Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-02-09
PERIL0US FISHING
q Midwinter Adventure on the Ice
In Lake Michigan.
TWO SURPRISES AND A FIGHT.
First the Lone Hunter Was Startled by
the Ice Going Out and Then by the
Intrusion of a Treacherous Visitor.
The Battle and the Rescue.


The Battle and the Rescue.
A few years ago, in the dead of Win
ter, DR.. NJ. A. Leach was out on Lake
Michigan in 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!
II rushed outside, but the snow was
binding. ana could not even see the
shore line. All around the thunderous
reports were sounding and the ice was
uuivering strangely. was frightened
but as there was no help for it went
back to the hut.
This was about noon. | noticed, to
nv relief, that there were no cracks
coming beneath the hut. so that II the
ice did go out l should at least be on a
big cake for q time. The big cakes
do not last very long in Lake Michi-
gan. could not tell what was hap
pening outside, for the wind was
shrieking and bowling horribly. and
every few seconds the ice would split
with resounding crash. So, for lack
of something better to do. ! arranged
| frying pan l. had over the little stove.
and to keep up my food supply | start
ed frying some fish. In Il few minutes
| the place was filed with a most ap-
petizing odor. which. | presume. had
something. to do with what followed
First of all | heard series of
low whines outside; then something
scratched at the door. opened it in
| umaZement. thinking that some dog
had perhaps been lost on the ice aud
| had found my hut. To my surprise.
however. Il great unkempt animal en-
| tered and fawned about my feet. lick.
| ing my boots, and. although had nev-
er seen one. knew that it was Il gray
wolf The animal seemed terrified be-
| yOnd measure and showed no sign
whatever of wildness."
[ AS the doctor had no other weapon
| than his knife and Il frozen fishing
line, be was in a qaundary. But the
| wolf seemed lonely and showed a
strong desire to make himself ut home
so they spent the ni@ht quite charm
ingly together The next m0rnin@-to
hear what the GOrtor says:
Il awoke to find the sun up. the day
! bright and clear and the land foHr or
| live miles west of uS All arnund float
ed cakes Of ice. going the same way
as ourselves in the grip Of Sot:le cur
rent. My fears passed away with the
bright sunlight. and used mp my last
| wood in cooking some fish for the
! wolf. while finished the basket Of
| provisions
| $50 the wolf and | went ont i'll the
sunshine. and now the animal grew
| surly and no longer welcomed my ap-
proaches. However, saw Il dot mov-
! ing among the ice and us it neared
! saw that it was Il fish boat, doubtless
! with Il rescue party on board. And
! now came the most surprising part Of
my adventure.
THE boat was about half mile
distant. and the occupants. having seen
! me and waved to me, started TO make
their ways through the floating ice.
saw the wolf watching them with bris
Ting hair. and suddenly he turned to
me with low growl. | offered him
Il bit of fish. but he took no notice, and
| | began to fear that be realized that
my rescue would not include his. At
any rate. he drew back few steps,
his eyes fixed Oh mine: then. with
! quick movement, he sprang at me
Il had no weapon except snort
knife. which Was closed. All could
do WAS to lump aside hitting him with
my list as he missed me, an old box
ing trick. But | had not counted on
that savage side slash Of the great
! teeth, and when the animal gained his
feet and turned to fly at NE again MY
hand was streaming with blood from
a small cash | heard shouts from the
approaching fish boat, but as the par
ty were unarmed they could not help
me.
Immediately upon getting bis bal
ance on the snow the wolf came TO-
ward me slowly and SprAnG again.
This time was really fri&htrl.rd. ana
with wild Idea Of holding hil away
till my friends could assist ne met
him halfway. grasped his throat ID
both hands. and we both fell 10 the
snow together. for the impact 0I HIS
leap WIS tremendous. hung On Ia lis
tlroat: but. although kept The 2'eain'
ing teeth off. | could not hold his feet
He struck ut me SarHgr,y WIN ui'
hind paws. the sharp claws tearing
through my coat like knives. ana
realized my danger just III time 10
cast. myself backward INSTANTLY the
wolf returned to the attack. HnG tais
lime the look in his face frightened III"
so that did not wait for him | whip
ped my coat away and threw it III MS
face. then turned and. running. 10 the
side of the ice cake. Ieaped INTO the
water
!. II am IL good swimmer. and the boat
was only Ion feet distant. so in no time
WIS aboard and getting into warm
clothes. I'll" engine WAS stopped and
we lay there watching tue wolf. lie
seemed puzzled III my disappearance
| running bnck ward and forward Oh the
ice Then hc looked III ihp boat and
/ huwled disinaIly None OF the men
liked to attack him with knives fol
their only weapons. and so present..
the boat was turned about. and we
! threaded our way ont from the ice tc
the free water. Behind us the lonely
wolf sat watching lis disappear anC
clo,yfv honplpsSlv Hpatpl onward tC