The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-30

Hheu INC OaaAnco ol Sno stage, ANA no room ~
manned Tor us. This arrangement would not do,
and after few minutes conversation the stage pro-
prietor agreed to supply an extra two-horse team
for US three. Thus far so good, thought we. The
old Judge with much pleasure descended from the
stage, and old FAC and Mac sprung ont and shook
their Jackets giving evident signs Of delight at not
being compelled to ride with testy old man, and
hdgety old woman. The inmates Of the stage mp
peared equally as pleased at the loss of our society
In the space Of half an hour the extra arrived.
IT WINS a rockaway wagon, with two very good hor-
SEES attached; our traps were secured in the wagon
the old Judge and myself on the back seat, Wash
and the driver i'll front, and our dogs snugy in the
bottom Of the wagon, in the straw adding much to
The warmth of our feet. Thus we started on our
journey to Freehold, a distance of twelve miles.
The condition Of the road was terrible the most
of the way, being nothing but stiff clay softcned
enough by the heavy rain to permit the wheels to
sink up to tho hubbs about once in every five min
utes ard as the wagon was not one of the strongest
kind. break down was the fearful result antcipa-
ted, rs on every occasion when the wheels sank
down into the clay, by tho extreme weight inside,
whang, bang, the box Of the wagon would strike on
the springs, fitting the Conveyance almost over on
those occasions, the old Judge would seize hold
OF the opposite side of the wagon-top to euuaize
the weight, and with groan Of satisfaction, when
passed over safely. exclam. "That's well DONE"
For my part never expected to arrive at Freehold;
my attention was constantly fixed on the wheel
ruts ahead, and ever was / cautioning tho dri-
yer to be careful, and not spill us in the mud.
short time before reaching Freehold, on descend
ing near the bottom of hill, tho hind wheels be.
came fast in the clay, and one of tho horses refused
to pull. We now thought our time had come for
tumble about knec-deep into the soft clay, but
luckily, by the good Judgment Of the driver, who
jumped out and took his horses by the head,
steady pull was made, and out we came, without
damage. 1t was proposed by myself before VIC got
out, to Tighten our weight by putting the old Judge
overheard, but to this he most decidedly de-
INJURED. Suffice it to say that after some three
hours stormy. cold and cramped up ride, we ar
rived at the county town Of Freehold. The inclcm-
ency of the weather, however prevented our being
able to form any particular judgment Of the place,
any more than it appears to be rather picturesque,
no doubt pretty in the summer season, only like all
the places in this section of country about cen.
tury behind the age. We disembarked from the
wagon at Rues Hotel, where we took dinner, such as
it was, having arrived half an hour behind the
mail stage. We were supplied with very poor
full price, if not little more. After dinner our
course was to proceed to Toms river, some twenty
two miles distant; but, as on the former occasion,
crowded to carry all the passengers. However, Mr..
Rue the stage proprietor. very generously provided
for us an extra conveyance, for which he only
charged us double price, being MS we were " " rk-
upon travellers, Notwithstanding it was his duty
to carry all the passengers at the same rate of
fare. The storm was raging furiousy and want
ing to continue our journey, there was no alter
We found that wherever we stopped, the motto
seemed to be. "make the most you can out
ofthc travellers" The extra broug ht the door,
the dogs and the baggage was first secured in the
pying the rear seat 70 himself, Wash and yself on
the middle seat, and the driver in 'front.' facing the
storm. The wagon was very well covered in,
and well il needed 70 be-. as the rain poured
past 3 O'Clock in the afternoon, and after very
rough passage Of twenty-five miles, very similar
to the one previously described, arrived at Tom,
river at o'clock in the evening. Here wc took
supper, but, from the darkness OF the night could
tell nothing Q! the picturesque beauty Of the town
il must. though, be place of some punkins'' as
after supper, the old Judge was introduced to the
President Of thcbank, located next to the tavern,
and shown the banking room, in corner Of which
was an iron safe. supposed to contain the bills and
specie. although it was whispered to the old Judge,
before we left, that the operators Of the bank did
o'clock the rain had subsidized, and we wished to
proceed, but the landlord Of the tavern informed us
that stage left that place until the next day. and
pressed us to remain all night. We expressed our
determination to proceed onward and then one Of
the ncighbors forward and said he would carry
US through to Barnegat. To this arrangement we
consented, md the man proceeded to hitch up his
team. but in doing 50 one of the animals slipped
his haltnr, and ran off down the road with about
half the harness his back. The man pursued
| him about mile, and then returned, uttering
iinpIocaions against the horse, excaiming that he
would rot have cared 50 much had the id
critter not carried off the harness. Here, again.
was another difficulty, and further delay was
necessary. Another ncghbor came up and volun-
| teered to harness up his mare and with the remain
ing horse, drive us through. The Offer was accep-
| ted and by o'clock we again placed our traps"
and bodies into a wagon, route for Barncgat n
distance Of % milos. But luckily tho storm had
abafed the wind had shifted to the north west. the
mega. the moon was shining clearly. The cold had
increased to frost, and ice to be seen by day
light. the thickness of dollar. At about half past
O'Clock in the morning, we arrived Mt Barnegat
after very rough and chilly ride of nearly six
hours. During the journey, Wash and myself en-
deavored to take forty winks, but found il was
thing impossible, as the old Judge overpowcrcd US
with his nasal organ, in the rear, thereby mcnopoli
2ing the whole Of the sleep to himself, and when
shook up by sudden descent Of the wagon wheel
in hole he would exclaim, " Halo, boys, be care
full; how much further have we to go!" and the
next minute after enliyen again on his musical
organ.
On entering the village Of Barnegat, we found it
ms silent as the tomb-not even dog barked to
noupce cur entry, as is most usually the when
entering q country village in the night time. The
briliiancy Of the moon tended some to enliven
the scene around, which would otherwise have borne
more solemn aspect. We drew up to an ancient
looking tavern Of some thirty years standing kept
BY Mr. Schaffer. Not light could be seen, nor
sound could be heard, except the north wind whist
ling through the surrounding trees-al was ST.
most frozen stiff with cold. Great efforts were made
to wake up the inmates OF this tavern. as here we
intended to stop. Knock, knock, bang, bang, and
kick kick, for some fifteen minutes: but all to no
purIose-no could we mako hear, or they would
not hear, which amounted to about the same thing.
Ultimately, We heard the pushing up window--it
was from neighbours house across the road, some
thirty yards distance, who put his head out and in
| CURED if any one was sckl "No,o replied the old
Judge; there is nobody very sick over here, only
very cold-we want to get in to warm ourselves"
"Wcll guess" said the neighbor, Charley sleeps
pretty severe guess, strangers, you had better go
around to the rear windows and knock the widow
sleeps in the Of the house. Mr. and Mrs. Schaf
fer have been away from home for several days u
visit and all that's in the house is Charley and the
widow" cob, ohn' said the old Judge, " we
Workers. guess understand matters now;' and
back lie went and knocked Mt the rear window and
in few minutes Charleys voice was audible, and
his footsteps heard his way down stairs to open
the door. Here took breakfast before daylight.
warmed ourselves thoroughly. and procured another
team to convey us to Manahawkin, some six miles
distant. where we were to take sail boat and eros