Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-07-03

| the MaCdQe people sent muCu louSSl
one to the government. giving the
facts, describing the hardships these
men had come through, and special
train was sent down with the best sur
geon from Quebec. On the surgeons
arrival at Matane q consultation was
held with the country practitioner,
when it was decided that the man,
Joseph, would have to lose two fingers
on each hand and Simon both feet.
The amputation was successfully
carried out next day, and shortly after,
when Comeau saw both men wellon to
recovery. he started for his home. not,
however, by the way he had come, but
up to Quebec by the south shore and
down the north shore from Quebec, a
distance Of nearly 700 miles. The last
100 he made on snowshoes.
The captain told US that the descrip-
tion of this very venturesome trip he
had heard from Comeau's own brother
as the elder one had described it in
the heart of his own family. He had
reached the ice pack. to the best OF
his judgment, about Is miles from the
land, and had remained on his oars
and hallooed once or twice without re-
ceivinS an answer. He suddenly be-
thought himself of the lantern. This
he lit and lashed to the blade of one
of the oars, and erected it aloft. I'm
mediately faint cry was heard to the
eastward, and he lowered his light and
pulled away in the direction whence
the call appeared to come. After row.
ing for short time the lantern was
waved again above and this time an
answering shout came from close at
hand.
The two poor fellows were some dis
tance in the pack. and had got on the
largest cake they could find. They
were sitting there helpless. holding on
each by one hand to the rough surface
of the ice. and with the other to their
canoe to keep it from being washed
off.
BY the aid of the lantern held aloft,
Comeau saw there was much larger
cake of ice some distance farther in
the pack. To this they made their
way with laborious trouble. Pushing
one canoe as far ahead among the ice
as possible. they would all three get
into this. shove the other in advance
in the same way, and so repeating the
process till they reached the solid
field. Once safely on this, for the
meantime, secure place. food was par
taken of and daylight waited for.
Soon, however. the intense cold be-
gan to make itself felt. and drowsf-;
ness was first taking hold Of the two
men, and their great wish was to be.
left alone and allowed to sleep. This
sGemeau knew If INDUCED meant
keep them awake and moving about.
Once, while attending to the half
breed, his brother-in-law dropped down
and was fast asleep in an instant.
Comeau boxed him. kicked him, with
out having the desired effect OF rous-
ing him from his stupor. At last he
rethought him of what an old Indian
had done to him under somewhat
similar circumstances. He caught the
mans nose between the thumb and
finger and tweaked it severely. This
brought him to his feet and mad to
fight.
Day was now breaking and they
could see the south shore at COM
puted distance of 10 miles. Comeau
also saw that the ice pack was drift
ing steadily east. and this. if they re-
NAMED on the ice. would carry them
past Cap Chat. the most northern
point of the south coast, and this
meant death to certainty.
A rapid train of thought went
through Comeau's brain. He decided
that if saved they were to be, it must
be by passing over that 10 miles Of
moving, grinding ice. He forced some
food on the others. They abandoned
the roll of blankets, which had been of
no use to them. and started, using the
canoes see-saw fashion. as they had
done the night before They left the
cake of ice upon which they had
passed the night at a. m, and only
got ashore at the extreme point Of Cap
Chat at daylight next morning. At
times they would come across narrow
lanes of water. but these lanes always
ran at right angles to the direction in
which they were going. Several times.
when stopping upon what was con-
siuereG a strong piece of ire, one OF
the Earty would be immersed in the
cold, cruel water. and be rescued with
great trouble and danger to the others.
What picture of heartfelt prayer
offering it must have been to have
seen those men kneeling on the ice
bound shore. pouring out their thanks
to the ever-watchful Almighty who had
brought them safely through such
dangers.
EoL, who had taken down the cap
tain's narrative in shorthand, gave
NE his notes and give the story Of
adventure and heroism to the public.
Comeau is well-known by most uf
the members Of the Forest and Stream
clubs of New York and Montreal
Martin Hunter, in Forest and Stream.
News of yictoria's Death In India.
When the telegram arrived stating