The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-03-25
THE TRIBUNE.


-
A DESPERATE RACE.
Some years ago I was one of conyiv,
party that met At the principal hotel il
the town Of Columbus, Ohio, the seat @
Rovernment Of the Buckeye State.
1t was awlntery evening, when all with
out Was bleak and stormy, and all within
were b!ithe and gay; when song and sto
~ made the circuit of the festive board
filling up the chasms of life with mirtl
and laughter.
We had met for the express purpose o.
making night of it, and the pious inten
ton was duly and most religiously carried
out The Legislature was in session il
che town, and not few of the worthy
Legislature were present upon this occa
sion.
One of the worthless I will name as he
not only took big swath in the evening
entertainment, but he was man more
generally known than even our worthy
President, Gen. Grant. That man was
the famous Captain Riley, whose nara
tive of suffering and adventures are pref.
y generally known all over the civilized
world. Capt. Riley was fine, tat, good
humored joker, who, at the period OF my
story, was the representative OF the Day
ton district, and lived near that little city
when at home. Well Captain Riley had
amused the company with many of his
far-famed and singular adventures, which
being mo silly told before and read by mil
lions of people that have seen his book,
l will not attempt to repeat them.
Many were the stories and adventures
told by the company, when it came to the
turn of wel[known gentleman, who
represented the Cincinnati district. As
Mr.. - is yet among the living and per
haps not disposed to be the subject of a
joke or story, [ do not feel at liberty to
give his name, Mr.. was slow be-
lever of other mems adventures, and at
the same time much disposed to magnify
himself into a marvellous hero, whenever
the opportunity offered. As Captain Ri
ley wound up one of his truthful, though
really marvellous adventures, NJ. COOL
ly remarked that the Captains story was
all very well, but he did not begin to COM
pare with an adventure that he had, once
Upon time" on the Ohio, below the
present city Of CINCINNATI.
Lets haveit-let's have it, resound-
from all hands. .-
well, gentlemen, said the Senator,
caring his voice for action and knocking
e ashes from his cigar. gentlemen, L m
It in the habit (quite notorious for it y
spinning yarns of marvellous or ficti-
sus matters, and therefore it is scarcely
cessary to affirm upon the responsible
of my reputation gentlemen that what
IN about to tell you is God s truth, and
.'Oh, never mind that; go on, MI
imed in the party.
well, gentlemen, in ISL came down
eOhio river, aud settled at Losanti,
called Cincinnati. It was, at that
ne but a little settlement of some TWEEN
or thirty log and frame cabins where
stands the Broadway Hotel, and
ocks Of stores and dwelling houses, was
cottage and corn patch Of old Mr..
=, tailor. who by the way, bought
at land for the making of q coat. Well,
put up my cabin with the aid of my
ighbors, put in patch Of corn and po-
toes, about where the Market now
ands, and set about improving my lot,
,use, etc.
"Occasionly took my rifle and started
Fwith my dog down the river, to look
little deer or bar meat, then very
enty along the river The blasted red
ms were lurking about, and lowering
ound the settlement, and every once IN
while picked off some of our neighbors
stole some of our cattle and horses l
ted the red devils and made no bones
peppering the blasted sarpents when
erI got sight at them. In fact, the
rascals had dread of me, and had
i = great many traps to get my scalp,
tt wasp to be catched mapping. No,
gentlemen; I was too we'll up o'em
that.
''Well, I started off one morning pref
early, to take hunt, and travelled a
lg way down the river, over the bottoms
ID hills, but could not find bar nor deer.
bout four O clock in the afternoon,
ade tracks for the settlement again. by
I'd by see . buck just ahead of me,
alking leisurely down to the river. /
ipped up, with my faithful dog close in
ay rear, to within clever shot distance ;
nd just as the buck stuck his nose in to
rink, drew bead upon his top knot.
md over he tumbled and splurged and
bounded awhile, when came up, and re-
ieved him by cutting his wien
"Well but what had that to do with an
adyenture?" said Riley.
Hold on bit. if you please, gentle
men. By Jovc, it had great deel to dc
with it! For while 1 was skinning the
hind quarters of the buck, and slowing
oway the kidney fat in my hunting shirt
I heard noise like the breaking of a
bush under moccasin up the bottom.
My dog heard it, and started up to reon
hotter. and l lost no time in reloading my
rifle. had hardly got my printing on
before my dog raised howl and broke
though the bush towards me with tai
down, as he was not used to do unleS.
there were wolves, painters (panthers) Of
Ingins about.
II picked up my knife, and took w
my line Of march in skulking trot VI
The river. The frequent gullies on the
lower bank make it tedious travelling
there 30 scrambled up the upper banl
which was pretty well covered with buck
eve and sycamore, and very little unde
brush. One peep below discovered to m'
three has big and strapping red devils
gentlemen as you ever clapt your eye on
Yes there they came. not above six hun
ired yards ia my rear shouting and vel
ling like devils aud coming after me hk'
hell broke loose T.
"Well said the old woodsman sittiul
at the table you took tree of course 2
ibid T? No by, gentlemen, l tool
no tree just then, but took to my heel
ike Ixty,. and it was just as much as m
dog could do to keep up with me. l raj
until the whoops Of the red skins grew
fainter and fainter, behind me and wa
,lean out of the wind. l turned to loOl
3ehind and there came but one single re-
ievil putting and blowing not three hun
Ired Yards IN my rear. He had got on t
piece of bottom, where trees we're thi
nd scarce. Now thinks [ old fellow T.
ava YOU now: 80 | trotted off at pac