Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-02-23
For the REPUBLICAN.
A TOUR WEST.

Jas. Armstrong's to Topeka. Moth
ing novel or remarkable transpirin:
until We arrived in the streets of tn
city, when We met two Potawatta
mics, an Indian and his Squaw. Th
Indian was dressed in a civiliZet
manner, but the Squaw was very fan
tastical in her habilament, wearin:
a fiery red shawl or wrapper, anC
any quantity of gaudy fringes ant
trappings- with ornaments suspend
ed from her nose and ears. In com
plexion they were both very dark
showing a visible admiXture will
the African. They were conducting
three horses. heavily laden will
leathern sacks, which, / suppose
contained corn, that they woult
probably barter away for tobacco
and whisky-the law to the contrary
notwithstanding. They led theil
horses in single file, the Indian ri
ding in front and the squaw bring
ing up the rear The middle horss
was neither led nor fastened in any
way. But if he attempted to pass tn,
lead horse. the Indian administered
prompt punishment by striking hin
over the head with a strap. If he
Jagged behind he was promptly ad
monished by his dusky mistress in
the rear, who rode q Ia Turk, with {
foot on either side.
The next object Of interest was
the Kansas river, which is fifty rods
wide here and contains water enough
to float q large steamer, but is SO OBJ
structed with sand bars, rocks and
islands, that it is wholly useless as
a channel of commerce. The same
remark is true in regard to the Mis-,
souri, river. Although it contains
more than twice the amount of water
necessary to float the largest steam
boat, yet owing to the various OBJ
structions, nothing but inferior yes.
sells are found on its waters, and they
creep cautiously along in its chan
mel.
Arrived at the station in good
time and got tickets to Crestline by
way of St. Louis, for 1926. Met
with Col. Stintson on the train, who
resides within four miles of Topeka
on large and beautiful body Of land,
well improved, and under a high
state of cultivation. He does not
pay one cent of tax, he having re.
ceived his possessions from the Pot.
tawatamie Indians. who have a beau.
tiful reservation adjacent to this
city. Left North Topeka in the
train at l 80 z. NJ, and arrived al
the State Line between Missouri and
Kansas at 4: 80 P. NJ. Here, accor.
ding to my programme. it was nee
essary to change cars. In all haste
we repaired to the train ou the No
souri, Pacific R.R. Had not got
more than seated fairly, when a man
wearing very fine, new overcoat
came aboard and deliberately pulled
it off and made himself entirely at
home, which reminded me that l had
left my overcoat on the train which
we had just evacuated. Selling my
satchel and running with some trep-
idation, l succeeded in getting my
overcoat just as the train was start
ing. On my way back l met the
man who had doffed his overcoat
running in the utmost CONSERVATION,
beckoning and calling to the con-
ductor Of the starting train to stop,
as he had left his overshoes in it.
But all in vain! For unfortunately
in this country when the iron horse
starts once, tardy men may Cry after
him in vain. But my utmost celerity
failed to place me upon the train l
desired, and | was left with the man
minus the overcOat, standing on the
platform. To me the joke was very
insipid, and rendered doubly so from
the fact that about half a dozen
darkies were standing chuckling
over it. Ifelt very badly, but doubt
whether Wore blanker look than
my companion in misfortune, who
stood gazing first in the direction of
the train bearing away his overshoes,
and then in the direction Of that
which contained his overcoat. He
finally drawled out-"Wall, the over
coat is going straight home, if only
the stupid thing had sense enough
to stop when it gets there, but the
overshoes are lost certain" Ny
companion took the first freight train
that passed. [ remained, however,
considering my chances for com
Portable nights lodging, determin-
ing to take the morning express.
Now there is at the station on the
Missouri & Pacific r. R., a hotel sit
uated on the state line, and more
than mile from the city-Kansas
City-so that many a dark deed of
yillainy might be perpetrated here,
with but little chance of detection.
At this hotel took lodging at the
rate Of three dollars q day, and was
refused check for my baggage,
which is always given at first-class
hotels. At Q o'clock asked to be
shown to my room. The waiter ta-
king all unlighted candle in one hand
and q match in the other, proceeded
about halfway up stairway, and
then strucl, the MATCH against the
wall, and held it behind him to avoid
the perfume. But 1 inhaled the
contents, which almost deprived me
of breath; and by the time 1 got to
my bed was hardly able to get into
it; the waiter refusing to grant me
the privilege of locking the door.
Finding that the pillow smelled al
most as bad as the match, / threw
it from me, but suffered intensely
from the inhalation - my lungs
seeming almost wholly paralyzed-I
until midnight, when | obtained a
little relief, and was falling into a
light sleep, when / was aroused by
the waiter entering my room and
the candle under my nose
with another satanic match. On
asking him what he wanted, he said
that he wanted my pillow, (there
was but one on the bed, which l
gave him. But the sec
ond inhalation seemed worse than
the first, and rising from my bed
and dressing myself with difficulty,
went out into the open air. 1t was
then l2.15 4, NJ, by my watch. l