The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-02-05

AN HisrosrcAI aEMiNrscrxcr.


nslsm is to chronicle the heroic deeds Of those
whom chance or unusual natural develop
ments have rendered benefactors to the human
race. 1t is part Of our legitimate province
to rescue the fame Of such individuals from OBJ
livion, and by enacting the part Of the histo-
rian, to hand their names and the record Of
their achievements down to the admiration and
gratitude Of future generations. The village.
philanthropist, or the benefactor Of local
community, is as much part Of the history
of his time as theheroes Of State. or - the
sacred geese whose gabbling at thu rock of
Tarpeia saved Rome from the horrors II .
sack. Our duty in the present instance is to
relate similar occurrence, which transpired
much nearer home
Years agone. when the course OF trade ran
in counter direction to what we now behold,
ewing to severe drouth, the city Of Sandus-
ky underwent all the horrors Of . protracted
famine. The water on the Bar at the mouth
Of the Bay was so low that vessels were una
Bile tn reach the port, and as there was no land
transportation at that time which conld be re-
lied upon in case Of sudden emergency, il
appeared as if providence had forsaken the
place entirely, and that its inhabitants must
soon perish. For days and weeks their stock
of provisi ms had been gradually disappearing
until soon all was gone, and their only reliance
was upon the few fish which they were ena-
bled to obtain from the waters Of the Bay, and
an occasional supply Of game from the neigh
boring forest.
AT the time Of which we write, the woods
in that vicinity, and in fact throughout the
Western Reserve, were frequented BY vast
numbers Of wild hogs, which obtained boun-
tiful subsistence and grew fat upon the sAeck
which everywhere abounded. These hogs
were doubtless originally estrays, but the
sparseness Of the population in the interior,
and the rapidity with which they multiplied,
rendered them strangers to man and very shy
Of his presence. During the drought, Of which
mention has already been made, large droves
OF these animals wende1 their way to the lake,
in the neighborhood Of which they continued
to remain. Sandusky Bay ia particular, was
q fayorite place Of resort FOR them, in the wa,
ters of which they were accustomed to wal
low. after shaking th4ir thirst Those who are
acquainted with the locality Of which we
speak, will remember the annoyance to which
the early settlers were exposed in the shape
of fine red sand which covered the beach, and
which, in times of high wind, was not only OK
csedingly troublesome, but dangerous. Thou
sands Of hogs, in consequence Of frequenting
this spot, became totally blind; but still, with
all the cunning which belongs to this perverss
race in their natural state, they continued to
elude the hunters.
One say when the famine in the city was at
its height. ard when it was apparent that even
the strongest must succumb, Joe B took
down his gun and resolved to make last effort
to rescue his wife and little ores from fate
the most horrible Of which the mind has any
conception. All day long had their sunksn
eyes and shrveled hands implored him In vain
for bread-and, alas! he knew too well that not
within the whole city was there mouthfulto
be had, thoogh he were to offer in exchange,
thrice its weight in gold. Nerved to despera-
tion by this reflection, but still with feeble
seps, he took his way to the forest, resolved
not to return without relief in some shape.
For long time he hunted in vain, traversine
miles OF weary pathway, without 20 much -
seeing single evidence Of animated nature,
until he was on the point Of yielding to des-
| pair. AT this moment noise, 40 Of approach
ing footsteps, attracted his attention. and hs
paused, with every faculty rendered keen by
hunger, to listen. Nearer and nearer came
the tramping, and just ~ Joe, to screen hin
self from observation, took shelter behind !
tree, wild hog emerged from oAie1st, ad-
van~ing directly toward him, followed imme-
diately by another and another slill. ~
hunter, trembling with snxiety and excite.
ment, raised his gun, but suddenly paused In
astonishment at the singular phsnemsnon b.
fore him. The drove for drove there was
was approaching hin in Indian style, and
headed directly fos ths by. The second hog
held in his mouth the tail Of the irst, the third
that Of the second. and 50 on, to the number Of
sixty and upward. each was holding on to the
caudal apPendage Q. his predscessor, and al
were being led by the foremost Of the drove
and he, being the only one that could ses, was
thus conveying his afflicted companions.
The hunter comprehended the scene in .
moment, and instantly decided upon his course.
Raising his gun deliberately, be fred, and sev-
cred the tail close to the roots. His aarightsd
leade, ship, with a loud squeal, bounded into
the thieket and disappeared, while his blind
companions cams t. : dead halt. Joe quickly
diyested himself Of his boots and crept stealth
lily up't0the 6rst Of tho band, which stood
quietly holding in his mouth the amputatsd
tail Of hia Former conductor. This the hunter
seized and commenced pulling upon. First
one hog started, then another, and another, un-
til soon, like train Of cars, all were in mo-
ton, and, without pausing to rest for single
instant, Joe led them quietly into . huge pen
near his residence, where they were al slangh-
tered--AND rHE CRY WAS sAvEni
q The Green bay. Milwaukee and Chi.
cago railroad has declared "A per cent, divi.
dend for the.pasi six months.
O. The Galena peoplsare expending $50.
COO on the river lock.
a. There are 2,So0 miles q railroad in
operation IN Ohio.
- Thera ave GOT in-,ste. ~ N. NJ ".