The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-06-23

y
is not so pleasant as over macad mized
road, yet our day was brigh. and pleas
ant one.
Thirty miles of progress, twenty of
them over prairie, brought US to Spring
Hill, hamlet of five or six dwellings, in
cluding store. but no tavern. Our hor-
ses needed to feed and rest-for the wag.
on with its four inmates was a heavy
drag over such going-so we stopped and
tried to find refreshment, but with limit
ed success. There was no grain to sell,
save homeopathic dose sold US for
quarter by passiDg WAGNER, and thank
fully received; we gave this to our steeds,
regaled ourselves on crackers and her.
ring. and pushed on.
Our direct route led south to Paoli,
county seat Of Lykins; but persons we met
here assured US that there was no cross
ing Bull Creek on this road, and that we
must bear away to the west through Ma
rysville "a village of perhaps a dozen
houses, including store and tavern),
SO as to cross at Rock Ford, three
miles beyond, which opened the only
chance of getting over. We did so,
and crossed in safety, with the usual
jokes when we we're fairly over; but /
confess that the wide impetuoas stream,
SO impenetratle to the eye and SO far a
bove its average level, wore vicious
look to me when We approached and
plunged into it. Its bottom is here hardly
half mile wide, but is capitally wooded
with Hickory, Oak, Black Walnut, &c.
Emerging from it, We rode twelve miles
more of high, gently rolling prairie,
with wood in the ravines on either side,
which brought US to the village of Stan
ton (of twenty or thirty bouses, including
two stores and a tavern) which We reach
ed before sunset, having travelled at least
fifty miles since We started in the morn
ing. Night and the Marias des Cygnes-
here brought us to halt-the creek be-
ing at this time passable-and We had
to forego our determination to reach Osa-
watamie before sleeping. So we halted
at the little tavern, where We found five
or Fix others bound to Osawatamie like
ourselves, at least one of whom had swan
three creeks since the morning. Fifteen
or twenty others drove up during the e.
vening; we had supper, nei ighborhood
meeting aud a Republican talk at the
school house, and adjourned to fill all
the beds and floors of the tavern as full
as they could hold. The kind, active,
efficient landlady did her best, which was
good enough; and all were snugly testow-
ed except another editor aud myself who
accepted the kindly proffered hospitality
of a Republican farmer, and were capi-
tally entertained at his house, half mile
distant.
As night fell, the lightning had begun
to CLEAN and fash nearly around the no.
rizon; by 10 o'clock, the thunder rolled;
at II. high gale could be heard sweep
ing over the prairie some moments be-
fore it struck US. The lightning blazed
almost iocessanty for hours; yet the rain
fall at Stanton was very slight. But
there were heavy showers at Marysville,
at Paoli, and almost everywhere else "a
round US, still further raising the streams
SO that many who had come part way
were unable to reach Gsawatamie next
day.
We were early on the bank Ga mile
from Stanton) of the Marias des Cygnes,
which was running heavy driftwood and
otherwise misbehaving itself. 1t had bu-
ried up the ferry rope, without whose aid
the boat could not be propelled across its
sweeping current; one of the trees to
which that rope was attached was now
nearly in the middle of the stream; and
there had been no crossing for day or
two. Bat new rope bad been procured
and somehow stretched across the stream;
whereby we were taken across in our turn
after waiting somewhat over an hour. A
mile or so of well timbered and too well
watercd bottom brought US again to prai.
ric, over which we drove rapidly into Os.
awatamie, which we reached before 0 A
NJ
Osawatamie is village Of at ~ ost l5C
houses, situated in the forks Of the Mara
is des Cygnes and Potawatamie, come
Wuat BID alieT cfech, WHICH CoUcs III from
the south west The location is pleas
ant and favorable but not comm anding
one; the surrounding country is more con
siderably cultivated than any had pass
ed south of the Kaw. The two creek,
supply abundant and good timber; an ex
ceIleut steam sawmill has taken the rlac,
Of that which the Border Ruff ans burned
a Touring mill, tannery, brewery aud I
large hotel, are being erected or compile
ted. | presume there is a larger towI
somewhere 10 what is known as Southern
Kansas, though | do not know which j
is.
But Osawatamie has a higher interes
than any other spot in Kansas. sxcep
possibly Lawrence. because Of her honor
able cminence in the struggle which ha
secured Kansas to Free Labor. She wa
J long the only settlement near the Nilsson
! ri border which was avowedly, decidedly
Free State; the only Free State villag,
, that could be reached by nights marcel
! from Missouri. To be known as Free
| State man at Topeka, Waubonsee, En-