The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-03-28
DESPERATE RACE.
A Story Of the Early Settlement of Ohio
BY FALCONRIDGE.

Some years ago | was one OF a conviv-
ial party that met at the principal hotel in
Columbus, Ohio, the seat of government
of the Buckeye State.
Itwas a wintry evening, when all with
out was black aud stormy, and all within
were blythe and gay when song and
story made the circuit of the festive
board, filling up the charms of life with
mirth and laughter.
We had met for the express purpose OF
making a night OF it, and the pious in
tention was duly and most religiously y
carried out. The Legislature was in ses-
sion in that town, and not a few Of the
worthy legislators were present on that
occasion.
One Of these worthless will name. as
he not only took big swath in the even.
ing's entertainment, but he was man
more generally known than ever our
worthy p resident, j. X. Polk. That man
|, was the famous Captain Riley, whose
narratives of sutferings and adventures
are pretty generally known over the CIV
ilized world. Captain Riley was fine
fat and good natured joker, who. at the
period OF my story, was the representa-.
tive of the Dayton District, and lived
near that little city when at home.
Well, Captain Riley had amused th'
Company with many of his far famed ant
singular adventures, and read by million,
Of people who have seen his book, anc
which, being mostly told before. vii
not attempt 10 repeat.
Many were the stories and adventure.
told by the company. when il came t,
the turn Of wellknown gentleman VIII,
represented the Cincinnati District. Al
Mr., is vet among the living "ne
perhaps not d;eposed 10 be the subject o
joke or story. / do not feel at liberty Il
give his name. Mr.. --- was SLOW
believer in other mems adventures, an,
at the same time disposed to magnif,
himself into marvellous hero. wheneve
the opportunity offered. AS Captain ri
ley wound up one Of his truthful. though
really marvellous adventures, Mr.. -
remarked that the Captains story wa
all very we'll, but did not begin to com
pare with an adventure that he had
once upon time on the Ohio. below
the present city of Cincinnati.
Lets have il let's have it!' re
sounded from all hands.
Well, gentlemen" said the Senator
clearing his voice for action, and knock
ing the ashes from his cigar Gentle
men, am not in the (quite notorious 70
it) habit Of spinning yarns Of maryellou
or fictitious matters, and therefore il i
scarcely necessary to affirm, upon tn
responsibility OF my reputation, gentle
men, that what I'm about TO tell you
nothing but the honest truth. and that
"Oh, never mind that, go on. MI
-" chimed the party.
"Well. gentlemen, in l8--, cam
down the Ohio river aud settled at Los
anti, now called Cincinnati. 1t was a
that time but little settlement of SOM
twenty or thirty log cabins. and wher
now stands the Broadway Hotel, an,
Ihlocks Of stores, and dwelling houses
was the cottage and rn-patch Of oil
B, tailor. who, by y-the-by, bough
that for the making Of coat.* Well
/ put up my cabia with the aid Of m.
neighbors. aud put in patch Of cor
and potatoes, about where the Fly Mar
ket now stands. and set about improving
my house. lot, DC"
Occasionally took my rifle an
started off with my dog down the river
/. to look up little deer or bear meat: the
|, very plenty along the river. The bias
! cd red skins were lurking about. an
j lowering around the settlement, and :,
cry once in while picked off some !
our neighbors or stole our cattle an
horses. / hated the red devils. and mad
no bones Of peppering the blasted sa
8 pents wherever got sight Of them. ]
!. fact, the red rascais had dread Of m
] and had laid grea, many traps TO 6