Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-20
PERILOUS FISHING
A MIdwinter Adventure on the Ice
In Lake Michigan.


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.
II rushed outside. but the snow was
binding. and l could not even see the
shore line. All around the thunderous
reports were sounding and the Ice was
quivering strangely. l was frightened,
but as there was no help for it l went
back to the hut.
This was about noon. l 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
big cake for a time. The big cakes
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. l arranged
frying pan had over the little stove.
and to keep up my food supply l start
the place was filed with a most APP
petizinG odor, which. l presume. had
something to do with what followed.
First OF all heard a series OF
low whines outside: then something
scratched at the door. | opened it in
amaZement. thinking that some dog
had perhaps been lost on the ice and
had fOnnn mi To SIrrnriSn
however. n great unkempt animal en-
tered and fawned about my feet. lick
ing my boots. and. although / had new
er seen one. | knew that II was 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 night quite charm
ingly together. The next morning-to
hear what the doctor says:
/ Il awoke TO find the sun up, the day
bright and clear and the land four or
i've miles west OF us. All around float
ed cakes of ice. going the same way
as ourselves i'll 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-
pTOaches However, saw Il dot NOV.
ing among the ice and as it neared
saw that 1t was a fish boat, doubtless
with a rescue party on board. And
now came the most surprising part OF
my adventure.
The boat was about half a mile
distant, and the occupants, having seer
NE 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 tC
me with a low growl | offered hin
bit of fish. but he took no notice, anC
| began TO fear that he realized that
my rescue would not include his. Al
any rate. he drew back a few steps
his eyes fixed on mine: then. with 1
quick movement. he sprang at me.
J Il had no weapon except a short
knife, which was closed. All l coulC
Go was to jump aside. hitting him witt
, my fist as he missed me, an old box
ing trick. But | had not counted OF
that savage side slash of the grea
teeth, and when the animal gained hi:
feet and turned to fly at me again my
hand was streaming with blood from
a small cash. | heard shouts from thu
approaching fish boat, but as the par
ty were unarmed they could not hell
! me.
Immediately upon getting his bal
! ance on the snow the wolf came 10
J ward me slowly and spTang again
This time ! was really frightened, an
, with a wild idea of holding him ava
, till my friends could assist me | me
him halfway. grasped his throat i
, both hands, and we both fell 10 tn
! snow together. for the impact Of b
leap was tremendous. | hung on TO hi
throat; but. although | kept the CLEAN
ing teeth of. could not hold his fee
/, de struck at me savagely with hi
hind paws. the sharp claws tearin
. through my coat like knives. aud
/, realized NY danger just in time I
cast myself backward. Instantly til
wolf returned to the attack, and thi
time the look in his face frightened N
; 50 that did not wait for him. | whiI
ped my coat away and threw it in hi
face. then turned and. running to tn
side of the ice cake. leapsd into Ii
: water
= Il am a good swimmer, and the boa