Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-12-23
A Thrilling Adventure.
BY II. NJ. HUGUNIN.

BY III. M. liUGUNlN.
WHEN the ill-fated steamer Lady Elgin
went down on Lake Michigan, drowning
three hundred gay jewellers, on that tenn
pestu us morning of the Sth of September,
1860, the Hon. William Farnsworth, of
Sheboygan, visa pioneer of the North
west, md gentleman whom his acquaint-
ances delighted to honor-shared her dis
astrous fate. Nearly sixty years ago, he
settled in the wilds of Wisconsin, the only
white man who, in that part of the Union,
preferred life in the midst Of the alb
origines at that early day. His business
was that of a trader, and his primitive
storehouse contained such simple articles
of merchandise as betitted the fancy and
necessities of his dark skinned customers,
and served as barter for tae rich furs
and petries in which they dealt. 1t was
not long before his dignitied and upright
character as a dealer succeeded in pro-
ducing the desired result, and his business
rapidly increased. For time all went
smoothly and satisfactorily but the
treachcrous Indians soon found in him
something which not only made him Of
fensive to them, but led them to seek his
life. This last measure, however, was
secretly formed, and it was only through
the agency of friendly native that he
was enabled to discover their design.
There was no noisy connection among
them. All was still and serpent-like, with
q stern determination. No threats or
menaces escaped their sealed lips yet
there was wicked expression in every
eye.
The shades of night had fallen, and Mr..
Farnsworth stood behind the counter in
his store, which was dimly lighted by two
candles, while the door stood widely open
to permit free ingress A single Indian
entered, armed and blanketed, passed him,
with grunt of recognition, and silently
stalked to the rear ofthe apartment, where
he squatted upon his launches. Another
followed, in the same manner, and, slngly,
came others--ten, twenty, forty-all full
armed, each seating himself on the floor
beside the first, in rear of the store, MIR.
Farnsworth felt that crisis had arrived,
and with an active mind and fearless
heart he quickly determined upon a
course of conduct, which, if it did not
succeed in releasing him, unharmed from
the dilemma in which he was placed,
would completely route and destroy his
enemies with himself, at one fell stroke,
To show the slightest degree Of fear or
anxiety would but hasten a de1,oaement
which had undoubtedly been agreed upon.
In the meantime, one by one, more than
hundred of the Indians had gathered in
the store, and ominohs murmurs began to
reach his ears One Indian spoke: "Big
warrior, me! Ugh! fight at Tippecanoe
me no 'fraid p
"Me, too-me fight at Tppecanoe; me
| fight more, bimeby y added another, with
an air of mystery. Me, too-me no
'fraid-ughl squaw 'fraid. Warrior no
/ 'fraidw said third; and similar express
sions found n general utterance among
them.
Mr.. Farnsworth saw that they were all
blowing or Boosting, for some underlined
purpose, for he knew that none Of them
were present at the battle of Tippecanoe.
To humor them, and to gain time and a
more definite idea of the fate that awaited
him, he pleasantly joined in the converse
ton, with as little truth in what he said as
there was in what he heard: I'm a war
rior, too" he said 81 killed big Indian
Tecumseh, I'm pale-iace brave" There
was not a tremor in his voice, nor a shade
on his features as he spoke-nothing in
deed, to indicate a suspicion that he knew
aught OF the impending crisis.
His empty boast and manly bearing
however, were not without their effect, for
he saw at a glance that the Indians had
suddenly reapsed into silence, or were
cGnferring together in whispers He felt
that the time had arrived for immediate
operations on his part. Beneath the coun
ter was key nearly filled with gunpov
der. from which the head had been re
moved, and within his reach stood q
lighted candle. STOPPING down, with his
finger he formed an impromptu candle
stick in the very center OF the mass o
powder. Then shutting the lighted wick
, very closely, he placed the edges of hil
, hands, with the palms upward, around
! the candle, in order to catch any accident
f al sparks which might fall while he wa
moving it. Lifting il in this manner from
its receptacle he placed the candle in al
upright position into the hole prepared
! for il in the powder, and carefully re
/, moved his hands Then he raised him
self up from his perilous task, and stoo,
calmly near it to await the catastrophe
But his movements had beeL noticed b,
, one of the Indians, who, being actuatet
by that characteristic curiosity which a
times overpowers every other feeling il
the savage breast, leaned over the counte
/ and saw the candle burning brightly il
! the key of powder. Not sound escapes