Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-03-17
a DESPERATE RACE.

Some years ago was one ola convivial
party that met at the principal hotel in
the town Of Columbus, Ohio, the seat Of
government of the Buckeye State.
1t was wintry evening, when all with
ont was bleak and stormy, and all within
were blithe and gay; when song and story
made the circuit of the festive board, fill
ing up the chasms of life with mirth and
laughter.
We had met for the express purpose Of
making a night of it, and the pious inten-
tion was duly and most religiously carried
out. The Legislature was in session in
the town, and not few of the worthy
Legislature were present upon this occas-
ion.
One of the worthless [ will name as he
not only took big swath in the even
ing's entertainment, but he was man
more generally known than even our
worthy President, Gen. Grent. That
man was the famous Captain Riley, whose
narrative of suffering and adventures are
pretty generally known all over the civil
lied world. Captain Riley was fine, fat,
good-humored joker, who, at the period
of my story, was the representative of the
Dayton district, and lived near that little
city when at home. Well Captain Riley
had amused the company with many of
his far-tamed and singular adventures,
which being mostly told before and read
by millions of people that have seen his
book, | will not attempt to repeat them.
Many were the stories and adventures
told by the company, when it came to
the turn at well-known gentleman, who
represented the Cincinnati district. AS
Mr.. - is yet among the living and
perhaps not disposed to be the subject of
joke or story, [ do not feel at liberty to
give his name, Mr.-was a slow believ-
er of other mems adventures, and at the
same time much disposed 10 magnify
himself into marvellous hero, whenever
the opportunity offered. As Captain Ri
ley wound up one of his truthful, though
really marvellous adventures, M.-cool-
ly remarked that the Captains story was
all very we'll, but did not begin to CON-
pare with an adventure stat he had,
''once upon time,' on the Ohio, below
the present city of Cincinnati
"Lets have it-let's have it p resound-
ed from all hands.
"Well, gentlemen" said the Senator,
clearing his voice for action and knocking
the ashes from his cigar, gentlemen, Pm
not in the hab quite notorious for it!)
of spinning yarns of marvellous or fictitious
matters, and therefore it is scarcely nee.
essary to affirm upon the responsibility of
my reputation gentlemen that what I am
about to tell you is Gods truth, and"
"Oh, never mind that; go on, Mr--,"
chimed in the party.
"Well, gentlemen, in 19-I came down
the Ohio river, and settled at Losanti,
now called Cincinnati. It was, at that
time but little settlement of some TWEEN
ty or thirty log and frame cabins; where
now stands the Broadway Hotel, and
blocks Of stores and dwellinI houses, was
the cottage and corn patch Of old M.
-, a tailor, who, by the way, bought
that land for the making of a coat. Well,
| put up my cabin with the aid Of my
nelShUois, put III patcn OF corn and
potatoes, about where the Market now
stands, and set about improving my lot,
house, etc.
Professionally I took my rife and star
ted off with my dog down the river, to
look up little deer or bar meat, then
very plenty along the river. The bias
ted red skins were lurking about, and
lowering around the settlement, and every
once in while picked off some Of our
neighbors OF stole some of our cattle and
horses. hated the red devils and made
no bones of peppering the blasted sar-
pents whenever | got sight at them.
In fact, the red rascalS had dread Of me,
and had laid a great many traps to get