The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1845-01-02


himself and daughtero attack themselveslo our parry
his accession was giadely received by rmy friends
TO whomI had communicated the interesting object Of
their journey and who deeply touched as my
self with heir peculiar aIicJion Itr TGwnIy and his
daughter there ofe quit The boat with us and the slea
her landing large party with our baggage upon the
shere resumed her swift course down the Iver Captain
Clark receiving our good shes for his sale and spec
dy arrival al New Orleans f' ios'7 }an aiH9i 7 a
1t was late in the afternoon when we landed upon the
point, and as we learned boat looked Ior momen
tsriy from below bound to ST. Louis concluded moi
remove our large quantity Ofbaggage TO the tavern
but remain with il, at leasllI night by the river side
Cairo city, as this place is now denominded was then
comprised in two story tavern, called Birds Hote
with double gallery running around it-ina sort oil
grocery store Or Two log kds and vast loresfol
gigantic trees thai covered nearly the whole place ex
sept 'Hhe clearing" the eAtreame point. II was
desolate looking spot especially on The approach OF
night The tavern, too had bad name The point be-
ing, from its central POSITION rendezvous Tor gam.
blers and from its retired character and the peculiar
acililesi it afforded or evadng justice the refuge Of
criminals and all kinds OF ,despeTae characters Flat
boats, also. alwaysIsure 10 be landed tIutn steamers
mutinous hands, z or detected rOgues- We bad some
knowledge OF the character OF the spot and therefore
chose 10 remain as long as eput on the evev hup
ngthe boat would soon appear and renper any further
intimacy wththe suspicious tavern unnecessary soa
| We therefore placed ourtrunksiin hollow square,
and seating ourselves upon theh waited patiently for
The expected boat when the sun at length sci and 20
sgns Of her rewarded long intense gazing, we began
10 wish we had waited al Cincinnati for ST. Louis
boat, as the Broadway House we all acknowledged
was far more comfortable than The broad side of liver
bank "A he landlord, now, on our application to him.
roughly epedihal his rooms were iul.. We had OBJ
served went 10 the house. several suspicious men
lurking about the tavern, one Of whom recognized as
a well known Natchezi gambler. We felt no disposi
lion TO remain In their company at the tavern, we'll
knowinglh vindicvehess which they entertained since
their expulsion against all Mssissppians and the an
noyadce we might expect if we were recognized 70 be
from The South As the night promised to rbe clear,
and the moon rose as the sun I'VE decided on remain
ing on The bank all night. We arranged coucheS for
the ladies with cOaks andbufalo skins whinihe space
enclosed by the trunks and sOspendng on -four stakes
large crimson Mexican blanket that belonged 10 the
travelling equipment of the Lcuisanian foreda SER
viceable caucpyto protect hem from the, dew We
then opened and took out our knives and pis
to and the brother of the bride unlocked from his case
4 "a new doublebafselet piece he was taking home
There were of Our party seven men, including two
young merchants returning home TO ST. Louis from the
\ East who were biyouacked few PAGES from US, bu
II who, on invitation, joned u.s. We had arms-the dou
blebarfeIet fowng piece tst named, nine pistols and
ielbowie knives, and powder and ball we therefore
elt sure Of giving good reception to any who moles
ted u.s. for we knew that deienceless parties of bvou
ackng travellers had been attacked by armed bandiai
and robbed of every article Of baggage and their jew
elry stripped from their persons; we had heard also
travellers laading at the point who never embarked
: gain We therefore quietly oadedou arms, and hav
ing established watch both for security and to loo
Eou !or steamer and awaken the rest on its approach
we settled ourselves about our bivouack for the nigh,
The ladies went to sleep, confding in our guard
ianship as women should ever do. Mr. Towniey al
at once showed himself tobe man Of resoue charac
ter for the probable danger of the party reused hin
from the contemplation Of his sorrows 10 sympathy
with the feelings ofthose around him.
The moon shone very bright, and the great riv
ers flowed majesiealy past their broad surfaces look
ing like torrents Of molten STEEL meeting mile below
the point and blending into one dark food which los
itsefiD the gloomy forests OF the South II two il
, the morning: Twas standing watch with Mr. Town
ley and the knight Of the towing piece and one Of tn
, young merchants, when we observed party Of mel
suddenly issue from path leading into theorest in tn
direction OF two three log huts. Hitherto the nigh
had been sl the lights had been early extnguished i
the tavern and the groups Of b6almeh thai were nger
ing about the shore had returned on board their fiat:
Tha party which we now saw was, when we discover
ed ii, about three hundred yards off, moving at quic
tramp directly towards our bivouack. We Instant
wakened our companions without disturbing the ladies
and having prepared cur arms 10 give them good re
cepion should they prove hostile, we remained seae
E upon our trunks watching them. The moon now shon
upon thenso ceaiy that could count their numbe
fourteen men, marching three and four abreast itals
il cleaned upon weapons which some of them carried
We were now. satisfied thht we were The object Of a
open attack by some of The desperadoes who ineste
4 the point who probably expected 10 find us unarme
and sleeping, and sopiage our baggage ana person
If not do murder II resisted We let lei them advanc
/ within ity PAGES and then challenged One who wall
ed BY the side oFthe first rank then spoke to Them ar
n Ithey hailed. '5' 'r
Is "It you approach any nearer be your errand pcac
fu or hostile we shall fire upon you'' we said firmly.
e "Hal they are prepared" said one.
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