Evening star., 1901-09-07
In a Little Stream in Northern
Michigan.
FAMOUS SINCE OLD KEYES FELL IN
Lost His Balance and Cured His
Rheumatism Same Time.
IT'S MEDICAL PROPERTIES

shores of CharleyoiX county, there noWS d
crooked stream to which some exile from
the old sod gave the name of Boyne river.
1t rises, a limpid trickle of water, among
the rocks of a wild valley, hemped In by
precipitous hills. Minor currents, dashlns
down through the forests, augment its VOL
ume until, within few miles or It's
source it has swollen to a strong and rapid
stream making a broad path down the
valley. For many years II mas peeh
known to a few wide ranging sportsmen
who have been drawn thither by the hSht-
ing qualities of the speckled trout that
swarm alone of all fish, in its waters, ana
by the abundance of game-grouse, wood
cock and duck, fox and deer-that range
its unpeopled forests. But now Boyne
river is gaining a fame that bids fair to
become national and to attract so many
persons thither that it will no longer be
sportsmans paradise If the reports or
scores of people both natives ana pl-
grims~are to be believed, this Boyne wa
ter ofehe north is natural elixir of life
Tradition of Boyne Falls, the principal
settlement on the stream has 1t that the
Indians have known for hundreds of years
of the curative and invigorative qualities
of the water. War parties or the OttaWaS,
1T is said, journeyed to it's banks to plunge
before going into battle. There Is record
of two refugees from the massacre py
Chippewa Indians, at the old MackinaW
post, more than two hundred years ago,
who, flying southwark to Detroit, stopped
to bathe in its waters. and went on so re-
freshed and invigOrated that they were
ready to aScribe miraculous qualities TO the
stream. Since the region has been settled
by the whites the population has peen re-
markable for SturdineSS and longevity. The
definite modern instance, however, whence
the growing repute of Boyne river started
is the case of George keyeS And. II the
experience of Mr.. Keyes reads somewhat
oft ho ord nf Sp6nrfiVe qDtGtOlAcV
literature put forth by the patent medicine
companies, it may be stated as an onset
that he has no property In the region Oh
the river to dispose of. that he doesn't own
hotel or seek the elusive summer boarded,
nor has he any intention OF bottiing Boyne
water and disseminating 1t for a conSldera-
tion over the face of the nation: In short,
he has no interest In it beyond that of
man who at seventy-four was tOttering
wreck and at eighty-two skips on sprightly
foot daily to take his dip in it's waters.
First Dip in the Boyne.
Oe the most unpremeditated nature was
MIR Keyes initial dip into the Boyne. On
a certain bright day, eight years ago. when
his rheumatism was giving him little re-
spite. as is the custom of that wet weather
demon, he hobbIed on two canes three miles
along the road to the nearest point of the
river to see how the trout were biting.
They bit well. Mr. Keyes and his bait can
sat the end of a big projecting log over
a deep pool. and iured the spotted beauties
out until the old man forgot age and stiff
bones and leaned too far over in an at
tempt to drop artfully hidden hook be-
tween two rocks. The next instant the
pcle and the can We're floating down stream
and Mr. keyes was struggling in the water.
How he got ashore he never knew, but he
finally clambered up the bank. shaking
with cold
Might just as well have drowned" he
thought, miserahly, as he clutched his
canes and set out on the road. I'll never
get up out of my bed once l reach it,
Such his anticipatory woe that he
didn't notice what good time he max
ing until he reached Farmer Perkins place,
a mile away. The farmer greeted him with
surprise and asked what was the matter.
Il N going home to die said the old
man, with a iamentable face. Fell into
the creek, and I'm lucky if l reach home
before my rheumatism burns the life out
of me.
Half a mile down the road he met Mrs
Beam.
''Sakes alive. Mr.. Keyesr' said she.
You're soaking wet. Let me have William
hitch up and carry you home"
No, thank you" said the old man. Il
amt feeling as bad as you might expect.
My clothes are drying. and 1 guess I'd bet
ter hurry right along"
A mile from home Squire Straight stop
ped him.
How did you get in that condition,
George? 1tll be the death of you with
your rheumaticks. Want me to send for
the doctor?''
I'm. no; guess not said the old man,
hesitating. TN just wait and see how 1
feel"
The Cure Began.
On reaching home he was greeted by a
ror-stricken family. He waved them
of, got into dry clothes and called the hired
man.
Silas, ne said, II lost my bait can in
Boyne river Dig me some more worms;
m going back to finish out my days fish
ing
Being overpersuaded to stay at home bv
MS family, who thought he was crazy he
gave up the project for that day: but on
the morrow set out on his two canes
aiter S WaGins ABOUT In the stream half
a day he threw one of his canes at a king
fisher and came hobbing merriIv back on
one Since that time he declares he has
been free from his rheumatic tortures
Il haven't had a bad day in eight wears"
he says, and I'm getting younger every
year"
So enthusiastic was Mr.. Keyes over his
experience that other people began to take
an interest. and tried the bathing AL
most invariably it proved a cure for those
suHerlng from sciatica, rheumat tism rheu-
matte gout muscular stiffness and similar
ailments, and It's TeJuVeuating effect upon
old people was astonishing. Fame of
the water began TO spread and people
came from other towns to bathe In it.
This summer there have been big bathing
parties every day. going into the Boyne
either 10 be cured of rheumatic troubles
or as 4 tonic.
No Special Toys Needed
AT no other watering place in the world
Is the manner of bathing so picturesque
Special apparel is tabooed: one must take
the water in his or her ordinary garb.
About o'clock in the afternoon the bath
ers gather on the bank, a favorite place
being The Flume." where the water pours
down over sharp incline of glistening
white rock. into a deep pool. The men
wear old suits of clothes, with shoes and
stockings, and the women dress usually In
gingham. Out into the stream they wade
until the swift, cool current Is ripplins
around their knees. This is all that is nee
essary. They stand for five minutes alb
sorbing the virtues OF the stream Some
sit down in the water, or plunge and
wallow; but the knee bath is regarded as
sufficient for most cases. 1t would natur-
ally be supposed that after this they would
hurry home. have good toweing and get
Into dry clothes. Not at all. The impor-
tant feature of the bathing Is that the
clothing should dry the patient Stretch
ed in the warm sunshine or perched on
logs and rocks. the bathers sit and chat
while the water drips and trickles from
their clothes Here and there one may hear
the chattering teeth of pavfca- the roo