Smyrna times., 1854-11-29
SfltsttIlantou5,
& Perilous Journey.

MIR. Barnum, in his forthcoming antobiogra-
ply, relates the following incident:
In 1886, was travelling in the South as
proprietor of Show" which was called
Barnum' Grand Scientific and Musical Thea
tre." The performances consisted of teats of
legerdemain and balancing by Joe Pentland;
plate-dancing, silt performances and juggling
by Signor Vvala, (the little Italian whom
picked up while exhibiting old Joice IIeth in
Albany and Negro extrayaganZas By Bob
White and others.
PentIand's lcgerdemain table had the usual
trap-door for passing things to- his assistant,
preparatory to, the magical transformations
presented to the spectator. The quarters be-
low were painfully narrow for a man of my
size, but volunteered for the occasion in the
absence Of the diminutive employee in that
line of business. Squeezing nevertheless,
though heartily wishing myself out of the
scrape, held a live squirrel in my hand ready
to wind the chain Of a watch around his neck
and hand him through the 'trap-door when need
ed. 't>.' 'f"
| pentland's arrangements of vases, cups, balls
and divers other Accomplishments OF .legerde-
main, were on the table. In due time, he call
ed for watch with gold cham. One OF the
| spectators favored him with the article, and 1t
was soon passed into my possession, under
vase and through the little ira p-dour IN the top
of the table. Awkwadly performing my part,
the sauirrel bit me severely; l shreked with
pain, Strengthened my neck first then my back,
then my legs, overthrow the table, smashed
every bteakable article upon it, and rushed be-
hind the curtain! The squirrel galloped of
with the watch around his neck. Pentland
was struck speechless, but if ever there was
hooting and shouting in a mass of spectators, it
was heard that night.
In passing from Columbus, Georgia, to Mont
gomery, Alabama, we were obliged to travel
eighty miles througha very thimly and desolate
portion of country known the Indian Nation
At this time our governmentIwas gathering in
the Indians, and lodging them in encampments
at various posts under strong guard, prepare
tory for their migration to Arkansas. The
chief portion of the Indians came in voluntarily
and were willing to be. removed to their new
home; but there was good number OF " hos
tiles =" who wonla not come IN, but who INFESTED
the swamps near the road leading from Colum.
: bus to Montgomery, and who almost daily muir.
dered passengers who had occasion to pass
pass through tire Indian Nation. Many con
!, sidered it hazardous to pass over the road with
d out strong escort. The day previous to ou
. starting, the mail stage had been stopped, thu
messengers all murdered. and the stage burned
the driver esca ping almost by miracle. Itwa
u with muchtrepidati0n that we determined upoi
Q iucurring the risk. Our chief hope was, tina
d owing to the large number composing our com
v pany. and the Indians being scattered in small
: hands. our appearance would be too FORMIDABLE
" for them to risk an attack. We all armed our
selves with guns pistols, bowie-knives, etc
], and started'on our Journey. sest. 4 -. ~.
d Il None of us felt ashamed to acknowledge tina
a. we dreaded to incur the risk, except Yivalla.
= He was probably the greatest coward amongs
40 MS. but like most of that class when they fec
n pretty safe, he swaggered and stfutted aboI
3 with much apparent importance, laughing at A
at for our fears, and swearing that he was afra
"A of nothing, but if he met fifty Indians, oh
- should give them one devil Of licking, ar
~ send dem back to de swamp in no time.'' III
a cowardIy little braggadocio vexed as much, al
cd we determined If we ever got through to p
/, his courage to the test al nigI i4oes bt,
IRE The first day we travelled thirty miles wit
80 out seeing any Indians and before night, cal
:. to halt at the house of alcotton planter, "
MS kept us safe till, morning. The next day
she proceeded safely to Tuskeega, a small villa
xxi where therewas an eneampment of fifteen b.
,or- bred Indians, including squaws and children
The third day we arrived at Mount Me
81 where there was another. Indian camp, G
red tanning twenty Ave hundred Of the red skins
sfer We were now within fourteen miles Of Nj
|. = gomery, and felt cut. of danger, But be
-, !, determined TO play trcsupon the courage
Viyalla,w informed him the next morning
II we had to pass over the most dangerous por
ale. Of the road, as it was said 70 be infesteds
ANY desperate hostile warriors, yivala, as ts
50 .gisisass,a taas gaiii sspa.