him across the Indian trail of
which we have before spoken. Stand
ing upon it he hesitated for moment
which way to take. To follow it would
make the distance home little great
er; but then he knew that the way was
smoother and this was of some con-
sequence considering the burden he
bore.
He decided to take the trail, and with
out further loss of time hurried onward,
but had gone hardly a dozen rods be-
fore he paused abruptly. Casting his
ewes down at his feet, as it were, by
chance, he had seen something that had
Instantly brought him to standstill.
1t was the imprint of a woman's foot
In the soft earth.
For an instant he stood as motionless
as though made of stone, gazing upon
it. He knew as well as though he had
seen her leave it there, that it was his
wfe's.
1t had been made but short time,
and along with it were those of a num-
Der of savages.
In another instant the truth had
forced itself upon his mind-his wife
was being carried off by the Indians.
Perchance his child had been murder
ed and his cabin given to the flames.
The thought chilled his blood and made
his heart stand STILL
But it was only for q moment that
chs spell was upon him. The next he