The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-23
FOUND SAFETY UNDER WATER.
A Minnesota Story of Vain Pursuit by
a Band of Murderous Indians.
FROM the St. Louis Post Dispatch.


a Band of Murderous Indians.
From the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
'Dive for your life and come up under
the treer'
These words yelled from inside hol-
low tree thirty years ago to d man pur-
sued by Indians. The tree was on the
shore Of large lake near Pelican Rapids,
MINI. The whole country was swarming
with the redskins that took part in the
great "Indian outbreak" 1t was an
early autumn day. l had been out hunt
ing, for the Indians had been quiet for
some weeks and no fears were entertained
of immediate trouble in our section. /
did not take my dog for knew it would
be risky to have dog in case
of an attack by savages, when the
least noise might betray me. The
sequel proved the wisdom of my boyish
judgment. Though but Is years old /
knew every path in the wilderness as well
as the rabbits and in summer spent most
of the day bathing in the lake Not
withstanding all my outdoor exercise I
was a slender and delicate-looking youth.
But wasn't glad one day that was thin.
| went in swimming always near big
dead tree that lifted its gaunt form away
up into the sky. 1t stood so close to the
water that the waves had swept under it
and washed away the earth from the
roots, making big cavity where it
had once drawn nourishment for its
branches. had often longed tolook under
there and know all about the myster-
les of that cave. So one day, feeling
more than usually reckless, took long
pole, pOked around in the hole to see
yVbpth I would orpt caJ1gl1t in aOV roots
and then dived in. AS l got well under
the hill l discovered that the cave was
light and that / could see bottom /
kicked back till / got out Here was
mystery sure. Another breath and down
l went again. This time / turned on my
back and looked up. A great flood of
light came down the old tree. The storms
of years above and below had jointly
eaten out the old trunk till it stood shell
from root to top.
Once more filing my lungs with air,
dived directly under the light Then
reached up and felt an opening Through
this l stuck my head and one arm. Then
breathing was easy, for there was plenty
of air. / told nobody of my secret and
chuckled every time l thought of my
wood parlor. The next day l took with
me an aX and cut out the opening till it
was large enough even for man. Then
l cut little eye-holes q called them "peep-
ers'O through the sides so that | could
see any one approaching. The day when
it really became retreat | was sitting on
the bank at the favOrite spot debating
whether it was too late in the year and
whether the water was too cold for
taking a farewell plunge. l had almost
made up my mind not to go in when
rifle shot came booming across the lake
The shot was still Cchoing among the
trees above me when a white man dashed
down to the shore and ran along the
beach At his heels came a band of In
dams Every now and then l could see
one raise his bow and let fly an arrow.
Back into the woods the fleet white man
darted, taking my direction. A few min
utes and they might be upon me But I
smiled as ! thought of the tree, and
quickly threw off my clothes, which
tied into bundle and fastened about my
waist.
Then laid my ear to the ground and
listened. Tramp, tramp came the dull
sound of running feet, growing clearer
and clearer I he5itated no longer but
plunged in and soon had my eyes to the
peppers The water had scarcely dried
on my flesh when, crashing through the
underbrush, came the hunted man. The
terrible squirt of speed by which he had
momcntarily left his pursuers behind had
and ready to fall, he leaned against the
tree. He had thrown his rifle away in
the race, but now he drew his revolver,
and, hiding behind the tree. prepared to
meet arrow with bullet. His head was
only few inches from my mouth as l
cried to him to dive under the tree and
come in. The cry so near him only added
to his fright, and his revolver nearly fell
from his hand.
Don't be afraid. am inside the tree.
Join me and you are safe"
/ leaned over the opening and extended
a helping hand into the water. There
was a splash and in a second | had fast
hold of a buckskin clothed arm and /
drew him up into the tree, he shivering
with the bath and awful fear. l had
only time to get back to my peppers"
when the blood-thirsty troop came bound
ing on his track. His sudden disappear
ance stunned them Down on their knees
they went, examining every detail of his
footprints. Some leaned against the tree
and ! could have whispered in their ears
To the very spot from which he had
dived they tracked him, and then they
waited. He will swim the lake, they
thought, and we will watch for him.
When no head appeared above the
water the braves fell into dispute about
the trail, and finally, after an hour of
waiting, disappeared in the forest. We
two remained in the tree until, dark. lie
told me how he was carrying messages
from the military camp when he had
stumbled upon the Indian band and how
they had sought to search him. He had
killed the first one that laid hands on him
and then fed When the first stars came
ont we dropped through the opening into
the water, but we did not land near by
We swan fully quarter of mile before
landing to deceive any crafty eye that
might have been observing US. In half
an hour | had plotted the scout safely to
the stockade and the soldiers.
Daniel Colladon, whose death at Geneva
occurred recently, was one Of Switzerland's
most famous men. He first lighted Geneva
with gas IN lo43 ,he was then Al years old,