Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-12-12
GUS. LAVIGNE.
Was a Hero in His Day, But is Now
Broken Down il Health and an
Object of Charity.

Every one of the old boys who ran
the Wisconse for twenty or thirty years
previous to the time that the great
iron horse penetrated the pineries,
will remember Gus. LaVigne-honest,
sturdy, bluff Gus. LaVigne, a man who
knew no fear, who would risk his own
life to save another, and one of the best
river pilots that ever guided raft over
Little Bull falls or through the narrows
along the raging Dalles. Well, Gus. is
not the powerful fellow he used 10 be,
but outside of being nearly deaf and
quite badly crippled from rheumatism,
is in pretty fair health for a man OF
seventy-fve years. He was born in
Green Bay in 1920, and first saw the site
of what is now the prosperous city of
Stevens Point, 1914 Those living at the
present time who came here before he
did, as far as be can remember, were
A. B. Gilchrlst, of this city, ard John
Eckles, of Plover. Ever since 1914
La Vigne has made the Wisconsin
river valley his home, most of the time
at Grand Rapids. AS his name would
indicate, he is of French descent, and
was never married. He is brother of
Bat. La Vigne, who carried mail on his
back in the early days of the present
century between Chicago and Green
Bay and Chicago and Portage, and about
| r LOFT
years. Bat. was Is years older than
Gus.
The subject of this sketch has been
in the city much of the time this fall,
is tall, odd character, and subject of
charity to great extent, being unable
to work and without a dollar. His
pioneer and river experiences would
make an interesting volume, and to
use his own words, he has been in all
kinds of scrapes. About his rougEest
experience was in running over Big
Bull falls, when in company with Bill
| Wiggenton, who was afterwards killed
in a hurricane in the southern part of
this county, he had narrow escape
from drowning. W1ggenton was known
as Kentucky Bill, and the other two
men were what were termed 'snckers"
or green hands at the work. The raft
struck large rock or small island below
the falls, throwing La Vigne, who was a
powerful swimmer, and one of the
other men into the raging torrent.
The battle for life had TO be fought
both swiftly and stubbornly, and
| La Vigne not only saved himself but
the other man as well, by swimming to
the opposite shore. 1t was now getting
along toward night, a cold, spring night,
and the men on the island, being thinly
clad, were in danger of freezing. They
had no matches with which to build a
fire, and the only way for those on shore
to render assistance to the unfortunate
men was by lighting sticks Of wood
and throwing them. The distance be-
tween the shore and rock or island
was great, and fully 200 torches were
thrown before LaNigne appeared on
the scene. None of these had reached
the desired place, but that thrown by
| LaVigne struck the raft or rock, was
quickly caught by Kentucky Bill, who
signaled back that all was we'll, and a
fire which was soon kindled from
broken pieces of boards, indicated that
the men were safe from freezing for
that night. Wiggenton had borrowed
an immense plug of tobacco, weighing
about a pound, from LaVigne that
afternoon, and the latter says he
chewed it all up before morning.
On another occasion he took two men
off from the Fright Horn," at Grand
Rapids, in the night, where they were
left on CRIB of lumber. The under
taking was perilous one, and
especially in a canoe, where the least
mistake would send the occupants into
the river. LaVigne reached the men
all right, but they were so thoroughly
scared that he had to pull them into
the canoe. On the way to shore La
Vigne broke his paddle, but by almost
the right head of "Grand Chute" and
all were saved. One of these men had
previously offered $1,000 if anyone
would save him. His name was Camp
bell, and was met by his rescuer ten OF
fifteen years later, at which time he was
the city marshal of Dubuque. LaVigne
was given the keys of the town.
attached to a gold chain, set with
diamonds, and all of his companions
were provided with police protection