The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-16

To add to their distress they saw that
they were on the northern bank of an
other river flowing into the Chattahoochee,
probably the Flint, and so could get no
farther without boat They found dry
hummock and passed a woeful night. Hun
ger, with all its horrors, was preferable TO
being stranded in a swamp without means
to continue their journey.
A day was passed wandering about the
swamp, and at nightfall they saw boat
across the Chattahoochee. Some limbs
and driftwoOd were spliced together with
grapevines, to serve as a raft, and with
this Wilson, half sunk in the water, man.
aged to get across. To his joy the new
boat was the best of all, and without a sin
gle qualm of conscience, now that the joke
was on some one else, he confscated it.
took Wood on board and started full speed
down the river.
When hunger pressed again Wood re-
manned behind to guard the boat while
Wilson foraged the shore. He didn't get
much that was edible, but finally found
some fish lines and hooks, and the problem
of living was solved. Fish was abundant.
Although compelled to devour it raw, they
ate large quantities, and doubtless the find
down stream they secured matches, and
later on a quantity of sweet potatoes.
They kindled fire in a spot of primevaI
wildness and roasted and broiled and ate.
Wilson says the only drawback to happi-
ness was the fear that the banquet might
be too much for them. He determined to
draw the line when they had eaten enough
for eight men, and persuaded Wood to hold
up spell and cook for future needs. After
piling up a stack of roasted sweet potatoes
and broiled FISH they surveyed their stock,
and it looked so good that they fell to and
ate some more. Then Shey slept, and after
that resumed the oars.
Finally they reached Appalachicola bay
A long search for stanch sea vessel was
fruitless. for fishing smacks and such craft
are not left lying about SO recklessly az
rowboats, and they set out in their slight
skiff upon a voyage that would have ap-
palled them, but for the fact that they
courted death on the ocean in preference
to the doom that lay behind them Should
the sea swallow them it would be fate
worthy of brave men and their enemies
would be outwitted. The water was so
rough that the skif sank out of view Of
passing vessels, and after rowing beyond
sight OF land they reached the long, bare
island that shelters the harbor late in the
afternoon. They made for that and III
upon an oyster bed, which absorbed al
attention for time.
Shortly they noticed, beyond the island,
what appeared 10 be c!ump OF bare trees,
and little iAer, TO their JOY, made out
smokestacks among the trees. Next the
old flag laZily swung into view and the
happy fellows could hardly restrain the
impulse 70 jump into the water and try %
swim to the feet, They rowed swiftly 10
the nearest gunboat and were soon drawn
up the ships ladder, nearly naked. except
for a scant covering Of swamp moss that
had replaced their worn out garments.
They were .oricrn looking vagaoonds in
deed, but the very daring Of their voyage
TO sea IN an open boat confirmed their re-
markable story and their welcome BY the
feet officers was as hearty as The occasion
demanded. GEORGE L KILLEA