The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-04-23
miscellaneous.
THE FALSE LANDING ;
or, TRAVELLERS DECoY.

of Illinois. At Cincinnati, we were
joined on board the steamboat by q
youth from one of the western counties
of the former state, named Lumley,
then on his way to Kaskaskia, to see an
elder brother, and with the Interior de-
sign probably settling in that remote
town. Kaskaskia, originally founded
by the French, is situated on the eastern
or left bank OF the Mississippi, about
two miles from the river, and one hum
dred and fifty above the mouth of the
Ohio, and owing to the rapidity of the
former river, passage against the cur
rent is necessarily slow, especially when
the boat is furnished with machinery of
inferior power, which unfortunately for
us, was the case in the present voyage.
To keep near the middle Of the stream,
in such vessel, is not practicable; and
the only mode by which we were ena-
bled to stem the current, was by running
close to the northern shore; so close, in
deed, that we may be said to have been
forcing our way through the branches
of a forest, as the limbs OF the willows
and other trees that rise out of the allu-
vial soil which skirts the bank, con.
stantly subjected the passengers to the
hazard Of being swept from the deck
and would have broken to atoms the
glass of the cabin windows, had we not
left them open, to permit the branches,
unobstructed, to enter and recede.
Such Il boat as / have been describing,
was peculiarly i'll adapted to make head
against the impetuous torrent which met
us in our passage, at place, on the
eastern side, called the DEVILS Oven
and it was for short time doubtful,
which would obtain the mastery, at that
much dreaded strait-the boiling whirl-
pool, or the machinery of the boat.
Had the former been victorious, our
vessel, reccding with accumulating ve-
| lOcity, must have been dashed to pieces
against the projecting rocks. BY easing
her Off, however, n little To the south,
she was given an Oblique direction,
which enabled her, while floating near
ly broad.sidc down the stream, to gather
Il little strength, in order to weather the
extreme point of this truly dangerous
pass and at length after many struggles,
to reach the opposite shore, where, hav-
ing gradually recovered her wonted
power, she was enabled to turn her
head towards her destined course.
1t was midnight, when we were rous-
ed from our beds, and informed that we
were opposite the Kaskaskia landing,
where we had been told we would find
a tavern, in which we could remain un-
til the morning. The night was intense
ly dark, and was rendered still more
disagreeable by chilling vapour, that
was settling thickly along the surface of
the river, which, TO us, caused sensa-
ton peculiarly uncomfortable, owing to
the atmosphere of the cabin whenc" we
had just emerged, being so much over
heated by the tepid air and steam,
which issued from the boiler, injurious
| ly placed on a level with the cabin floor.
Having lain down in our clothes, we
We're soon on deck and the small-boat,
lowered from her slings, into the foam
ing waters, was ready with her slender
crew, to pull us to the shore, Fearful
of the 'snags," which are most frequent
near tie tanks, we were then running
more nearly to the middle of the river,
and had before considerable dis
tancc to row, therefore we could reach
the shore and, it was not until we had
narrowly escaped an upset, owing to
our little bark having, in her passage
over Il sawyer" struck it with her
keel, both fore and aft, that we were
placed, with our luggage, upon the bank.
| Our situation was extremely cheer
less. When the splashing Of the oars
of the receding boat had died upon our
ears, not sound was heard, to indicate
the proximity of any thing possessed OF
life and so intense was the surrounding
darkness, that naught save the lessen
ing lights of the slowly ascending
steamboat, was discoverable Icy the
eye.
The promised tavern, we judged must
be near the "landing." Putting our
| trunks upon our shoulders, we followed,
as we'll as we were able, an opening in
the woods, " hich led obliquely from
the river and at the distance of about
fifty yards, we reached what by feeling,
we ascertained to be II house.
"This is the tavernw we simultaneous
ly exclaimed "what lucky fellows, to
| a 10
We knocked gently at the door-there
was no reply. We repeated our attempts
to arouse the family, even with our feet,
but death-like silence continued to
reign within. Inow ran my hands eager
~ over the surface Of the door searching
for the latch but found none. "Strange!'
observed my companion, "that we are
unnoticed. think | hear the grunting
of pigs. Perhaps, the male inhabitants
are all from home and in this sequestered
situation the women are afraid to let us
in. Ut is more probable" | replied
"they lodge at the other end of the house
let us go round, and try"
Our success at the upper door, was nc
better than at the lower. Tho only re-
sponse was from the hungry pigs: and
IL tho inha bitants wore still asleep, il
was the sleep OF death. We searched
again for tho latch. There was none
AT length, my fingers met a piece o
cord l pulled, and applying'my foo
to the bottom of the door, it opened
i"Here is lodging, my FRIEND" said l
"whether for good or ill."-Leavinl
Lumley at the threshold, and drawing
the sword out of cane which l carried
in my hand, | advanced into the mys
terious chamber, to reconnoitre. Turn
ing to the right, and feeling my wa.
with the point of my sword. | came t
place where the floor seemed to term