The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-01-25

Rsas 1lns- - 60
tAaI G. - y apsl - basiag
= bag - ste& y = e he n - = 81 efr
saiss = - - Dsnss; il =. / wes,a
plsaa d. - - - exesas-a
= visss - . sfcst lsss oass--.e 1snder
again II he strsGlesef crowded cities--to be
josslsd ssaia in NE k5allng ~orld-to view the
alnoes celestial drapety Of Niagara falling 90
grssefslly around bis giant limbs 70 battle 10
old Ossans wavea and wander among the homes
e sss favored dead in Greenwoods solemn
iaA beautiful pssciosss.
IAsn since ny return where was the induce.
nent = wfitss what should says Every
oody Was sick-nothing vas being dons--each
lace ! saw had cadaverous hue-the limbs
nevsd With diolcslsy, The voice had a OBSCURE
aged tooe, and II the hands, either Of them
held purse, il was empty. and the countenance
said II don't know when it will be filed again. !"
In short, the foods Of the at season have
rendered Il very sickly 10 our region, and Hard
Times have come at last even to IA Of Western
Iowa, and, ~ you know, dear Hawk Eye, that
. full purse. like full stomach, makes us mer.
~; 20 an empty purse 10 quite apt to give Us
the blaes.
Il was under these circumstances that Thanks.
giving day found US, but know there we're
some families where there was not strength Of
muscle among the cooks sufficient to roll pie
crust, 30 that neither chicken, mince or pump
kin pies made the tables groan--and the roast
beef and potatoes were missing; for the later
lay frozen in the ground for want Of being dug
Indeedali things looked dull. and fear we were
not ~ thankful as We should have been, for we
were getting discouraged, and there was moth
ing to rouse us-Doahing to excite-nct even
the whistle Of steamer, for they had ceased
to ply 80 far towards the North as this.
But, as We lay in this sad. inactive state, Ne
braska City came to our rescue. It was the
morning after Thanksgiving that NJ. S. +. Muck
oils, Of that place, called upon one Of our Oldest
settlers (Dr. b. to inform him that two of his
slave girls-unthankful for past favors, and un.
mindful OF the benevolent things which he
would do for them in the future-hsd made
their escape from him the night previous; and
requested DR.. B.. il he saw anything of the tu-
gitives, he would send them back to him. He
received for an answer, that he could not prom
Use to send them back, as that might require
force but if he saw them, he would send him
word. Mr.. Nuekolls then proceeded to Tabor,
for by some imas NATIVE minds it has been con
ceived that Civil Bend is the first depot on the
Under Ground Railway, on this side the Mis-
souri, River, and Tabor the next After he
had, in concert with several other gentlemen,
reconnoitered that town, sent out spies in diff
ferent directions, and become quite thorough
ly convinced that the girls could not have passed
that way; he returned to our place with the
firm conviction that we had them concealed in
our midst, and as firm a determination that they
should not leave the Missouri Bottom without
being caught. Accordingly, meA were stationed
at different points to watch by day-aud at
night the prairie grass was lighted, SO that no
object could move without being visible. One
day and night spent in watching beganto weary
the watchers; and they evidently wanted more
active service; for suspicion having rested
upon free colored family in the neghborbood
as having had some hand in the affair, our CITY
Guard rode to their house, and having torn up
floors and pulled down out houses in search of
the girls, but without finding: what they sought
they took two Of the boys, and with the hope;
sf extorting something from them in reference
to the affair, commenced their tortures. One
was stripped, tied to tree and whipped with
rods cut from the forest--while another was
hung till be was nearly stransled, and fire
built near him, apparently with the intention of
burning him, if be did not confess.
In the hope of being relieved from such suf-
fering, one Of the boys suggested where proba.
bly, the girls were concealed. The party again
mounted and rode furiously towards the house
OF Dr. Smith, who is snother of our Oldest
settlers. They surrounded the house and de-
manded the privilege to search it. On being
asked for their authority, heavy cane was
brought toreciby against the door, with the re-
tltnian is feeble, and he answered, II shall not
light, but if you search my house, it will be
without my permission" Had his arm been as
as when he was at middle age, few of
those excited men would have stepped over his
but now that he is weakened by
Time, they entered and sought every nook and |
corner-then out houses, sheds and hay stacks
we're examined, and in order that no Yankee |
trick should be played on them, they not only |
stamped on the hay, but thrust pitch forks
INTO it.
Not finding what they sought, they then re-
barred to the house Of r. S. Williams, entered
{ during his absence, but in presence of his
wife and sister, went peeping into chambers.
leeping rooms, cellar, &C., greatly to the an
'oyance of the ladies.
Mr.. Williams, being in the field and seeing
rowd about his house. came up just as they
anne out, and upon being informed what their
BUSINESS was, told them be considered it a
mean piece OF operation. AT this, q brother
f S. F. Nuckolls struck the speaker on his
ead with his cane, while S. F. drew his pistol
ssdy to defend his right to hunt his runaways
q any place he chose, without any legal au-
hority.
After this, the northern extremity of our
ettlement was sesrched-one man was knocked
own and another fred at-and the excitement
ose so high that We thought if we must fight
e would be strong aud sent TO Tabor for
olunteers.
|
Twenty-Five men, well armed, came down,
nd two or three more days we're spent in get.
ng out warrants, taking prisoners and binding
lem over to appear At our March term of
ourt to answer for whipping and hanging free
en, for riot, &c.
In the meantime, Nuskolls' men we're very
gilant, watching night and day-passing from
re house to another, to get board, to buy nails,
} see the man Of the house, and various other
'etexts. They also got on. bogus search
arrant, and backed up BY its apparently legal {
ce, entered and searched houses they had not !
herwise chosen to go to.
They were also reinforced by party from