Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-05-21
Fremont Journal.
The Perils of the Border.


Thoy thought, like their comp,nion, that
the boat would be safest Il made fast TO an
overhanging limb Of the Kentucky shore;
butffankly admitted that this could not be
done without difficulty aud danger, and
that thero was possibility of keeping tho
current
@Then mako that possibility certainty,
and IL shall be tho best nights work you
ever pcrformedp rejoined Eugene, in a
quick, excited tone
aWe'll do tho best we can, Cap'n,' was
the response; "but no man can be sartin Of
tho current Of this here crooked stream in a
foggy night
A long silence folIowed---the voyagers
slowly drifting down through misty dark
ness iinpenatrable to the eye---whon, sud
denly our commander, who was standing
near the bow, felt the extended branch of an
overhanging limb silently brush his face
He started with an exclamation of alarm,
and at the samc moment the boatman on
right called out:
"Quick, here, boysl we're agin tho shore,
ms sure MS death.
Then followed sccne Of hurried and
anxious confusion, the voices of the three
boatmen mingling together in loud, quick,
excited tones.
.Push off the bow !" cried one.
"Quick altogether, now over with her y
shouted another.
"Tho de'ils in it she's running aground
here on muddy bottom almost yelled
third.
Meantime the laden boat was brushing
along against projecting bushes and over
reaching limbs and every moment getting
moro and more entangled; while the long
poles and sweeps Of the boatmcn, as they
attempted to push her Of, were often plung-
90, without touching bottom, into what ap-
pcared to be a soft, clayey mud, from which
illoy were only cxtrcatcd by such an outlay
of strength as tended still moro to draw the
clumsy craft upon the bank they wished to
avoid. AT length, scarcely more than q
minute from the first alarm, there was q
kind ofsettling together, as itwere, ard the
boat became fast and immovable.
The fact was announced by Dick Winter.
in his characteristic manner-who added, I
with an oath, that it was just what he cx-
pectcd For moment or two dead si-
lence followed, as each comprehended that
the matter was one to be viewed in very
serious light.
'tI'll get over tho bow, and try to get the
lay Of the land with my feet" said Tom
Harris; and forthwith he set about the not
very pleasant undertaking,
At 'lils moment n'ugene nesro us name
pfonounseu vy Noice 'ii'. seiuviii lsneo 70
eAci'o pecui'ar e'iio',gn -, u, ms press'' auu
no" sen' = s'fauSe 'niiil through every
nerve, arg =, nas'eni1s uelo", ne ioInu
plalcne, lGily aressee, M1en l,gns sh; ~ ns
manu-, stanulnS luss oaIsiue " no, o"p,,'' iu
tne regular passage wnicn ieo iehg'nwise
tnfou9h 'he centre OF sne ooa,. -,
= nave heara solne'n,ng' Eugene she
saia' enough 70 know 'ial se nave n il,e'
with an ACCIDENT put not sullicien' 70 'u'iy
comprehend us nature
unfortunately about TWO hours ago. re-
pied Eugene, we suddenly became inVoiv-
ed IN dense fog; and IN spite OF every pre-
caution and care, VIC have run agroundIit
may DO on the One snore-t may oe
against an isiand-,itl IS so DARK we can
.eh: bnt DO NOT alarmed MISS blanche,
ne hurrldly added u trust we shal soon
be atoat again; though IN any event, the
aarkues is; sulncient 70 conceai US rom the
savages, even were they IN inc vicinity.
II know iiltle OF Indians, returned
blanene; "out l nave always understood
ma. they are somewhat remarSaole Tor
siheir acuteness OF hearing; and II such Is the
case, there would be no necessity OF Their
being very near, to DO made acquainted
with cur locality, Judging from the loud
voices heard lew minutes ago. II
tear we have been rather imprudent
sad Eugene IN ds.precatlng tone; "but in
Inc exeitement--
Ills words were suddenly cut short by
several loud voices OF alarm from without,
followed by qtiick and heavy tramplIng
across lne aeek ana the next moment sem
passage, tho former exclaiminp:
We've run plum into red nigger's nest,
Qtar'n and Tom Harris. is already butchered