Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1856-10-02
How Elder Cartwright BaPtised
The EerrYmau,

A new work with the title of the amer
lean Pulpit tells the following aneedote
concerning an eccentric old Methodist min
lister in Illinois, well known as Peter Cart
wright, who not only preached the gospel,
but leetured quite often on political matters
and spoke his mind freely upon men and
measures. 1t resulted of course, that the
politicians became very angry at the min
lister, had much to say about ministers not
dabbling in politics. sticking to their call
ing DC, dc. 1t happened that on one oc-
casion he rode to ferry across the Illinois
river, where the country was more thickly
populated, and met little knot of people
who were discussing politics. The ferry
man, a stout fellow, was holding forth in
excited terms, about some old renegade
prefixing good many expletives to his
name, which we omit-one Peter Cart
wright, swearing that if he ever came that
way, he would drown him in the river.
Cartwright, unreeognized hy any one,
said, Stranger, l want you to put me
across you'll wait till I'm ready" said
the ferryman. So when he finished his
speech, he added, Now will put you over
Cartwright rode his horse into the boat
and the ferryman began to poll it across.
Cartwright felt it his duty TO make him
self known, and assert his principles; but
he wanted to be sure of fair play. So,
when he reached the middleo the stream,
he threw the horses bride over stake of
the boat, and told the ferryman to throw
down his pole. what for!' said the fer
ryman. well, you have just now been
using my name improperly; You said if l
ever came this way, You would drown me
in the river. Now you've got chance TO
do it. is your name Pete Cartwright
said the ferryman. MY name is Pete
Cartwright said the preacher. Down
drops the pole, and at it so the preacher
and ferryman.
They grapple for minute, but Cart
wright was remarkably agile, as well as
athletic, and in trice he had the ferryman,
with one hand by the nape of the neck,
and with the other by the seat of his trow-
sers, and whirling him over the side of the
boat, plunges him under the tide-his as
tonished companions looked on from shore,
fair play being secured by the distance.
Twice or thrice the preacher souses the
poor ferryman under, saving as he did so,
i baptise thee (k'splash) in the name of
the devil, (k'splash) whose child thou art
(k'splash;) then lifting him up, dripping
with the water, and gasping for breath,
Cartwright asked him, Did you ever pray p
Pray" said the ferryman, no. Then it's
time YOU did, saws the preacher, "Say
Our Father which art in Heaven" '.D-d
if ! do" said the ferryman. K'splash
goes the poor man under the tide again.-
viii You now!' said the preacher. No
won't said,' the strangled ferryman.
K'splash, under the water again. will you
pray nowT said the preacher. Tlldo any,
thing gasped the ferryman. Say Our
Father which art in Heaven Our Father
which art in Heaven said the ferryman,
and followed him through the Lords pray
er. Now let me up said the ferryman.
Not yet said the preacher" "You must
make me three promises-first, that YOU
will repeat th,t prayer every morning and
night as long as You live; secondly, that
you will hear every Methodist minister that
comes within five miles of this ferry; and
Thirdly, that you will put every Methodist
preacher over this ferry free of expense.
DO you promise! Il promise, said the
feryman, and resuNed his pole. Cart
wright went on his way, and that man not
long after became convert.