The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-06-23
CHAPTER 1.-THE FARMERS STORY.

- Il.
The adventure I'm going to tell
about he commenced, happened to my
sell, several years ago, when Illinois was
mostly q wilderness. AT that time the
Northwest was very much troubled by
gangs OF desperadoes of all sorts; coun.
terfeiters, horse thieves, and murderers
who kept all honest men in terror, and
set the laws at defiance for their was nj
any sufficient force of officers of Justice
to keep them In order. Those were the
| days OF the Longs, and various other
scoundrels of that kidney, until the rifle
OF the Regulator and the halter of Judge
Lynch thlnned their ranks.
Il was originally from Vermont, and
after tossing about.on the lakes for sew
| efal weeks IN a schooner, for steamers
hadn't then made their appearance, |
landed in the mud, before the little clus-
ter OF log huts that then represented
Chicago. Coming as [ did from the
mountains of New England, the fat prai-
RE looked inexpressibly dreary to me,
land hearing that the country was more
broken nearer the Mississippi, l resol we'd
to settle there, if the country looked IA
yorable. There was no regular comm
nlcation with that part of the country. sd
was Obliged to hire a horse, and set out
a1ore. There were many stories current
Of the danger from robbers, but | took
very little stock in them, for | was YOUNG
and rash. However, as | had consider
able money with me, | took the preeau-
tonic be well armed, taking revolver,
la new thing in those days, in addition to
the double barrelled gun that was nv
constant companion
After getting what Information could
concerning the road, set off. Tt was q
lovely morning in June and as trotted
briskly over the prairie, | drank in the
scene, and began to think that life on
the prairie might not be so bad after al
On every side lay the unbroken wilder
ness, q sea OF waving grass, varied here
ana there by scarlet flower Now and
then groves OF trees appeared, and at
long Intervals the log hut OF a settler
with grazing cs.ttle, and little patch OF
corn. Coveys OF prairie chickens whirred
up beneath my horses feet, great flocks
OF pigeons darkened the ar above m,
head, and frequently herds of deer could
be seen bounding off as approaC he'd
On rode till noon, when stopped toI
refresh myself and horse.
Shortly after resuming my journey, /
began to be doubtful OF the road: the
prairie was crossed by wagon-tracks in
several directions, all of which looked
alike; but after a while | selected one
thought most promising, and pushed for
ward. As sunset came on, [ felt more
certain that was wrong: from the d,
rections had received / ought to hav,
been near settlers cabin, but none was
in sight However there was notbino
ior 1t now but to keep on and /. asst t.,
luck, or camp out where | was. resolv
ed to press on as long as it was Ugh
enough to see the Yay,sin hopes o. re;scil-
ing some habitation.3i At last, as Il vas
growing dark, | espied a, little glimmer.
ing light. Galloping forward, soon
found myself in front of rather laro,.
cabin, standing ON theopen prairie. witli
a log stable beside it. A vigorous shout
brought man TO the door, who took my
horse, and led the way to the stable