The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-12-24
A Thrilling Adventure.
DY n. II, HU0UEIN.

-Cb0abeTS SQef7aU
a Thrilling Adventure.
BY 4. II. HuauNN.
WHEN the ill-fated steamer Lady Elgin
went down on Lake Michigan, drowning
three hundred gay revelers, on that tenn
pestuSus morning of the 9Th Of September,
1850, the Hon. William Farnsworth, Of
Sheboygan, Wis pioneer OF the North
west, and gentleman whom his acquaint-
ances delighted to honor--Shared her dis
astrous fate. Nearly sixty yesrs ago, he
settled in the wilds Of Wisconsin, the only
white man who, in that part of the Union,
preferred q life in the midst of the alb
origines at that early day. His business
was that of Q trader, and his primitive
storehouse contained such simple articles
of merchandise as beftted the fancy and
necessities Of his dark-skinned customers,
and served as barter for the rich furs
and peltries in which they dealt It was
not long before his dignifed and upright
character as dealer succeeded in pro-
ducing the desired result, and his business
rapidly increased. For time all went
smoothly and satisfactorily; but the
treseherous 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 commotion among
them. All was still and serpent-like, with
a stern determination. No threats or
menaces escaped their sealed lips, yet
there was q wicked expression in every
eVa
The shades of night had fallen, and Mr..
Fsrnsworth stood behind the counter in
his store, which was dimly lighted by two
candles, while the door stoed widely open
to permit free ingress. A single Indian
entered, armed and blsnksted, 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, singly,
came others-ten, twenty, forty-all full
armed, each seating himself on the floor
beside the first, in rear of the store. Mr..
Farnsworth felt that crisis had arrived,
and with an active mind and q fearless
heart he quickly determined upon
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 ct one fell stroke.
To show the slightest degree Of fear or
anxiety would but hasten de1aoueanent
which Had undoubtedly been agreed upon.
In the meantime, one by one, more than Q
hundred of the Indians had gathered in
the store, and ominous murmurs began to
reach his ears One Indian spoke: "Big
warrior, mel Ughl fight at Tppecanoe;
me no 'fraid"
"Me, too-me fight at Tippecanoe; me
fight more, bimeby |" added another, with
an air of mystery. "Me, too-me no
'fraid-ughi sguou 'fraid. Warrior no
'fraidf" said third; and similar express
sions found Q general utterance among
them
Mr.. Farnsworth saw that they were all
"blowing" or boasting, for some underlined
purpose, for he knew that none of them
were present at the battle of Tippec2noe.
To humor them, and to gain time and
more definite idea Of the fate that awaited
him, he pleasantly Joined in the converse
ton, with as little truth in what he said rs
there was in what he heard: "Pma war
rior, too" he said. ~ killed big Indian
Tecumseh, I'm pale-face brave" There
was not q trenor in his voice, nor shade
on his features as he spoke-nothing, in
deed, TO indicate suspicion that he knew
aught or the Impending crleie.
His empty boast and manly bearing,
however, were not without their effect, for
he saw at glance that the Indians had
suddenly relapsed into silence, or were
oonferring together in whispers. He felt
that the time had arrived for immediate
operations on his part. Beneath the coun
ter was keg nearly filled with gunpow-
der, from which the head had been re-
moved, and within his reach stood .
lighted candle. STOPPING down, with his
finger he formed an impromptu candle
stick in the very center Of the mass of
powder. Then sAuflag the lighted wick
very closely, he placed the edges Of his
hands, with the palms upward, around
the candle, in order to catch any accident
al sparks which might fall while he was
moving it. Lifting il in this manner from
its receptacle he placed the candle in An
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 tssk, and stood
calmly near it to await the catastrophe.
But his movements had bseu noticed by
one of the Indians, who, being actuated
by that Characteristic curiosity which st
times overpowsrs every other feeling in
Sle savage breast, leaned over the counter
and saw the candle burning brightly in
the keg of powder. Not . sound escaped
him, but with . wondering glance At the
pale and intrepid merchant, he walked
rapidly and silently out of the store. His
sudden exit attracted the attention of
another warrior, who also pesrsd eau
tiously over the counter, aW the danger,
and stalksd out of the door - silently IS
the first. A third, . fourth, and al, sue
- l:,-~alR ka
pending catastrophe, and passed out with
out uttering q word: A. the last one lsft
the store, sstouishsd ct the stolid bravery
of the pale-face, the merchant followed
him to the door, and hastily closed il, fast
sning it securely. Then, carefully sp-
preaching the ksg of powder, he ihsd out
the candle in the aame guarded manner in
which he had placed it there, and felt that
he Was saved.
And he was saved The daring slterns-
tive which he had chosen assured the In.
dians that he Was no trifler, and produced
revulsion Of feeling in his favor that led
to friendly arrAngemsnt OF the dimcuity
which had estranged them from him.
Mr.. Farnsworth remained amopg them,
was married to one of their number, and
at the time Of his death still resided In
that vicinity.
The music in the Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher's church costs $1,000 q year
The organist gets $1,000, the conductor,
$4,000, the tenor, $1,000, the soprano
$500, the contralto, $500, and the basso
$500, leaving $500 for incidentals. The
paid choir sing the solos and concerted
pieces, but the hymns are sung by the
whole congregation, led by volunteer
choir of about seventy performer
An engineer estimates the loss OF horses
axtra ,raar Of xehicles and extr0 horse