The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-25
A HARD TIME wrTn THE MAILS.
How John Rcnrgreasc Risks His Life
in Uncle SANS Service.


in Uncle Sans service.
Minnesota Letter in New York Sun.
There is probably no man in the govern
ment's employ who takes the chances that
John Beargrease. the Indian mail carrier
does in his efforts to get the United States
mail through on schedule time. For years
Beargrease who is a ful.-blooded Chip
pewa, has carried the mail between Two
Harbors and Grand Marais. Mimi. some
times going as far as Rainy Lake City and
Koochiching on the Canadian border. a
distance of 30 miles by water and through
a wild and unbroken country. John does
not assume his duties as mail carrier I'M
I'll after the close of navigation each year
In the summer the mail is carried by the
lake steamers
No matter what the state of the weather
is or the condition of the lake or roads.
John is always ready TO start when the
sacks are given to him. In the face of a
raging blizzard or when the waves are
rolling ten or twenty feet high on Lake
Superior he will start on his voyage along
the north shore from Two Harbors to
Grand Marais Time and again he has
been reported to have been lost in a bIiz-
card or a heavy wind storm, but Just when
every one had given up hope of ever see
ing him again he has always turned up
with the mail
Late in the fall and during the winter of
1896 Beargrease made a number of peril
Gus trips. He was reported lost no fewer
than i've times. Just before last Thanks
giving day he left Grand Maraias for Two
Harbors The trip before ice has formed
Is made in rowboat on Lake Superior AT
the time Beargrease started a heavy wind
was blowing, snow was falling and Lake
superior was in fury He would NOT
wait for milder weather. however. Step
ping into his boat he grasped the oars and
pulled out to sea. People stood on the
beach for hours watching the little boat
buffeted here and there. Soon the snow
began to fall, and it was not long before a
blizzard was on. All trace of the little
boat and its occupant was lost and Bear
grease was given up as lost Day after
day went by and no tidings Of the mail
from the north shore were received at Two
HarbOrs. Knowing John habits well. the
postofiice authorities were sure he had
started. After Waiting until they thought
there was no chance of hearing from him
word was sent to Washington that Bear
grease and the mail had gone to the bot
tom Of Lake Superior The news was tel
egraphed from here to all parts of tho
United states. The next day John turned
up at the postofiice and deposited his ga tx
of mail.
After the blizzard had started John lost
track Of the shore; in fact, he could not
see rcd in any direction Soon one Of his
oars broke and he lost control of the boat
Then he threw the mail sack under A seat
in the stern where there was a little chub-
by hole and stretched himself out fun
length in the bottom Of the boat and walt
ed for what might come. Soaked to the
SKIN Ia icy water, he expected every mo-
ment TO be plunged into the freezing wat
ers of Lake Superior Suddenly he felt
n IN af.I -.
II had been thrown on the beach. He
scrambled ont snatching the mail bag a g
ne went, and a moment later the boat was
again swept away to sea.
Beargrease took in his surroundings and
struck on into the woods for a settlers
cabin, where food and shelter could be
obtained II was six miles from where
the boat had been thrown on the beach
and thirty miles from his starting point
When he arrived there he was exhausted
He rested for twenty-four hours. got his
clothing dried out and obtained food
enough to last him week. He then
started out and tramped through The
woods 20 Two Harbora. His trail through
the woods was a narrow one ana for AZ
most The entire distance he had 20 make
his way through deep snow. lie spent
the nights IN shacks built along tho trail
by sportsmen. one night he spent perch
ed in tree 10 escape tho wolves. Witch
lcavinS 9ho cabin he arrived la Two Har-
bors and delivered Tho mail.
John did not leave Two Harbors again
until the lake was frozen over About
The ist Of January be- started with his to-
boRg1n and dog team on hts ao0- mile ride
The weather Is always treacherous. but
when he LEFT r. looked favorable Before
De was out more than . day. however
one Of MInnosota'a worst billiards set
lu ~ continued for lhree days. and boz
many places The snow waH piled up 40 the
second story Windows Of houses Do Du.
iuih. what The storm must have been
out on the lake can only be lmralned |
Then. again, " was extremely cold Their.
momcfere Registered ~ below zero A
cold. biting northeast wind was blowing
ana The snow striking 4 person in tnr
face. burned like FIRE No one thought az
John could survive fhe storm. hlt in
iwouty days he delivered the man ~
Grand MHfala ife dii not come 0ut 10
Hrl tnis time az before ono hand. hls
n0He lnd ono foot Hefo frozen
o. HHva hf bad MOI been out of Two
h1fhou Ions before the storm was upon