The L'Anse sentinel., 1898-04-09
Interesting Biography of the
Great Indian Mis-
siOnary.
AMONG THE CHIPPEWAS.
The Inauguration of the SANITY
Priests ApOstOlate Among the
Chippewas OF Lake Superior.
Continued from Last Week.

The hall breed w InZOn sui lives
at LaPoint to tell the story of this
miracle wrought by Father Baraga
Father Chrysostom Verwyst, for
merly Indian missionary at Ashland
/ Wisconsin, now at ST. Louis, Mo. is
the authority for the story have
outlined. Rev. Father Chebul, of
Garden Bay, Mich, IS the authenti-
city of another miraculous escape of
Father Baraga while travelling on
the ice from LaPoint to Ontonagon
river. Father Chcbul is veteran
Indian missionary OF the Lake Su-
perior regions, and u native of
Carnioa, the family seat of the
Baragas. -
Toward April the solid ice be-
tween the Apostle Islands and the
main shore weakens and becomes
honcycombed.-- Strong winds up
heavc its level surface and great
assures divide it into two sections,
which are moved by the same cause
into the greater waters, where they
are finally broken into fragments,
which are tossed TO and from the
coast until they are finally melted
by the August temperature. Before
separating, such ice fields may be-
miles in extent and several feet
thick; they are traverscd by the
Indians while still remaining in the
bays. but in calm weather and in
daylight only The eye may take
in a surface of many square miles
and yet not see the tlsure too broad
TO leap, which may make the field
movable and subject 10 h. agitation
OF the winds VI DC TO that Traveller
upon such field should it bp set in
motion toward the lake. on should il
break fro4 pressure b low Tie is
doomed to perish from cold either
on the ice or in the water. No hu-
man power can save hm.
The duties of his mission made II
visit TO the vicinity oi Outonagon
River necessary, and To save time,
su precious TO Father Bardga, he de-
tcrminrd to cross the bay on the
ice. instead of crossing the short
distance dividing tdc island from
the main shore, aud marching along
the shore, which is Il distance several
times greater, more difficult to
travel on account of the snow still
remaining. and three times longer
in the time required [nr the
Journey 1t was in the month OF
April, and the ice although cracked
in some places WAS apparently firm
in its place Walkingon its surface
was comparatively easy when com
pared with the shore, bat there was
danger in .the former, and safety,
however toisome, in the latter.
Taking half-breed in whom he
had confidence us an attendant, Fa-
ther Baraga, with his pack on his
shoulders containing his sacred YES
sells. his vestmcntS and other cs-
sentials for his mission, his attend
ant CARRYING blankets, toois and food
in his pack, began his journey on
the ice from the shore Of LaPoint
toward the main shore near On
tonagon and Travelled without
thought Of danger until he suddenly
came TO the edge of the field, which
was separated from the shore by an
eXpansc of clear water. The field
had moved from its place during the
transit of the missionary, and it
continued to move rapidly toward
the great sea whose waves would
soon break il into fragments and
enguf the wayfarers in its icy
waters The situation was critical
The half-breel became wild with
terror, for he fully appreciated that
they were doomed. But Father
Baraga remained unmoved. being
apparently absorbed in prayer. On-
ward moved the field, nearer and
nearer to the main waters of the
lake, and with velocity which
paralyzed the poor half.breed Sud
denly the wind shifted; the move
ment OF the field of ice changed from
seaward to landward. and it was
soon driven ashore and remained as
If anchored to the bottom. A land
ing was made'at point recognized
to be twenty-five miles from Onton-
,agon River. The field of ice had
carried them distance of sixty
miles toward their destination.
See, said Father Baraga to the
half-breed, 1--WE have travelled
great distance and have not labored. +"
The average reader may not real
ize the hopeless situation in which
the missionary and his half-brccd
attendant stood as the field of ice on
which they had been travelling was
being driven seaward And to such
seal Frigid over its waters, and
in its waters, over which neither