Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-01-10
PERILoUS FISHING
A Midwiater Adventure on the Ice
N Lake Michigan.
TWO SURPRISES AND A FIGHT.
First the Lone Hunter Was Startled by
the Ice Going Out and Then by the
Intrusion of q Treaoherous Visitor.
The Baltic and tho Rescue.

A few years ago. In the dead Of win
ter. Dr. M. 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, and l could not even see the
shore line. All around the thunderous
reports were sounding and the ice was
quivering strangely. j was frightened.
but as there was no help for IL 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
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 a resounding 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 a few minutes
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. l opened II in |
amazement. thinking that some dog |
had perhaps been lost on the Ice and |
| had found my hut To my surprise. |
however. a great unkempt animal en- |
tered and fawned about my feet, lick |
ing my boots. and. although l had new |
er seen one. l 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 frozen fishing
line. be 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
Eve miles west OF us. All around fIoat-
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 i went out in the
: sunshine. and now the animal grew
surly and no longer welcomed my APP
pr0aches However. | saw a dot NOV
ing among the ice and as II neared
saw that II was a fish boat. doubtless
with n rescue party on board And
now came the most surprising part Of
my adventure.
: The boat was about half q mile
= distant. and the occupants. having seen
me and waved to me. started to make
q their way through the floating ice. |
saw the wolf watching them with bris.
\ Ting hair. and suddenly he turned to
y me with a low growL l offered him
d bit OF fish. but he took no notice. and
| began to fear that he realized that
my rescue would not include his. ~
any rate. he drew back few steps
his eyes fixed on mine: then. with a
- quick movement. he sprang at ME.
= Il had no weapon except a short
= knife. which 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 or
J that savage side slash OF the great
q teeth, and when the animal gained hi:
feet and turned TO fly at me again m,
hand was streaming with blood from
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 ba
IS ance on the snow the wolf came tc
es ward me slowly and sprang again
\ This time was really frightened. an
10 with a wild Idea OF holding him ava
- till my friends could assist me ] me
him halfway. grasped his throat
both hands. and we both fell TO III
4 snow together. for the impact OF hl
L leap was tremendous hung on to hi
throat; but. although kept the CLEAN
e ing teeth off, | could not hold his fee
He struck at me savagely with h
hind paws. the sharp claws tearip
through my coat like knives. and
realized my danger just In time
cast myself backward. Instantly II
wolf returned TO the attack. and til
time the look in his face frightened II
go that did not wait for him. l viii
ped my coat away and threw II In b
face. then turned and. running to q
side of the ice cake. leaped into Il
wafer
II am a good swimmer. and the no
tn 81 In