Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-01-18
PERIL0US FISHING
A MidWinter Adventure on the Ice
In Lake Michigan.
TWO SURPRISES AND A FIGHT.

the Ice Going Out n Then by the
Intrusion Of a T~reacherous Visitor
The Battle and tho Rescue.
A few years ago, in the dead of win.
ter, DR.. M. A. Leach was out on Lake
Michigan in a friends hut, fishing
through the ice. Everything was pro-
ceeding merrily when, says the doctor:
There came a sudden report, sound
ing like thunder. The ice was going!
"I rushed outside, but the snow was
binding, and I could not ever see the
shore line. All around the thunderous
reports were sounding and the ice was
quivering strangely. I was frightened.
back to the hut.
This was about noon. I noticed, to
my relief, that there were no cracks
coming beneath the hut, SO that If the
ice did go out I should at least be on a
big cake for a time. The big cakes
do not last very long in Lake Michi-
gan. ! could not tell what vas hap
pening outside, for the wind was
shrieking and bowling horribly, and
every few seconds the ice would split
with a resounding crash. So, for lack
of something better to do, I arranged
a frying pan I had over the little stove,
and to keep up my food supply I start
ed frying some fish. In a few minutes
the place was filed with a most ap-
petizing odor, which, l presume, had
something to do with what followed.
First Of all l heard q series of
low whines outside; then something
scratched at the door. l opened it in
amazement. thinking that some dog
had perhaps been lost on the ice and
had found my hut. To my surprise,
however. q great unkempt animal en-
tered and fawned about my feet, lick
Ing my boots. and, although I had new
er e one, I knew that twas a gray
wolf. The animal seemed terrified be-
yond measure and showed no sign
whatever of Witness"
AS the doctor had no other weapon
than his knife and a frozen fishing
line, he was in a Qaundary. But the
wolf seemed lonely and showed a
strong desire to make himself at home,
so they spent the hight quite charm
1ngly together. The next morning-to
hear what the doctor says:
II awoke to find the sun up, the day
bright and clear and the land four or
five miles west Of us All around float
ed cakes of ice, going the same way
as ourselves in the grip of some cur
rent. My fears passed away with the
bright sunlight, and I used up my last
wood in cooking some fish for the
wolf. while I finished the basket Of
provisions.
$50 the wolf and l went out in the
sunshine, and now the animal grew
surly and no longer welcomed my ap-
p~roaches. However, I saw a dot NOV
ing among the ice and as it neared
saw that it was a fish boat, doubtless
with a rescue party on board. And
now came the most surprising part of
my adventure.
1.-THE boat was about half a mile
distant, and the occupants. having seen
me and waved to me, started to make
their way through the floating ice. |
saw the wolf watching them with bris-
Ting hair. and suddenly he turned to
me with q low growl. offered him
a bit of fish. but he took no notice, and
began to fear that he realized that
my rescue would not include his. At
any rate. he drew back a few steps.
his eyes fixed on mine; then. with a
nllfok n1Nv0monf ho cnrorr ok ro
Il had no weapon except a short
knife. which was closed. All l could
do was to jump aside. biting him with
my fist as he missed me, an old box
ing trick. But l had not counted on
that savage side slash of the great
teeth, and when the animal gained his
feet and turned to fly at me again my
hand was streaming with blood from
q small cash. | heard shouts from the
approaching fish boat. but as the par
ty were unarmed they could not help
me.
Immediately upon getting his bal.
ance on the 10Y the wolf came to-
ward me slowly and sprang again.
This time | was really frightened, and
with a wild idea of holding him away
till my friends could assist me | met
him halfway. grasped his throat in
both hands, and we both fell to the
snow together. for the impact Of his
leap was tremendous. I hung on to his
throat; but. although l kept the CLEAN
ing teeth off, l could not hold his feet
He struck at me savagely with his
hind paws. the sharp claws tearing
through my coat like knives, and ]
realized my danger just in time tc
cast myself backward. Instantly the
wolf returned to the attack, and this
time the look in his face frightened me
30 that l did not wait for him. 1 whip
ped my coat away and threw it in his
face. then turned and, running to the
side Of the ice cake. leaped into the
water.
II am a good swimmer, and the boa
was only 100 feet distant, so in no time
I was aboard and getting into warn
clothes. The engine was stopped, an(
we lay there watching the wolf. HI
seemed puzzled at my disappearance
running backward and Orward IN thu