The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-03-16
sftta'oa fire. GRADER {.
LETTERS FROM JUDGE CATION.

in Spanish countries, ard this morning ours was
taxed to the utmost, Tor we were anxious to re-
turn in time to see the Yumure Valley, and then
take the $50 train for Havana. Atlength, about
half.psst ten, the volautes came tearing down
the street at top speed, drivers shouting, spurs
iirglng and wheels cracking like the very
mad Mr. and Mrs. Turner got into one, Mrs
Cation and Laura May took another, while Pres.
tos and myself got into the third, and Kennedy
vaulted onto the shaft horse, and away we went
like very Jehus, Kennedy's horse cutting all sorts
of curlecues to get rid of his un onted burthen.
Everybody ran and shouted at the strange sight
Of rider on the shaft horse OF a volante, and
evidently set Us down for a -olicking Get of
Yankees. although Wy white beard should have
assured them that no harm was intended. For.
tunately before the police interfered X. had had
enough of his Tam O'Shanter ride, and managed
to make the driver on the other horse understand
he wanted to stop, and was soon crawling into
the seat with us, soothingly rubbing such por-
tion of his person as had been offended by his
inconvenient riding. This threw somewhat
behind the rest of the party, bat our driver
dashed away, apparently going two rods himself
to the horses one, till we overlook companions
at the outskirts of the town, when all struck =
more moderate pace, for it is the wont Of the
drivers, like many others. to make the greatest
display where most people can see them.
Our road now lead US along the margin of the
bay for about II mile, which gave VA a besutiful
view of the whole harbor and the outlet away
out in the gulf At length we left the beautiful
tasteful residences, surrounded with lawns and
gardens fragrant with the fresh blooming flo wers,
enriched with Golden oranges as they swayed to
and fro upon the long slender branches in the
gentle breeze which crept IN from the waters.
We turned sharply to the right and faced very
steep HILL which the driver made US understand
it was usul Tor able bodied passengers to walk
up. For ourselves we accepted the intimation,
but insisted on them hauling the ladies up. To
t'Is laey reluctantly yielded, and in due time
We found ourselves at the top, overlooking the
town and bay, which afforded very lovely
prospect. We now had two miles across the
nearly level plateau of rs stony road as I ever
encountered, ard I know have travelled over
some rough places in nav life. The loose FOSSIL.
ferrous lime rock which appears to underlie all
of the island which have seen. il here covered
Int nv , few inches of soil which b.d beor
quite washed away in the travelled road. Much
OF the way this was bordered on either side bv
dense bushes, among which are standing scatter.
cd royal and cocosuut palms. Now il WAS that
the great strepsth of the yolaute proved itself.
We crashed along amono those rocks at a sreed
YOU would have thought it mnossibIe for those
mustangs to have attained. The drivers man.
aged skiiullv to avoid the largest stones. but at
the best it seemed as if every momeut all m ust
be smashed to ruins Three of US on two wheels,
and some of us u little weighty, made no, the
lightest load even Tor a volante but then the
weight 40 doubt tended to moderate the ;olts,
which at the best were calculated to eudanger
ones teeth ulless firmly set. However, As the
seat was placed full five feet forward of the axle,
on shafts fifteen feet long. We were riding on
springs superior to any others, unless it be long
buck board. At the best We were badly stirred
up w1ea we arrived at a sort of home.like build.
ing standing on the level plain, where the drivers
sloped, as we supposed to take breath after their
bre.k-neck drive, and SO we got out to see if nc
part OF the BODY had been shook off. nor WAS i,
till some time after that we found out that We
were already mt the cave At length A coupl,
of men came from house 200 wards away. and
by poking and tanning managed to dismsce
brace with which the door had been fastened