Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-02-19
Select Iaie.
THE PEDLER'S PRIZE

A cold winter nj ght found a stage load
of us gathered around about warm fire of
tavern bar-room of New England vii
lage. Shortly after we arrived a pedler
drove up, and ordered his horse stabbed for
the night After we had eaten supper, we
repaired to the bar-room, and as soon as the
ice was broken conversation flowed freely.
Several anecdotes had been related, and f.
nally the pedler was asked to give us sto-
ry, as many of his profession were general
ly full of adventures and anecdotes. He
was a short, thick-set man, somewhere
near forty years of age, and gave evidence
of great physical strength. He gave his
name as Lemuel Viney, and his home was
in Dover, New Hampshire.
"Well, gentlemen" he commenced,
knocking the ashes from his pipe and stick
ing it in his pocket, suppose I tell of the
last thing of any consequence that happen
ed to me. You see l am right from the
far west, and on my way for winter quarters.
1t was about two months ago, one pleas
ant evening, that I pulled up at the door
of small village tavern in Hancock coun-
ty, Indiana. l said it was pleasant
meant it was warm, but it was cloudy and
very likely to be dark I went in and
called for supper, and had my horse taken
care of, and after had eaten, sat down in
the bar-room.s 1t began to rain about
o'clock, and for awhile it poured down
good, and it was awful dark out doors.
"Now, l wanted to be in Jackson early
the next morning, for 1 expected load of
goods there for me, which l intended to
dispose of on my way home. The moon
would rise apout midnight, and ! knew
that if it did not rain l could get along
very comfortably through the mud after
that. So I asked the landlord if he could
not see that my horse was fed about mid
night, as 1 wished to be off before two
He expressed some surprise at this, and
asked me why / did not stop for breakfast.
1 told him 1 sold my last load all Out, and
that new lot of goods was waiting for me
at Jackson, and l wanted to be there in the
morning before the express agent left
There we're a number of people sitting
around while 1. told this, put l took but
little notice of them, one only arresting my
attention. l had in my possession small
package of placards, which was to deliver
to the sheriff of jackson, and they were no
tices for the detection of a notorious robber,
named Dick Hardhead. The bills gave a
description of his person, and the man be-
fore me answered very well to it. In fact
it was perfect. He was tall, well-formed
man, rather slight in frame, and had the
appearance of a gentleman, save that his
face bore those hard cruel marks which an
observing man cannot mistake for anything
but the index of a villainous disposition.
"When | went to my chamber, asked
the landlord who that man was, describing
the suspicious individual. He said that he
did not know him. He came that after
noon and intended to leave next day. The
host asked me why wished to know, and
l simply answered that the mans counte-
nance was familiar, and merely wished to
know if I were ever acquainted with him.
I resolved not to let the landlord into the
secret, but to hurry on to Jackson, and
there give information TO the sheriff, and
perhaps he might reach the inn before the
villain left; for l had no doubt of his iden-
tity.
" had an alarm watch, and having set
it to give the alarm at one o'clock, went
to sleep. I was aroused at the proper
time, and Immediately arose and dressed
myself. When reached the yard found
the clouds all passed away, and the moon
shining brightly. The ostler was easily
aroused, and by two o'clock l was on the
road. The mud was deep, and my horse
could not travel very fast-yet it struck me
very forcibly that the beast made more
work of it than there was any need of, for
the cart was nearly empty.
However, on we went, and in course of
half an hour we were clear of the village.
At short distance ahead lay large tract
of forest, mostly of great pines. The road
led directly through this wood, and as near
as 1 could remember, the distance was
twelve miles. Yet as the moon was in the
east, and the road ran directly west,
should have light enough. | had entered
the woods andgone about half mile when
my wagon wheels settled, with bxmp and