The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-02-07
PERILOUS FISHING
A MidWinter Adventure on the Ice
In Lake Michigan.
TWO SURPRISES AND A FIGHT.

ne 6attle and the RESCUE.
A few years ago, In the dead of win.
ter, DIR. 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 sudden report, sound
ing like thundc--. The Ice was going
II rushed outside. but the snow was
binding, and could not even see the
shore line. All around the thunderous
reports were sounding and the Ice was
qulyering strangely. was frightened,
but as there was no help for it / went
back TO the hut
This was about noon. / noticed. to
my relief, that there were no cracks
coming beneath the hut, so that II the
Ice did go out should at least be on a
big cake for time The big cakes
do not last very long In Lake Michi-
gan. could not tell what was hap
penlng outside, for the wind was
shrieking and bowling horribly, and
every few seconds the ice would split
with a resoundlng crash So, for lack
Of something better to do, | arranged
a frying pan had over the little stove,
and to keep up my food supply l start
ed frying some fish. In few minutes
the place was filed with most APP
petizing odor, which, presume, had
something to do with what followed.
First of all heard series Of
low whines outside; then something
scratched ut the door. | opened 1t in
amazement. thinking that some dog
had found my hut. To my surprise,
however, great unkempt animal en-
tered and fawned about my feet. lick
ing my boots. and. although had new
er seen one, knew that IT was a 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 a frozen fishing
line, he was in qaundary. But the
wolf seemed lonely and showed
strong desire to make himself ut home,
so they spent the night quite charm
ingly 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 used up my last
wood in cooking some fish for the
wolf. while finished the basket OF
provisions.
$50 the wolf and went out In the
sunshine. and now the animal grew
surly and no longer welcomed my ap-
proaches. However, saw a dot NOV
ing among the ice and as II neared
saw that It was fish boat, doubtless
with n rescue party on board. And
now came the most surprising part of
my adventure.
1.-THE boat was about half 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 a low growl. / offered him
Il 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. be drew back n few steps.
his eyes fixed ON mine; then. with
quick movement, he sprang at me-
II had no weapon except short
knife, wlch was closed. All could
do was to jump aside, hitting him with
my fist 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 1y at me again my
hand was streaming with blood from
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 snow 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. hung on to his
throat; but, although kept the CLEAN
Ing teeth OF, | could not hold his feet.
He struck at me savagely with his
hind paws, the sharp claws tearing
through my coat like knives, aud
realized my danger just in time TO
east myself backward. Instantly the
wolf returned TO the attack, and this
time the look In his face frightened me
SO that did not wait for him. whip.
ped my coat away and threw IL In his
face. then turned and, running TO the
side Of the ice cake, leaped into the
water
IL am n good swimmer, and the boat
was only 100 feet distant, so In no time
l was aboard and getting into warm
clothes. The engine was stopped. and
we lay there watching the wolf lie
seemed puzzled at my disappearance.
running backward and forward on the
Ice. Then he 10 kcd at the boat and
howed dlsmally, None of the men
liked to attack him with knives for
their only weapons. and so presently
the boat was turned about, and we
threaded our way out from the ice to
the free water. Behind us the lonely
wolf sat watching US disappear and
slowly, hopelessly. noatcd onward to
bis doom."--wlde World Magazine.