Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-08-18

clergyman he would say: For six days
the Lord Iabored making the universe
and all it contains. On the seventh
day He made the Robinson family"
The laugh which followed Infatuated
the major, who sent the preacher a
challenge to fight duel. The reply
was characteristic of Cartwright. It
was:
81 accept your challenge to fight a
duel, and as the challenged party
claim the right to choose weapons,
choose corn stalks and think can
finish you with one in about two
minutes"
Of course the duel did not take
place, and the major, becoming re-
pentent, was after a hard struggle,
converted and Joined the church,
which seemed to be the usual result
of controversy with Mr.. Cartwright.
On one occasion he had stopped at
a country tavern where a dance was
being held. He sat in a corner alone,
bordering over the sins of the dancers,
when one Of them, a beautiful young
lady, approached him and asked him to
dance. 1t was a polite attention to a
stranger, which the entire company
seemed to approve. He consented
and leading her to the center of the
room motioned for the negro fiddler
to stop playing.
When quiet was obtained he an
nounced that he never did anything of
Importance without first asking Gods
blessing upon it, and drawing the
young lady with him he fell upon his
knees, shouting:
"Let us pray"
fhe people present were astonished.
Some of them followed his example
and knelt, others fed and others
stood in amazement. Soon his great
voice in prayer and exhortation pro-
duced it's effect and the entire com
pany fell, begging for mercy. The hall
was turned into a religious meeting
and many were properly converted.
Uncle Peter organized them into a
society and made an appointment to
preach to them a few days later. and
then went on his way rejoicing, sing
ing one of his good old Methodist
hymns.
While Mr.. Cartwright as circuit
rider was a great worker and a great
producer of results, it was at the
campmeetings that his power as a con-
verter was best shown Here before
an audience of thousands his natural
eloquence, his magnetic voice, his
rude but strong personality had full
play, and his converts were numbered
by thousands.
During his long life he preached,
probably, 10000 sermons and bap-
tized 10000 people. His followers
and friends estimate the number of
persons converted by his efforts at
from 10000 to 100000. Some place
the number at a higher figure. But
this is regarded as a small part of the
work he did. His teachings, his ex-
ample and his constant efforts to main
tain the simplicity of the Methodist
worship and life are regarded as the
greatest product of his life.
His life was a long one, and COW
cred, at the time of his death, the life
of the republic. He was a sturdy
youngster of 2 years when Washington
was inaugurated president. He was
preaching while Jefferson was presi-
dent and before the Louisiana territory
was a part Of our domain. Under the
rule of all the presidents following
he lived and worked. He was al
ready an old man at the time of the
Mexican war. When the civil war
broke out he was long past the age
allotted to man, but he lived on and
worked until that new era which fol
lowed the civil war dawned upon the
republic.