The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1854-07-29
Log Rolling.


An Englishman who was travelling on the
Mississippi River, told some rather tough stories
about London thieves. \ Cincinnati chap,
named Case, heard these narratives with silent
but expressive hulnphs! and then rema ark ed
that he thought the Western thieves beat the
London operators all hollow.
.Iioa so:' inquired the I.liglIsnman, with
surprise. Pray, sir, have you lived much in
the West!'
Not Il great deal. l undertook to set up
business at the Dcsmoines Rapids while ago,
but the rascally people stole nearly everything
l had, and finally Welch miner off with
my wife
Good God!' said the Englishman; 'and
you never found her?'
Never to this day. But that was not the
worst of it,
Worst! Why, what can be worse than steal
ing mans wife,
Stealing his children, I should say said the
implacable Case.
Children!
Yes, nigger woman, who hadn't any of
her own, abducted my younger daughter, and
soped and jined the Ingensn
Great heavens! did you sec her do it,?
See her! Yes, she hadn't ten rods the start
of me, but she plunged into the lake and swan
like a duck-and there wasn't u canoe to fol
low her with
The Englishman laid back in his chair and
called for another mug Of 'af1-and-'al1, while
Case smoked his cigar and credulous friend, at
the same time, most rcmorsclessy.
II shant go any further West, think,
at length observed the excited John Bull
i should not advise any one to 60 said
Case quietly My brother once lived out there,
but he had to leave. although, his business was
the best in the country
What bu ,incsS was he in.'
Lumbering-had a saw-mill.'
And they stole his lumber!
Yes, and his saw-logs too
'Saw-logs?
Yes Whole dozens of fine black walnut
logs were carried OIL in single night. True,
npon my honor sir. He tried every way to
prevent it; hired men to watch his logs; but
it was all use. They'd whip em away as
if there had been no one there. They'd steal
'eln out of the river, out of the cove, and even
out OF the mill-ways.'
Good gracious"
just to give you an idea how they can steal
out there continued Case, sending sly wink
to the listening company, Just to give YOU
idea-dd YOU ever work in Il saw-mll?'
Never
We'll, my brother, one day, bought an all
fired fine black walnut log-tour feet three at
the butt, and not knot in it. He deter
mined to keep that log, anyhow, and hc hired
two Scotchuen to watch it all night. We'll,
they took a sual dcmijohn of wh;skey with
them, snaked the log up the side-hill above the
mill, and then sat Gown on the log to play
kecrds, just to keep awake, you see. Twas
monstrous big log-bark two inches thick.
Well, as was saying, they played keerds and
drank whiskey all highland as it began to
grow light they went to sleep a-straddie the
log. About a minute after day yght my brother
went over to the mill to see how they got on,
and the log was gone"
And they sitting on it,!
Sitting on the bark. The thieves had drove
an iron wedge into the butt end which pointed
down hill, aud hitched yoke Of oxen on, and
pulled it right out, leaving the shell aud Scotch
ers sitting a-straddle of it, fast asleep
The Englishman here rose, dropped his cigar
stump INTO the spittoon, and looking at his
watch said he thought he would go on deck,
and see how far we'd be down the river before
morning.
Elder Richard Willard, one of the Mormon