Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-01-27

TOWARD
stands out as unique. All during the
summer months he worked as an engi-
neer on a dredge boat which piled up
and down the bayOus emptying into the
gulf of Mexico, and it was during this
term of service that he met the terror
and skipped it by the margin of
hairs breadth.
Life on a dredge boat is not an ideal
existence by any MEANS said the hero
of the adventure, land soon grows so
mOnOtonouS that it is hardly tOlerable.
In fact, were it not for the few chance
haps and hazards that come our way I
think we would die of ennui.
ct is of one of those hazards that 1
want to tell you, a hazard that, as I
look back upon it now, makes cold
shivers play up and down my back.
Il was virtually in the jaws of man
eating shark, great ravenous monster,
seeking to appease it's appetite, and
here am l, alive and we'll.
Our boat lay at the mouth Of one Of
the bayous that pour their flood into the
restless southern sea within a few
isle. We were far enough up the stream
to escape the pound and rush of the
great waves which throw whitecaps
skyward out in that waste of greenish
waters, but we could see the ocean,
hear it's weeping, moaning sob, and the
melancholy dirge-like sound seemed to
call US and infect us with desire for a
plunge into those surges.
81 was one of those who listened to
the voice of the sea, hearkened to the
weird call, and the wild desire pos
Sessed me for a swim in those mighty
waves. The surf washing on the beach
in long, ZigZagging lines of white,
yeasty foam we could see from the
deck Of our anchored steamer and to
our ears came the sWishing, pounding
boom as each wall of water, urged in
by never weakening force spent it's
energy in climbing the stretch Of yellow
sand and sprayed itself in lashing
showers on the unyielding shore
THE temptation to swim in that
great sea was not to be resisted My
blood tingled at the sight and sound of
it, and 1 obtained the captains permits
sion to use the yawl to row over to the
island.
"'GOing for swim, Reese? he ask
ed, and when l gave an affirmative re-
ply he said that the surf bathing along
the beach of the island was magnifi-
cent, but that it was dangerous to go
too far out because Of the sharks I'd
heard the story of the sharks before,
but wasn't afraid, not intending to risk
myself out III very deep water, and as
/ showed the skiff off from the dredge
boats side 1 assured the skipper that l
would exercise great care.
1.-Two or three of the crew went with
me, and, handling the oars in pairs,
we rapidly crossed the stretch of calm
water, sheltered between the island
and the marshy mainland, and reached
q favorable point to tie up.
at was evening, a glorious summer
evening, with stiff breeze sweeping
across the island from out at sea, and
mellow moon riding high in the heav-
ems and bathing the broad expanse in
shimmering silver light, and we all as
we gazed at the gulf casting off a
glistening spray that looked like count
less millions of diamonds, and at the
heavy line of black shadows cast by
the thick groves near the beach, could
not but appreciate the magnificent
splendor Of the scene.
'But somewhere out in that sea q