Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-06-21
From Monthly Souvenir.
A STRANGE EADVENTURE,

Some years ago / made Il business
tour of the Green Mountains, in the
capacity of drummer for seed firm,
having an extensive connection with
country gentlemen. The season
was drawing to a close, and my
business was nearly completed when
early one afternoon, l reached Ire
mody, small town in Vermont,
anxious to obtain conveyance to
Pwlhelli, a distance of about fifteen
miles.
had scarcely sat down to dinner
when car drove up conveying a
passenger from Pwlhelli to Trcmody
the driver of which was only too
glad to obtain a return fare; so about
three o'clock we set off, and reached
our destination before five.
had a call to make at gentle
mans seat about five miles beyond
Pwlhelli, and having arrived at that
town earlier than l had expected. I
determined to proceed at once to
Urmshall House, more especially as
on mentioning the matter to the
owner of the vehicle, he expressed
his willingness to drive me that far,
providing l would give him time to
bait his horse, which, he moreover
assured me, had not its equal in that
region.
should not have mentioned that
ere this, l had discovered from the
manner and conversation Of the
driver, that he had had ga drop too
much;" but, being somewhat of a
student of character under all it's
aspects, this did not induce me to
decline his services for the further
part of my journey. Unfortunately,
however, while batting his horse he
thought fit to bait himself also, the
consequences being decidedly de-
trimental to his skill as a driver, and
the roads being rough and crooked
l was kept in momcntary fear Of an
upset.
We drove about three miles in
safety, and was beginning to think
that my fears were under-grounded,
when we came to the top of a steep
hill. Feeling sure of an accident, l
prepared myself for any contingency,
and when, after we had gone short
distance, the horse stumbled and
fell, l received but slight bruisc,
while the driver shot down the hill
with the velocity Of u car on CEN
trifugal railway, and was only stop
ped by his head coming into violent
concussion with & stone wall at the
side of the road.
Whatever bruises he may have
received, drunkenness prevented his
feeling much pain; and when he had
got the horse-which seemed much
hurt-upon its feet, he professcd
himself and it quite able and willing
to proceed. But 1 declined again
trusting myself to his care, and set
off on foot for Urmshall House,
which I reached safely, and, having
concluded my business satisfactorily
shortly after eight o'clock started at
a brisk pace for Pwlhclli, whistling
lively tune to keep my spirits up
as l walked along the dark and
lonely road.
/ don't know how far had gone
when the moon emerged from be-
hind some clouds which had pre-
viously hidden it, and took advant-
age of it's light to look at my watch,
'sTcn o'clock" exclaimed; 81 surely
ought to bo at Pwlhelli by this time:
but | shall see it no doubt, when ]
get to the top of this hill;" for / was
about halfway up slight ascent
and at the thought l increased my
pace, and, reaching the top, looked
about me for the scmblancc of :
town.
Pwlhclli, however, was nowhere
to be seen, so ] again commenced
my walk, a conviction growing upor
me at every step that ! had lost my
way. Accordingly, at the frs
habitation I came to / knocked, bu
the good people IN that part OF I'M
country retire early, and, scvera
appeals meeting with no response,
walked on.
At another house an upper win
dow was at last raised, but only fol
a head to pop out and assure me il
German, that no English was un
derstood there; with this the win
dow slammed down again, and
pursued my journey. AT third
was vouchsafed the same informa
ton, but in confirmation of tn
truth of the statement the speake
added, in very Understandable
English, that if l did not so ava,
he would set the dog at me; ant
this, being accompanied by a melo
dious bark from the back Of tn
house, was quite enough to caus
me to continue my way.