Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-10-04
wonderful Thieves.

All EUgitSHIndU WHO was idteiy tTdNct-
ling on the Mississippi river told some
rather tough stories about London thieves.
A Cincinnati chap, named Case, heard
these narratives with a silent and impress
sive humph! and then remarked that the
Western thieves beat the London opera
tors all hallow.
allow SOL" inquired the Englisbman
with surpri.e. "Prav, sir, have you
lived much in the West!"
mot great deal. ] undertook to set
up business at the Des Moines rapids
awhile go: but the rascally people stole
nearly every thing had, and finally a
Welsh miner ran away with my wife.
"Good God!" said the Englishman,
sand you never have found herr
"Never 10 this day. But that was not
the worst Of it,
"WoisH why, why what could be
worse than stealing mans wife!''
"Stealing his children, should say"
said the implacable Case.
"Childrenv'
"Yes; niger woman who hadn't
any Of her own, abducted my youngest
daughter, and sloped and jlned the In
gins"
Great heavens! And did you not
see her do it,
"See her? Yes, and she hadn't ten
rods the start of me; but she plunged in
to the lake, and swan off like duck,
and there wasn't canoe to follow her
with"
The Englshman laid back in his chair
and called for another mug of 'alf-an-'alf
while Case smoked his cigar and credu-
lous friend at the same time, most re-
morsely.
"I-I shan't go any further Vest
Think" observed the excited John Bull.
81 should not advise any one 10 CO."
said Case, quietly. .My brother once
lived there, but he had to leave; although
his business was the best in the country"
"What business was he in.''
"Lumberins--had saw mill"
Sand they siole his lumber!"
"Yes, and his saw logs. too
"Saw logs!"
"Yes. Whole dozens OF fine black
walnut logs.
.'Is il possble!'
"True, upon my honor, sir. He
tried every way 10 prevent it; had men
hired to watch his logs, but it was all of
no use. They'd. whip 'em away as if
there had been nobody there. They
would steal them out of the river; out OF
the cove, and even out of the mill ways"
"Good gracious
'Just give you an idea how they can
steal out there,' continued Case, sending
sly wink at the listening company,
',just to give you an idea-did you ever
work in saw mill"
"Never."
.WeIl. my brother, one day bought
an all fired fine black walnut log-four
feet and three at the butt and not a knot
in it. He was determined 10 keep that
log, any how, and hired two Scotchmen
to watch il all night. Well, they took
small demijohn OF whiskey with them,
snaked the log up the side of the hill a
bove the mill and built fire, and then
sot down on the log to play keerds, just
to keep awake you see. Twas mon
slrous big log-bark two inches thick
Well, as was sayin', they played keerds
and drank whisky all night, and as it
began to grow light, went TO sleep a
siraddle the log. About minute after
daylight, George went over 10 the mill 10
see how they were getting on, and the
log was gone"
Sand they sitting on III"
"Setting on the bark. The thieves
had drove a wedge into the butt end.
which was pinted down the hill, and
hitched yoke of oxen on, and pulled it
righ. out, leaving the shell and the Scotch
men sitting a-straddle OF il fast asleep?"
The Englishman here rose, dropped
his cigar stump into the spittoon. and
looked at his watch. thought he would
go on deck and see how far we'd be down
The river before morning.