The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-10-02
A River Adventure.

In the summer of 1882, was engage
7. with young man named Lyman Kem)
, in locating land lots along the Wabasl
IN Indiana. l had gone out partly to
my health, and partly to aecomlnodat
one who had ever been noble friend =
, me, and who had purchased a great dcs
} Of government land. At Loganport, h
was taken sick, and after watching wit
him n week in hopes that the would 500
recover, found that he had settles
fever, and as the physician said he woul'
not probably be able to moyc on under
month, I determined to push on alone
|, So i obtained good nurse, and having
seen that my friend would have every
Lthing necessary to his comfort, which
money could procure, / left him.
AS good fortune would have it, fount
Il party Of six men bound on the yer!
route 1 was going, and waited one day
for the sake oftheir company. Atlengtl
We set out with three pack horses to car
ry our luggage, and soon found that
had lost nothing by waiting, for my com
panions were agreeable and entertaining
They were going on to st. Josepls where
they had already located, and where they
had mills upon the river, intending TO get
out lumber, during the remainder OF the
season. ...
On the third day from Loganport, We
reached Walton's settlement, on the Lit
tie River, having left the Wabash on the
morning of that day. 1t was well into
the evening when We reached the little
los-built inn of the settlement, and we
were glad enough of the sheltcr-for ere
We had fairly got under cover, the rain
commenced to fall in great drops, thick
| ly, too. And still more had | TO be
thankful for. My horse began to show
lameness in one Of his hind legs, and when
| leaped from the saddle, found that his
foot panied him much, rs | could tell by
the manner in which he lifted It from
the ground. Iordcrcd the ostlcr to bathc
it with cold water, and then went into
the house, where We found q good sub
stantial supper and comfortable quarters
for the night-that is, comfortable for
that section, and at that time.
About ten o'clock. just after had re-
tired, and just after was falling into q
grateful browse, | was startled by the
shouts of men, directly under my window.
As the noise continued, arose, and threw
Oh nv clothes, and went down. ..
"What is q" Iasked ofthe landlord,
who stood in the cntry-way.
"Ah-don't YOU know, stranger" the
host returning. "Youvc heard of Gustus
Karl perhaps !"
Who in the West, at some time, had
not heard of him the most reckless,
daring anChmurderous robbcr, that ever
cursed country. l told the host ! had
heard of him often.
"NNcll he resumed, "thc Internal villain
was here only this afternoon, and MUIR
dcrcd and robbed inan just up the river.
We've been ont after him, but he's gin us
the slip. We tracked rs far rs the up
per creek, aud there he came out on the
bank, fired at us, and killed one of our
horses, and then dove into tho woods
We set the dogs OH, but they lost him.
"And you've come back horsclcss," i
said. .. ................
"Ycs," the landlord scowled. "But,"
he added, with knowing shake of the
head, "hc can't run clear much longer.
The country is in arms, and he'll either
leave these huntin's or be dropped"
"What sort of man is he I" asked.
"Thc very last man in the world you
would take for Gus Karl. lie is small
not a bit over five feet six; with light and
curly hair, a smooth white face, and not
very stout. But, Lord love yc, he's quick
as lightning, and his eyes got fire in it.
He dresses in all sorts of shapes, but gen.
erally like common hunter. Oh he's
the very devil, | do believe.
Ailer the tub full OF whisky and water
which the host had provided, was all
drank, the crowd began to dispcse, and
shortly afterwards ] went up to bed; and
this time slept on uninterrupted till
morning. Fr.. ,....
| had just eaten my breakfast, and had
gone out the front door, when a horse
man came riding up to the place, himself
and animal all covered with mud. Ithad
been raining all night. The first the
new conner did was to inquire for me.
answered at once 10 the name and then
he informed Inc that Lyman Kemp could
not live, ami that he wished TO sec me Us
soon rs possible.
.Thc doctor says he must die" said
the messenger, "and the poor fellow now
only asks for life long enough to sec
you.'
"Poor LYMAN lmurmurcd to myself
$50 young-so hopeful, with SO many
friends aud fond relatives in his far of
home-and taken down to die in n strange
land." / told the man would set out
OIL my return Us soon as possible. III,
ate some breakfast, and then resumed hi,
journey, being bound up as far as the
Pottawatomie border. ...r
; / settled my bill, and then went for my
horse; but bitter disappointment avail.
cd me. ] fornd the animals foot swolcr
very badly, and il panied him so that h,
could hardly step on it. Had the roao
been good | should have been tempted Il
try hun; but / knew that in some places
mud was deep. Invent to the host ant
. asked him il he could lend or sell Inc {
horse. He could no neither. His only
: spare horse had been shot the night be
, fore by the Wabash robber. There wa
not a horse in the place TO be obtained io
any amount of money. returned to til,
: stable, and led my horse out, but he cou.t
, not even walk with any degree Of ease
| could not use him. was in despair.
"Looke' said mine host rs ! began 4
despond, "can't We manage canoe!"
"Ycs-vcry well,"ltold'him
"Then that's your best way. The cur
. : ii. Al.