The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-11-16
ALFRED SANDERS, EDITOR.

those who arrived al the time did, but il
was Of m ordinary travelling character,
composed chiefly Of western merchants,
aud we were not much in the way OF each
othor. II is n characteristic of the western
people, not only to congrcga,e together,
when in land Of strangers, bn, TO be com
munica,ive with each other freely, in the
hope Of discovering any ancient friend
ships. or even Distant relationships, that
may exist among them--and to hear the
news. And besides all this. your real ives.
tern man, unlike the English cockncy, who
refused to save drowning man because
he had not been introduced 10 him, is an
inquisitivc and in,ellighle animal, merely
for the sakc Of importing and receiving in
formation on all subjects; in the words of
counsellor Curran, who applied them to the
character Of the Irish people, the western
man is provcrbin'ly bold aud fearless, and
he therefore coniides in others, without hes
itntion. Among the guests who surround
ed the fire after supper, wns gentleman
of apparently superior information. and
who seemed to be much of literary char
acter; and, the conversation happening to
turn on the dangers encountered by trav-
elcrs, he voluntarily related TO the compa-
ny the following narrative, with the ASST
rance that it was substantially true, and
we all listened with attention.
about year ago. said he, n gentleman
well armed, from tho direction Of Pitts
burgh, and its ndjacen. rich stock country.
stopped at this house with n large drove OF
iattcned bulocks for the Philadelphia and
Baltimore markets, who said it was bis in.
tention TO bring back the proceeds in mon
ev, 10 pay up his contracts-nnd that he
would probably return in such length Of
time, naming the period. His name, aud
dress, and nlso the place OF his residence,
have now forgotten, but he rode white
horse of very superior spirit and power
and ] mention the peculiar color of his
horse. because j, was that which afterwards
saved his life. Some weeks after he had
gone, md about the time Of his expected
return, two Canadian Frenchmen, on foot,
well dressed and well armed, one carrying
brace Of pistols, and the other rifle, came
from the direction Of Pittsburgh, and stop
ped nj this house for breakfast. They told
Mr.. Stotller they had no money; that they
were travelling 10 Philadelphia. and n va.
rietv Of other matters. and that they had
lost their horses. lie Immediately order
ed breakfas, for them mud thev ate heart.
!v--conversing at the same time, in the
French language, and in an under tone.
One Of them WINS large, stout nun. and
the other was person Of less size, they
both had much the mir Of gentlemen.
'Aficr they had breakiasted. they started
eastward, in the direction Of Philadelphia
there wns light, soft snow on tho ground,
and tho wnking was somewhat heavy and
difficult. They had not proceeded more
than two miles, when in the Distance, from
. rising piece Of ground, they discovered
traveller advancing toward them mount
cd on white horse. This wayfnrer and
his white stced, they imagined, were the
objects Of their longing and anxious pur-
suit; and m sooner was this fnnced discov-
cry made, than they suddenly turned their
faces to the westward, and appeared TO he
travelling in that direction. Tho solitary
traveller on the white horse soon overlook
and accostcd them in the most friendly
manner. On being questioned, they told
him that they were on their way to Pitts
hurgh, and were destitute Of the means Of
dcfraying their expenses, and desired him
10 assist them onward. His reply WINS
what might have been expected by any
destitute wnyfarcr, travelling in the gren,
west. Ho told them he was poor man
himself, and burthcncd with the hcnvy
chnrgc Of a numerous and helpless family
Of children; that his name was Pollock. n
lnboring farmer by profession. and that he
lived on rented land, not FAR from the resi-.
dence ofGcn Arthur St. Clair, in Lgonicr
valley, TINT he had but very small sum Of
money with him. but that he would share
il with them, in hearing their expenses to
the last cent. Conversation on this, and
other themes, brought the two vagabond
Erenchmen, and their generous and noble
comrade Pollock, back TO Stoitlcr's house
of entertainment. Here poor Pollock or
cered refreshments, for his stranCcr com.
panions and himself, and paid for them
from leather purse, but very poorly and
mcngerly supplied; and the travellers start
ed on their way westward in company.
During the two visits the strangers had
mnde mt Stottler's house. their appearance,
conduct. and character, had been narrowly
and closely scrutinized, nv brother-in.law
Of SlottIer's. whose nnmc was John Lam.
bert, blacksmith bv trade, and with whom
| nfterwards took pains TO become acqusin,-
ed.
\ y
AFTER the departure Of the two armed
French foot pads, with Mr.. Pollock in com.
pany, Lambert remarked 10 his hrother-in.
l. u I'LL sLc ~~nn~.~~~~ 10