The Van Buren press., 1895-03-09

Of objects that have taken the great3
plunge. Here they found Pr. 'af the
broken oar. . fragment Of the scow,
one keg of whisky intact, but no trace
of human bodies. Indeed, the fearful
rock-strewn depths above the whirl-
pool do not always give up their dead
Having their worst fears thus con-
firmed, the messengers returned home
with the mournful tidings, leaving me
to feel almost like murderer. though
] had acted from strict sense OF duty.
For months brooded over the events
Of that terrible night. Whether wax.
ing or sleeping, the dying shrieks OF
the unfortunate men seemed ever ring
ing in my ears, and I now thought OF
dozen ways in which / might have
averted their fate. Vain regrets! The
mischief was already done.
Late In November OF that year, !
heard that the wives Of Isaac and
Moses Schram, whose mourning Tor
their departed husbands had been, my
informant said, extremely violent, but
brief. had sold of their household ef-
fects and mysteriously disappeared.
For unknown reasons the widows had
so artfully covered their tracks that ne
one was able or cared to trace them
beyond Buffalo. / could not have told
why this news comforted me. but II
did, and / gradually recovered from
my depression.
One October afternoon, six and .
quarter wears afterward, was sitting
in the Office OF Minneapolis hotel
when / noticed a respectably-dressed,
farmer-like man glancing alternately
at the register and at me.
After few words with the clerk, he
seated himself by my side, making
some commonplace remark about the
weather He seemed well-informed,
agreeable fellow, and we were soon en-
gagged In conversation,
By and by, apropos OF field sports,
he said, stranger, the clerk tells me
you're out Oh shooting trip. Now, l
live about twelve miles out OF town,
and we're Just overrun with prairie
chickens. If you like to come out and
put up with us 1t won't cost you cent
| and you'll have loads OF fun"
THANK you-glad of the chancs," !"
said l. "And what is your own name,
my friend?" for he had repeatedly used
mine.
"Well," he laughingly replied, III
you call me Peters you won't be far
out Of the way"
Soon l jumped into Mr. Peters spring
wagon and away we went, behind Q
pair of lively trotters. After an hour
and quarters delightful spin, my
driver stopped beside a handsome farm
house, and ushered me into the great,
CHEEKY kitchen. where bright-faced
woman was busted in preparing supper;
while two sturdy-looking men, each
dandling a child on his knee, sat watt
ing. -
"Do you know who this is, boys?"
asked my conductor, as both rose.
The men had no more than glanced
at me than they placed their babies on
the floor, rushed across the ron and
warmly grasped my hands, while one
of them fairly shouted:
Guess we do, Petel It's the man
that did us the best turn OF our whole
liyes!'
Then the woman who had been
cooking, and another one, who had
meantime come in, heartily Joined In
the hospitable greeting.
Friends" said, 'you must mis-
take me for some one else. never be-
fore saw one of you. What good could
l have ever done your"
The women laughed merrily. 'Tell
him, Pete," said one.
Then Mr.. Peters, Strengthening his
face, said: I'VE three men are Ike,
| Nose and Pete Schraml"
At this astounding announcement,
such feeling of Joy thrilled me that
for a time could not speak. At last
managed to exclaim:
| "Why, men, what miracle is this?
II is more than six years since the
Schram brothers went over Niagara
falls"
mo, they didn't" said he. "Pete
got couple of duck shot In his shoul-
der from Bullamore's gun, that's all.
We managed more by good luck than
anything to land on the middle edge
of Streets island, which 10 actually in
the rapids.
Then" he went on, 1--WE showed the
boat of and let her go over the falls, on
purpose to make you folks think we'd
gone, too; for we knew our profitable
trade was knocked in the head, az
we could never 60 back to Chippewa to
buy whisky after being such FOOLS as to
steal cargo.
$50 we made up our minds to clear
out secretly to Minnesota. We wrote
to our wives by roundabout way and
bought this Observation-Disclosures
section Of land, and finished paying fol
it as soon as the women came with the
bulk Of our money. BY that time we
had the house ready for them.
1.-THE land was wild prairie when W.
bought it; but you see we've made q
splendid farm Of 1t. We're well fixed
for everything; we're leading straight
honest lives and are as happy as any
folks can be. All of this has come
about because you scared us away that
night"
"But, Mr.. Schram," asked, "how
did you know it was I who tried to ar
rest you? You couldn't see me-"
"Why, man alive, don't you remem
Der saying; I'm an excise officer?
We'd seen you round the distillery
scores OF times, too. Do you live in
the old village yetp"
"No. l removed to the county towr
some time ago. But Bullamore John,
son and Vert Van Wyck are there yet
l haven't seen them for couple oi
years, though. They're prospering since
they turned teetotalers."
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