The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1853-01-07
A DESPERATE RACE.
4 story OF tn. carly settlement Of Ohio.


1.-THE following is one Of "F.lcon.
bridges" happiesi efforts. II hits off 10
the life the extravagsnt stories Of West
ern adventure told by the "Lobg- bows
who visit oar Western bofdefs:l
Some years ago, I was one 6f . con-
vivial party, that met in the principle
hotel 10 tho town of Columbus, Ohio, the
seat Of government Of the Buckeye
State.
II was winter evening, wh1n all with
out was bleak and stormy, and all with
in were blythe and gay, when song snd
story made the circuit Of the festive
board, filling up the charms Of life with
mir'h end laughter.
We had met for the express purpose
of making night of il. and tho pious
intention was duly and most religiously
carried out. The Legislature was in ses
sion in that town, and not few of the
worthy legislators we're present upon this
occasion.
One Of these worthless will rame, as
nc not only took aibig swarth in the even
ing's entertainment, but he was \ man
more geneally known than our worthy
President. james X. Polk. That man
was the famous Captain Riley whose
naRa,iye of suffering and adven.rrss are
pretty ReEera1ly known over the civilized
world. Captain Riley was fine, fh,
good bumored joker, who at the period of
my story was the Representative of the
Dayton district, and lived near that little
city when at ONE. Well, Captain Riley
had amused The company with many
Of his far.famed and singular adventures,
which being mostly told before and read
by millions Of people, tha, had ever seen
his book. | will not attempt to repeat
them. ..
Many were the stories and adventures
told by The company, when it came TO
the turn O. a we'll know gentleman who
represented the Cincinnati district. As
Mis-, is yet among the living, and
perhaps no. disposed TO be the subject Of
the joke or story, do not feel at liberty
10 give his name. Mi, was a
slow believer in other mems adventures,
and al the same time much disposed to
magnify himselfinto marvellous hero
whenever The opppor'unity offered. As
Captain Riley wound up one 1fli' very
UuthfuI, though really marvellous advcn-
lures. Mr. -, coo'y remarked, that
the Captains story was all very well, but
il did not compare with al adventure that
he had "once upon time" on the Ohio.
below the present city OF Cincinnati.
Lets have ii! Let's have i,!" resound-
ed aIl hands.
"Well, gentlemen" said the Senator,
clearing bis voice for action, and knock
ing the ashes rom his cigar against the
arm Of his chair. "Genilsmen, am not
in the habit of spinning yarns II marvel
ous or fictitious matters, and therefore il
is scarcely necessary to affirm upon the
responsibility 0. my reputation, gentle
mon, tha, what Pm about to tell yon,
mos, solemnly proclaim to be the truth,
an"
"Oh! never mind that, go OH Mr.. -"
chimed the party.
"Wel, gentlemen, in IS ! came
dowa the Ohio river and se,tled at Lo-
san,i, now called Cincinnati. II was at
that time but a little settlement Of some
twenty or thirty log,,and irame cabins, and
whore now stands the Broadway Hotel ,
and block of stores aud dwelling houses,
was the cottage and corn patch Of cid
Mr.--, a tailor who by the by,
boueh, ,ha, land for the making Of Goa,
Tor one OF the settlers. Well, I put up
nv cabin, with the aid Of my neighbors,
and pu, in patch Of corn and potatoes,
about where Fly M Ike, now stands,
and eel about improving my loi, house,
&c.
Occasionally, / look up my rifle, and
started of with my dog down the river TO
look up little deer, or bar meat, then
very plenty along the river. The blasted
redskins were lurking about and hover
;ng asound the settlement, and avery
euce in while picked Of some OF our
neiRhbors, or stole our cattle or horses, |
hated the red demons, and made no
bones Of peppering the blasted sarpents
whenever got sight at them. In fact,
the red rascals had dread Of me, and
had laid great many traps to get my
scalp, but | wasn'. to be catched naPp.
ing.
t'Well, I started of one morning; pret.
1, early, 10 take hunt, and travelled a
long way down the river, over the bot:
toms and hills, but couldn'l find no bur
nor deer.
"Abeut four o'clock in the afternoon,
made tracks for the settlement again.
BY and BY, lsoes buck just ahead of
me, and walking very leisurely down
to the river, I slipped up, with nay faith
ful old dog close in my rear, 80 within
clever shooting distance, and Just as the
buck stuck his nose in the drng, drew
a bead upon his top knot; and over he
tumled, aud splurged and bounded awhile,
when l came up and relieved him BY cut
ting his wisan-"