Devils Lake inter-ocean., 1899-09-22
]: Chur6hS F6rru :

nOnO1OuonOnOuo
School opened Monday with an
enrolment Of 60 pupils.
The Philharmonic concert was
grand success, and we'll appreciated
by all in attendance.
The thriving little city of
Churchs Ferry has twice had the
even tenor Of it's ways severely
broken in the last few days. On
last Friday morning, small pic
nicing party, composed Of F. B.
Pennock and wife, Mrs. j. g..
Nichol and daughter, Mrs. @. H.
Wirtz and Miss George Chambers,
repaired to Lake Irwin. ostensibly
to spend the day boating, picnic
ing and hunting. In the after
noon two Of the ladies decided to
call upon a friend who was sup
posed to reside somewhere on the
northern bank Of the lake. They
accordingly left the rest Of the
party on the eastern shore, and
started up the lake in a row boat.
But failing to locate their friend,
they determined to fill the boat
with wild ducks before returning.
They accordingly pushed into the
rushes that skirt the shore. Some
success attended the venture, and
they still pursued the downy game
until, unnoticed by themselves,
they entered the channel that leads
into the big coulee. Nor did they
discover their mistake until the
lowering sun warned them to turn
homeward, when all their efforts
failed to again land them on the
rolling bosom of Lake Irwin /
Their CONSERVATION can better b.s
imagined than described, when the
sinking sun still left them wan
dering in this trackless world Of
reeds and water. And becoming
convinced that they were entirely
lost, one Of the ladies summoneca
what strength had not been ex
hausted in rowing, and waded tho
swamp to the nearest farm house
a distance Of about three-fourtha
of a mile, where she secured th,8
services Of Nelson Baxtrom, VIII
courteously piloted them back to
where they had left the rest of tn
party. These friends had becom4
alarmed for their safety and start
ed in search Of them, and onl y twA
were to be found. These wer
piloted to the home of j. Gum
who kindly brought them back I
town. While Mr.. Baxtrum re
turned and hunted up the rest d
the party and sent them homE
They arrived in town about 11:;s
O'Clock only few moments b
hind Mr.. Gunn-but not in tirs
to stop searching party who h;S
gone to their relief. So man w
accordingly sent after them q
horseback, but failing to overtal$
them he returned, unknown 4
those who sent him. And wh:$
the lost hunters were cozily nestle
in bed, enjoying the repose th|
comes only to the innocent, the.
kindly disposed neighbors we
serenading Lake Irwin with sh
and shout until 3 o'clock the ne
morning. All were thoroughly wet,
but as no unpleasant effects re-
suited from the adventure, they are
now laughing over the ludicrous
side Of the affair with their friends.
Scarcely had the town sank into
its usual calm after the scare
caused by the lost hunters, when
flames broke out in the livery barn
owned by the Everson heirs. It
spread almost Immediately to the
house owned by Lottie Riley, and
a small building owned by Mr..
Moe, and which was used for
storing oil; here the heroic efforts
of the citizens held it in check.
These three buildings were en-
tirely destroyed. Most of the con-
tents Of Miss Riley's store was
saved, and a part of the contents of
the livery barn. All the contents
of the opposite buildings we're re-
moved, and for a short time it
looked as if the entire business
part Of the town must burn. But
the gallant efforts of staunch men
kept the opposite buildings from
taking fire by pouring water down
their kissing sides. All the glass
in the buildings across the street
was broken. Miss Riley's loss is
thought to be $500, with an insur-
ance of $500. Mr.. Listner had
lath and building material to the
amount Of $500 burned; no insur-
ance. Mr.. Noes loss was $500;
covered by insurance. Loss to the
EversOn nrOnertv not known. in