Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-04-13

man repent and do penance for his SINS
Anderson is going about with face aslong
as your arm, and has peas (Pease) in his
Shoes
THE MEssRs oLMsrEDs,
0fwhom have spoken, wero often ap-
piled to for charities. Judge Olmsted says
that after he had built his store he had quite
q pile Of lumber left, much of which he
gave away to make coffins. They were Of
zen applied to, to furnish muslin for shrcuds
to bury the dead in, and gave away much
for such purposes. On one occasion, q fell
low from distance applied for muslin to
make shroud for one who had lately died,
and had no means to pay. The Judge cut
of pattern, and as was customary, gave it
TO the stranger without any reward, except
the CONSEQUENCES of having done good
deed. There was quantity of the Same
goods on the counter. The Judge was call
cd away for moment, and when he re-
turned, he found bis customer had not only
taken the shroud cloth, but all the remand
er of the piece which was quito valuable,
and left.
GhlSWOLD,
One of the early inhabitants Of our town,
was strong minded giant framed, and
eccentric man. One instance will give an
idea of this popularity of mind. Trapping
in those days was familiar occupation, and
the kind of traps and method Of trapping
various animals were matters of frequent
discussion. Griswold used to tell about
one of his traps, and the conception is SO
odd and poetic, choose it for the occasion.
Said he: 81 once made a trap to catch
earthquakes in; took two large fine rain
bows aud two smaller es,-the best could
get--so as to have it double-jawed. l had
double springs at each end for these springs
1 took four streaks best quality double re-
fined chain lightning. 1 used small vol
cano for bait; got my trap put together,
and commenced business in the hilly parts
of South America, and was doing pretty
well till one day a large bull earthquake got
into my trap 1t held him for a while, but
by-and-by he took lunge and founder,
and tore the trap into thousand fragments.
You can see pieces of my trap springs flying
amongst the clouds yet, every time thun-
der storm comes up"
In those times cloth was both scarce and
dear, but dressed deer skins were plenty,
cheap, and much worn for pants and coats.
Griswold, like all of us, followed the fashion
and got coat and pants of smoke-dressed
buckskin. This leather was very good
dry weather material, but when wet be-
came very flabby, and susceptible of exteu-
sion in any direction TO almost any extent,
and when dry would shrink to the exact di-
mensions of any opposing substance. AT
ter Griswold got his new suit, of which he
was very proud, he started on three days
exploring tour into the woods, with trav-
cling companion. Snow lay quite deep up
on the ground, and rain set in after they
started. The consequence was that Girls
wold's new clothes became very wet. The
pants began to settle, and soon hung under
his heels and over his toes, much to his an
noyance and hindrance in travelling. In
vain he tried the rolling up process, they
would not stay put, and finally getting out
of patience he applied the ready knife, and
cut off the extending nuisance. The con-
tiDued walking and wetting soon made
them too long again, and again Griswold
cut off and reduced them to proper length,
and during the day found it necessary to
repeat the operation several times. Night
came, and the two travellers slept in va
cant log cabin. Like true woodsmen they
kindled good fire, took their SUPPER and
without undressing laid themselves down
wrapped in blankets, with their feet to a
good blazing fire. While they slept, the
fire burned and the buckskin dried and
shruuk, and shrunk and dried, until except
in length, it was perfect counterpart of
'Griswold's skin. The pants contracted so
that his stalwart walking beams protruded
from the knee. He slept soundly, and was
awakened in the morning by the loud aha
hap of his companion. The leather, under
the influence of the fire, had become not
only fitted to the skin, but stiff and hard,
and he had to make second effort before
he could rise to his feet, so tightly were his
body and limbs bound up. Finally he rose
erect, and took deliberate survey of him
self. Legs naked below the knee; half his
forearm protruding beyond his coat sleeve; /;
every joint, muscle, and projection of his
person perfectly delineated through his gar
ments, there he stood; such picture such
a fgurel such a fit! His perpIexity was
ludicrous in the extreme. His companion
caught his eye and roared with laughter.
Griswold could stand it no longer He
opened his mouth, and it is said that "blue
streak" went down from his mouth to the
lower regions, to apprise the inhabitants
that the science of profanity was well un-
derstood on earth. Griswold hurried into
town the back way, changed clothes, and
never wore leather pants afterwards.
DAVID GALLAGHER.
At the commencement of writing these
hasty notes, David Gallagher was taken i'll
and confined to bis room. He had engaged
to give me an interview, and to impart his
recollection of early events here, and could
he have been permitted to fulfil the engage
ment, much interesting matter would have
been added to what has been said. But
ale who doeth all things welr' has called
him in a ripe, honorable old age to better
state.
He was buried on the 23d day of Feb
ruary. As a mark of respect, the Court of
Common Pleas at that time holding ses-
sion hero, adjourned. The NJ. E. Church,
Of which he was a member, the Masonic