Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-07-07

told this chief that his business was to
exchange an Indian woman for Mrs.
Geisel and the baby, and that if any
harm were done to Mrs. Geisel or the
child or to him every Indian in the
tribe would be killed as soon as the SOL
diers could come from the south. He
also said Mrs. Geisel was to be brought
out to meet him by one Indian, and
that if two came he would not consent
to the exchanges, These terms were
agreed to and carried out TO the letter.
The same Indian brought Mrs. Geisel
and the baby down to the meeting
place. and the exchange was made.
'Tll never forget the scene which we
witnessed that afternoon" continued
Congressman Hermann, when old
Brown came down the mountain side
carrying the wee baby in his arms and
leading poor Mrs. Geisel, still attired
in her torn and tattered might dress, BY
the hand A great shout went up in
the settlement, and a party of us rush
ed out to meet them and escort then To
the fort in triumph"
CONGRESSMAN SIMPSON IN A
SHIPWRECK.
Storm and shipwreck led Jerry Simp
son to make his first public speech. 1t
was away back in 1878 Jerry was in
command of the barge J. H. Rutter,
which. in tow of the steamer V. II.
Ketchum, left the port of Chicago Octo-
Der 20, and ran into what is remember
ed 10 this day as one OF the worst
storms that ever swept over Lake Mich
'igan.
The nOr'wester struck Us off Point
Betsey." said Jerry Simpson. in telling
the story to some of his Congressional
friends last winter. The seas begun
TO run mast high. We went on with
difficulty until about midnight, when
the hawser between my boat and the
steamer parted in the strain. The
barge Immediately swung into the
trough OF the sea and broke her steer
ing gear. She was we'll nigh unman-
ageaDle, but | ordered out the anchors,
and we succeeded in dropping them and
in getting hold some miles of Luding-
ton A llfcbOat tried to reach us from
the shore, but was unable TO do so on
account of the heavy sea. Next morn
ing the storm had moderated TO some
extent, and a government tug came out
to us from Ludington, bringing with ii
a barge with which TO save some OF our
cargo.
The tug carefully approached us on
us on the lee side and put aboard 81
men who had been brought out to trans
fer our cargo to the barge. set them
to work shifting the load in order 10
help the vessel cut of the waves, when
the storm broke out again with recou-
bled fury. Our anchorage gave way,
and we were set aGsift. The waves
rolled over us, and knew that If we
did not run aground pretty soon we
should founder, and there was not much
choice Of evils. Our cargo consisted OF
$4,000 bushels Of rye, and any sailor
will tell YOU that is about the slipper
lest and most treacherous sort OF a
cargo a. skipper can have in his hold IL
rough weather The rye kept running
to one side till our ship was frighttUlly
listed. and, in fact, the water was
standing ankle deep upon the lee SIDE
OF our deck. The seas were now run
ming pretty high, and it looked as II VIZ
were in a tight place. / ordered tAe
lonpshoremen to take to the rigging
and to hold on with q death grip IN or
der to avaid being washed away In 2
few minutes The crew and had TO DO
the same thing. We climbed into the
INNER rigging. with the seas boiling
through and over our poor craft below
us. | felt particularly sad when sa"
my trunk and all my best clothes 80
floating by. BY this time the ship was
nounding very hard on the bottom and
rs every big sea struck her ] thought
il would be the last and she "Cuid
break in two and 10 to pieces.
Fully 5000 people were gathered on
the shore Watching cur struggle agalnsS
the elements and wondering il we
should be able to reach the snore alive.
Twenty-four hours we stuck to the rig
ging. and pretty dreary work it was,
von NAV imagine. but We knew the
sallart crews of the life saving service
were coming. and we had encourage
ment TO hold out Finally the life boat
reached us. and the longshoremen were
sent ashore on the first trip. Then the
crew and followed. When we stepped
mon the shore the people gave us Il
roval welcome. They gathered about
MS with dry clothing, with hot codee
and food. Nothing was too good Ior
MS. AS soon as we had been warmed
and fed they insisted should tell them
all about the shipwreck. They lod the
way to a public hall, set me upon the
nlafform and told me TO go ahead. In
tbis way I was induced to maze my
first speech in public, and l think u
was the best speech l ever made. 4
know my heart was full, and there IS
nothing like sincerity and feeling II
Won want to impress an audience.
Jerry Simpson is too modest to tell
oII of the story of that shipwreck, and
there are to this day records in Chi
caeo and traditions along the great
lakes which speak Of the manner IN
which he saved his ship, of his bravery
and good seamanship and OF the fact
thaf like a true sailor man he was the
last 10 leave the threatened craft. For
d hours with all hope apparently gone,
the future Congressman held the Rut-
fer 10 his anchor in the fury Of the
cross seas. and he eventually saved the
shin and most Of her cargo.
WALTER WELLMAN.