The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-03-24
CHASED BY WOLVES.
A Thrilling Incident Of White. Travel on ,
the Upper Mississippi River.

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;DEFORE any railroad had been built
d along the upper Mississippi, all
traffic in the summer was by steam
boat, which carried also the mail. In
the winter everything was carried by
stage. There was line of mail-stages
between st. Paul and Prairie du Chen
or the southern terminus may have
been La Crosse at the time of which
writ. These stages followed the river
how much of the distance on the ice
u cannot say, but in my neighborhood,
where the river expanded and became
Lake Pepin, the route was all on the ice,
and most of the way far from the shore.
Lake Pepin is some three miles wide
and 81 miles long, and although in re-
atty only widening of the river it is
true lake, in which the current of the
river is almost lost. There is no other
such body of water in the whole length
of the Mississippi. The upper Missis-
country; consequently Lake Pepin is
surrounded by high bluffs, with bold,
flat tops. Leading down to the lake, on
both the Minnesota and Wisconsin
sides, are many ravines or coulees,
worn by the watercourses and wooded.
Even now there is much wild land
among the bluffs.
It was in the latter part of January
years ago that 1 found myself at
Hawks Landing, on the Minnesota
side of the river just below the foot of
the lake, whittier I had gone with an
uncle. He found that his business
would detain him longer than he ex-
pected, and lie decided to send me
back alone on the stage. 1t should
have left the Landing at one o'clock,
but it was delayed somewhere down
the river, and did not arrive till nearly
three. 1t was full afternoons drive
TO Lake City, but the driver said he had
IA good team, and promised to get
through on time, Notwithstanding the
late start. He was a rough and dissi-
pated man, but he had the reputation
Of always keeping sober till after the
days trip had been completed. But the
delay may have upset him, and think
he began drinking before we started,
although no one then noticed it. He
certainly had provided himself with a
large bottle of liquor, as 1 soon had oc-
casion to know. I suppose L could not
have been more than 10 or 10 years old,
although life in a new country and on
a farm had given me ability to take
care of myself beyond my years.
When we departed from the War
Eagle house on the leyee, and swung
along up the road under the shadow of
Wabasha Bluff, with the horses at
gallop, I felt a sort of admiration for
the driver, notwithstanding his rough
ness. We slackened somewhat when
we got beyond the line of houses along
the single street, and soon rounded the
bluff and kept along the ed ge of bank
above the frozen river. It was here that
the driver took his first drink from his
big, fat bottle. This alarmed me, be-
cause had already seen much of the
effect of liquor on the class of men to
which he belonged. He passed the bot
tie to the passenger, who took very
small sip. I thought more because he
was afraid to refuse than because he
wanted it.
We soon came to the lake, and turned
down Fond du Lac point and out upon
the ice, where the road was marked by
little cedars. The driver had already
taken several more drinks, and on the
lake I found cause to be alarmed at
something else. This was the state of
the weather. The wind had frcshened
a great deal and the snow was drifting
rapidly. 1t was not sufficient to shut
out from our sight the row of ever
green's, and we could see even the bluffs
on either side of the lake; but the fine
snow was sitting along over the crust
like streaming hair, and rapidly filling
the track. This made Our progress slow,
but the condition of the driver was soon
q greater hindrance. He drove either
with the horses on a run or slow walk,
although they walked more than they
ran. He kept returning to his bottle
with frequency.
We were not yet half way when the
sun was only little above the Mime
sofa bluffs, with big orange sun dogs
standing on each side of it. Just as it
disappeared below the bluffs the driver
slid out Of the seat into a drunken sleep
in the bottom of the sleigh. I climbed
over to the front seat and took the
reins myself. = e.. H 81. 81.
"You seem to know how to drive; do
you think we can get there to-night?"
asked the other passenger. n I E,
IT can drive four horses" answered,
very proudly. eve can get through, !
guess, if it doesn't storm so that we
can't follow the trees.''
He drew a long breath at this and
made himself comfortable under the
buffalo robes, leaving me to the full
management Of the team, which was
glad enough to assume, even if my
hands were pretty cold.
In half an hour it was dark. There
was no moon but the sky was clear and