Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-07-12

| upon our travels, we were Iour uays
in dragging through the snow-banks OF
the Erie road, and two more in reach
ing Cleveland. There met for the first
time in my life Frederick Douglass
Col. Hoyt introduced me to him, and
then exchanged few words with him
aside. l watched him, and judging
from the broad grin that agitated his
countenance, l think that Hoyt inform
ed him concerning our destination, and
the nature of our machinery.
Wearrived opposite St. Louis as the
river was breaking up, and were detained
there twelve hours. The ice was piling
up like mountains, steamboats, we're swept
away and crushed like cockle-shells, all
the bells were ringing, and the levee was
crowded with anxious people. Toward
night the ice ran out, the excitement sub
sided, and we crossed over into the " fu'
ture great city,"
St. Louis then was very different af-
fair from the St. Louis of to-day. There
were slave pens in numerous localities,
and the daily sales of human chattels
we're held as regularly rs those of horses
cattle or country produce. There may
have been good many free state men
or even abolitlonists in the city, but we
knew only single firm to whom we
dared whisper our business-that of f.
| B. Hunt q Co. We stored our goods IN
their warehouses, and had new boxes
made for the rifles, putting two rifie-box-
es in one new box. This was necessary
| in order to effectually conceal their con-
tents. We then waited patiently for a
boat. In about two weeks the Arabia
was advertised for the Missouri-the first
boat of the season. We engaged freight
and passage. and put our goods on board
While doing so, the clerk of the boat,
noticing the weight of the boxes, said to
Col. Hoyt What have you got in these
boxes Sharpe's rifles p 81 wish | had, !"
said Hoyt. We trembled, but nothing
more was said. The boxes with the same
cards as before, except directed to " d.
S. Hoyt, Leavenworth," were lowered
into the hold, and four of us went on
board. DIR. Cutter and Mr.. Crutchneld
went overland to Jefferson city and Kan
sas City with their trunks-and the
slides.
Everything went lovely for afew days
and we had every reason to suppose that
our trip would be successful. But an
unlucky accident spoiled all. l was ly
ing in my state-rcom one afternoon when
| heard rush and excitement in the af
ter cabin. Looking out to ascertain the
cause, saw the captain standing upon
the dining-table, and reading from pa
per which, from its peculiar tint, | knew
had come from my valise. Every one
of the passengers and crew that coulC
be spared from duty was eagerly listen
ing. The following is substantially tha
portion of the manuscript that interest
ed the audience
STEAMER ARABIA, Missouri RIVER
March '56.
DEAR MOTHER: We have thus fal
been successful, and the guns and ammu
milton are safe in the hold. The boat il
crowded with border ruffians, but they
treat US well, little knowing who we are
They are entertaining angels unawares
am very glad that | took the buffalo
coat, for it has been very cold.
Yours affectionately,
STARR.
, That allusion to the buffalo coat die
the business. 1t was probably the only
one worn in the West, and every passen
ger had seen Hoyt have it on, and
roomed with Hoyt. Two of US wer,
therefore spotted instantly. Such scowl
of hate and outbursts of rage as were
launched at us are seldom witnessed
Had the crowd been of the sort that usu
ally was found upon the river, we woulc
have instantly been torn in pieces. Al
it was, resolution was offered and Unan
imously carried that the arms be thrown
into the river and the overseers after
them. Hoyt was as calm as summer
morning, and told them th at they would
probably throw overheard the arms, bu
the owners lived in Lawrence, Kansas
and to throw them overheard they woulC
!. first have to catch them. They ther
, proposed to throw us overheard. Hoy
told them they could do that also-bu
several of them would end that trip al
the same time that we did. Meanwhile
committee had been into the hold and
returned with earbine. As serious a,
was our situation at that time it was i'm
possible to do otherwise than laugh at
their perplexity while examining tha
gun. judge that not one of them had
ever seen a breech-loading arm, and
their surmises as to how the thing wen
off were ludicrous. They asked us t.
shoot one, and we finally told them thai
if they would send to Lawrence and ge