Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-01
ONO WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGs,l
Nav 20, 1866.

lumbus on the 24th, as had designed. In
my absence, delegate and appoint you a
"Committee of One" to invite all your ed
itoral brethren and friends to visit Inc as
soon after the adjournment of the Conven-
tion as you and they deem best. Please eX-
tend your invitation to the Reporters OF the
City press that may be present aud all 9th
ers whom you may desire for company
Very truly yours,
JNo. II. FERRY.
We discharged our duty as "Committee
of One" and number of our brethren of
the press accepted the invitation that COL
FERRY so kindly delegated us to extend
as the following which we copy from the
Cincinnati Gazette, will show:
From the Cincinnati Gazette. May SO.l
Going TO the Spring. Or the AdVen
lures OF a Press Gang.
The Democratic Convention at Columbus
| had adjourned. The reporters were hurry
| ing up their dispatches, and thinking OF a
| full nights sleep, sweet restorer OF natures
wasted energies, when an invitation was
read from Col. Ferry, OF White Sulphur
| Springs, to visit his charming resort. In
| the favorite phraseolOgy of our quarto CO.
| temporary, "mOb" of half a dozen agreed
to steal the next day from duty, aud re-
create on the Coloners liberal hospitality.
A telegram was sent accepting the invita-
tion. Eloquent speeches were curtailed,
and copy all in before twelve o'clock. The
midnight train going north was reached in
time. When the conductor called for tick
cts and the dead heads" showed their pass
es, they were coolly told the train didn't
stop at Lewis Center, the station nearest the
| Springs. Drawing out their "postal' the
| locomotive was checked up a mile beyond.
Trudging back over ties and cattle-breaks,
| the iuckless fellows found no inviting
coach awaiting them. The comfortable
rooms and luxurious beds of the Springs
were seven miles distant. There was 10
tavern at the station. 1t was half-p one
o'clock, and the boisterous demonstrations
OF the now real "mob" failed to awaken the
cottagers or bring out policeman from
his snug hiding place. ~ "a,
The question whether to bivouac in fence
corners or take up the line of march to the
Springs, was decided in favor of the latter
Jimmie L., late of fhe Opera House, a
raw recruit to the reportorial corps, was
put in command-he had reconnoitered the
ground before. In their order followed
representatives of the NeW York Herald
ONO STATESMAN, Cincinnati Enquirer and
the Gazette, he of the Commercial having
gracelessly abandoned his companions, to
Keep out of trouble.
The moon shone; but it did not point the
way to Colonel Ferry's longedfor mansion
not then, at least. The road on which
the party set sail ran square up to another,
and whether to turn right or left their
guide did not know. BY the moons pale
| light guide board" was discovered on a
post. "To Delaware" read the right arm,
ITO Worthington" read the left; and $40
the Springs" read an arm pointing direct
ly across the fields. Up and down the
cross road scouts were sent to find a road
| leading in the direction indicated, but they
reported no success. Farm houses were as
saulted, but their occupants evidently were
dreaming of Morgan raids, for they an
swered not, except at an Irish hovel, Pat
thinking, no doubt, the noisy crowd was a
.spress- gang" filling up the Fenian army,
and he therefore wisely hesitated about
coming to the door. "Go south a small
way. an shure ye'll find the road" "We
don't know which is south won't you
come out and point the way 2" "Shure, an
| If veil turn to the left an follow the moon,
yell git there"
So going ito the left'' half a mile the
weary but still cheerful fellows found a
road leading in the direction OF the moon.
| On they trudged till, on crossing bridge,
| they found roads leading up stream, down
stream and straight ahead. The moon !!
Alas it had sunk behind the trees some
time before, and in what direction no two
could agree. No house was near, and
thoughts of spending the remainder of the
night in the bridge were being considered,
when some one observed that there had
/ AL III nm tba rood fhnc fa =
| Soon the poles were found, md the march
| resumed.
Farm after farm was passed, but no man.
sion appeared, Notwithstanding the guide
was constantly saying, Just up this hill"
and just beyond this wood" At last he
said, "Ah! here is one of the cottages of
the springs; little further and we will find
the gate; the mansion is off there in the
grove" Yes" exclaimed he of the En-
quirer. 81 think ] see something like a
dome or turret." That's So" responded
the guide, "and there is the old flagstaff"
1t was Just the hour before day, and the
starlight had faded into the obscure gray
fog ofdawn. The Imagination could pic
ture, in the distance, any object desired.
Mansion, dome and flagstaff receded before
the weary walkers. Other hills and other
woods were passed, and still no mansion.
Finally daylight dawned, and it was con-
cluded the wrong road had been taken.
The sleepers in cabin on the wayside were
awakened, and asked, Show far to the
! Springs?" "a mile and half" "a mile
and a half back or ahead" "Ahead."
The Herald man and he of The STATES
MAN relaxed, and lay against the nearest
stump; they could walk no further. The
| others led on, and shouted back the tempta-
/ tion of shot cakes beefsteak and coffee"
| II had the desired effect. The beautiful
grounds, the groves, the river, the mansion,
dome and flagstaff as well, soon lOomed up
4 i'm the distance. The large gateway was
entered; no furious dog disputed the ap-
proach: but neither did any hospitable
host welcome the jaGed travellers. They
knew, however, that it was not the land
lords fault. Reaching the long porch,
they rang the bell and ratified the door, but
the morning nap was too sound. The door
was not locked-good old country fashion,
and the party walked in. Each appropri-
ated sofa, and dropped to sleep, uncOn-
scious alike of pain and pleasure. 1t was
four o'clock. At six the porter entered,
but started back at the horrid sight of hall
a dozen rufiianly fellows, with shaggy
boards and dusty boots, stretched out on
parlor sofas. The clerk was summoned, to
whom the crowd was introduced as the
"press gang" from Columbus. Late In the
morning as it was each accepted a room,
and slept couple of hours. at half past
eight, breakfast was announced. Col. Fer
| rv. the host, greeted each of his unceremO-
nious guests with the cordiality of an ac-
complished landlord and true gentleman
He was mortified that the telegram had not
| reached him. and at once, and throughout