Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-04-02

/ flOcked thlther, the disappointed
Agent nung himself, his friends re-
turned to Philadelphia, or removed
elsewhere, and six months afterwards
the once tlourishing town contained
not single inhabitant. Sometimes
the being hted hunter, tracking game
through the mountains, came unex-
pectedly upon what seemed a spec
tire town, the streets lined with tall
houses, containing not single ten
ant, often they were the secure res
ort OF desperate men, who sought to
hide themselves from the world for a
season, the famed Bandits Of the
Prairie, finding here secure asylum
after the assassination Of Col. Dav-
EXPORT, in this year A noted des>
perodo named Briggs, guilty of all
the crimes in the calendar, and
and known to be hiding from Justice
for murd Or committed in another
State, at this time occupied part of
the public house, ostensible for retail
ing poor whiskey, but really for hare
boring thieves, and several throat
looking fellows were known to be
living with him. The main travelled
road from Prairie Du Chen to Galcna
was via Plattville, making a wide de-
tour to avoid the Platte River break.
ers, at the mountains bordering the
Mississippi were called, but nearer
road led over the hills, and through
the locality have described, the ex-
IRENE ruggedness of the country,
however. the entire absence Of civil
lized inhabitants from Potosi to 'Jim-
town" a distance Of twenty miles
coupled with the actual dangers OF
making the journey alone, made the
route any thing but desirable, and it
was generally avoided Under these
circumstances | found myself at Brit
ish Hollow two miles from Potosi,
one December afternoon. on my way
to Galena, which it was important [
should reach at an early hour the
next morning. The distance by the
nearest rout was thirty miles while
by Plattville it was forty. ~ had once
before passed ovel the road, and did
not doubt my ability to find my way,
but then ! was on horseback, in com
pany with a trusted friend. while
now | was alone, aud had in my pos
session a considerable sum of money.
which fact from my being connected
with q well known commercial house,
if not apparent, was at least suspec-
ted | was sorely perplexed, but
after considering the thing all over,
determined to take the shortest and
Of course the most dangerous route,
though aware that a portion must be
performed after nighttall. | had
splendid pair Of bays, q trusty dog |
knew would never desert me, and for
defence ten>inch Colts pistol, on
which | could rely every time, and to
which | now think | owe my lite.
My only fear was in passing the
rugged defles leading to Old Platte
City, (the name OF the town | have
mentioned and ascending therefrom,
a distance of perhaps three miles,
once beyond this, and felt | could
rely upon the speed of my horses to
distance any pursuit, as the road, at
this time smooth as glass, lay alonga
summit ridge, bare OF trees or brush
wood, and atfording little opportunity
ambuscade, besides | hoped, and in
deed believed that most, ifnot all the
robber gang had left the locality,
ar none would dare modest me in
daylight. 1t was with singular light
ness of spirits stepped into my bug
gy, seized the lines, and passed over
the few miles of road leading to the
breakers" The sun was already
low, yet | felt confident Of passing
the dreaded locality before nightfall,.
and once safe beyond the hills, |
could defy host. The road now be-
came rugged and broken in the ex-
treme. Huge rocks impeded my
way, threatening to overturn my
carriage, while the narrow track
wound around precipices where a
slight misstep would have precipita-
ted myself and team into an abyss,
the depths of which could only be
coniecrured. l had passed nearly
down the mountain, and was congra
tulating myself on my good luck,
when, in going over an unusually
large stone, the hind wheel of my
carriage gave way, and broke CONS
pletely down. Here was q dilemma
not provided for. To 90 back was
impossible, as from the narrowness
of the detile | could not turn around,
to leave my carriage and seek aid
elsewhere was not to DO thought OF.
There was but one course open,
which was to mend my wheel as best
| could, and in the tirst.gathering
darkness slip quietly by unobserved.
A pole was fortunately at hand, one
end was placed upon the foi ward
axle, and the other trailing upon the
ground, formed substitute for the
broken wheel, which was removed
and lashed Oh behind. | had nearly
completed my arrangements, when a
low growl from Carlo attracted my
attention, and . couple of men ems
erged from thicI;et close at hand,
eyed me moment sHspiciously, gave
an approving nod to each other, and
passed on. As | wassteppig into my
carriage, slip of paper, attached TO
a twig, and heretofore unnotlced,
caught my eye,-it contained q rude
representation of u hand, pointing