Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1850-08-29
Whole Number 767.
wsaaersuu rhusvs..

An Englishman who was lately
travelling on the Mississippi river
told some rather tough stories about
the London thieves. A Cincinnati
chap named Case, heard these nara.
tives with a silent but expressive
humphl and then remarked that he
thought the Western thieves beat
the London operators all hollow.
SHOW sol" inquired the English
man, with surprise. "Pray, sir, have
you lived much in the Westi''
"Not great deal. undertook
to set up business at the Desmoines
Rapids while ago, but the rascally
people stole nearly everything had,
and finally WEIGH miner ran off
with my WIFE"
"Good GodI'' said the Englishman.
Sand you never have found herl''
"N ever to this day. But that
was not the worst OF it."
"Worst. Why what could be
worse than stealing a mans wifel"
"Stealing his children, should
say" said the implicable Case.
"Childrenl''
"Yes; a nigger woman who hadn't
any Of her own, abducted my youn-
gest daughter, and sloped and jined
the Ingins."
"Great heavenl And did YOU see
her do itl"
"See her1 Yes, and she hadn't
ten rods the start Of me; but she
plunged into the lake and swan off
like a duck, and there wasn't a canoe
to follow her WITH"
The Englishman laid back in his
chair and called for another mug of
while Case smoked his ci-
gar and credulous friend at the same
time, most remorselessly.
"I--I shan't go any further Vest
| think" at length observed the ex.
cited John Bull.
81 should not advise any one to CO."
said Case quietly. "My brother once
lived there, but ne had TO leave, al
though his business was the best in
The country"
"What business was he in prayT"
"Lumbering-had saw MILL"
"And they stole his lumberl"
"Yes, and his saw logs, too"
"Saw logsr'
ayes. Whole dozens oi fine
black walnut logs were carried of
in a single night"
ais it possiblel"
"True, upon my honor, sir. He
tried every way to prevent it; had
had men hired to watch his logs,
but it was all Of no use. They
would whip 'em away as easily as if
there had been nobody there. They
would steal them out Of the river,
put of the cove, and even out the
mill ways"
"Good Graciousn
"Just 10 give you an idea how
they can steal out there" continued
Case, sending a sly wink at the lis
lening company, 'just TO give you
IN idea-did you ever work in
Jaw millr"
"Never."
"WeII, my brother, one day
,ought an alfred fine black walnut
feet three al the butt and
lot knot in it. He was determin.
ID TO keep that log, any how, and
lired two Scotchmen TO watch it all
light. WE'LL they took a small
Iemi;ohn of whiskey with them,
naked the log up the side hill above
he mill, and built fire, and then
ot down on the log to play keerds
ust to keep awake you see. Twas
monstrous big log-bark two in-
hes thick. Well, as | was saying,
hev played keerds and drank whis-
;ey all night, and as it began to
row light, went to sleep, straddle
he log. About a minute after day
ght, George went over to the mill
o . see how they were getting on,
nd :he log toas goner
sand they setting on itf'
"Setting on the Bark. The thieves
ad drove an iron wedge into the
utt end, which pinted down hill
nd hitched yoke Of oxen on, pull.
it right out, leaving the she'll and
he Scotchers setting a straddle
fit fast asleepp
The Englishman here rose, drop
ed his cigar-stump into the sPittoon,
nd looking at his watch, said ne
houaht he would go on deck and see
ow FAR we'd be down the river be-
IRE morning.