Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-05-10
A RIDE FOR LIFE.

There was beautiful clear stream of
water, named Bluff creek, running
through camp, which supplied bathing
facilities to the officers and men, priv
ilege which but few allowed to pass un-
improved. Whether to avoid the pub
licity attending localities near camp, or
to seek point i'll the bed of the stream
where the water was fresh and undis-
turbed, or from motive different from
either of these, two of our young Off
GERS mounted their horses one day with
out saddles, and rode down the valley
ot the stream perhaps a nlle or more Ii,
search OF a bathing place. Discovering
ole to their taste, they dlsmounted, St
cured their horses, and after disposing
of their apparel Oh the green-sward COW
ering the banks, were soon floating and
nUundering like IA couple OF young pur-
polses. low long they had been ENJOY
nng this healthlul recreation, or how
much longer they might have remained,
rs not necessary to the story. One OF
Them happening to glance toward their
hUrsCs, observed the latter in great
state ot trepldation. fastening from
the water to the bank, he discovered the
cause OF the strange conduct on the
part OF the horses, which was nothing
more or less than Il party of about thir-
ty Indian Warriors, mounted, ana
stealthlly making their way toward the
bathing party, evidently having their
eyes on the latter, and intent upon their
capture. Here was Il condition of al
iiurs that was ut least as unexpected as
1t was UNIV eicome. Quickly calling out
10 hls companion, Who was still III the
water, UNCONSCIOUS OF approaching dan
ger, the one on shore made haste To un-
Aasten their horses and prepare for
night. ortunately, the Indians, who
were now within II lew hundred yards
ol the othcers, We're coming from the dI-
rection opposite camp, leaving the line
o. retreat Tor the officers open. No
sooner uld the warriors find that then
approach was discovered than they put
Cnelr PONIES to their best speed, hoping
10 capture the officers before the latter
couid nave time to mount and get then
nOlses unuer heudway. The two officers
III uhe meantime were tar from idle; no
mesh brushes OF bathing towels were re.
quneu TO restore Il healthy circulation
nor was time wasted in an idle attenIp,
TO make toilet. Ii they had sought
tneir bathing ground from motives OF re
IAreinent Oh uellcacy, no such sentiment
were exhibited now, for, catching III
Their Wardrobe IRON. the ground III on,
hand ana selzlng the birdie rein will
me other, one leap and they We're OF
Chelr horses backs and riding towar,
camp tor dear lite. 7 They we're not ex
acriy III the condition of Flora McE lin
~ with nothing to wear, but to all in
tentsand purposes might as well hay,
been so. Then followed race which
Uut Tor the risk incurred by two of tn,
nucrs, might well be compared to tina
oI John Gllpin. Both of the officer
were experienced horsemen; but wha
experienced horseman would willingl,
care 10 be thrust upon the bare back o
u hymg steed, minus all apparel, neithe
DUuls, Dreeehes, nor saddle, not even tn
spurs and SHIRT collar which are said t
constitute the full uniform of Georgia
colonel, and when SO disposed of, t
painted and feathered sayages, We
mounted and near at hand, stralning ev
cry nerve, and urging their eet-foote
war ponies TO, their highest speed in ol
' der that the scalps of the experience
horsenen might be added to the oth'
human trophies which grace the
iodgsss Truly, this was one of the o
casions when personal appearance,
nothing, and s'a nlin's man for
that" 50 at least thought our amateu
= Mazeppas as they came dashing tewai
! camp, ever and anon casting anxiol
glances over their shoulders at the
pursuers, who, despite every exertion
of the former, were surely overhaulir
their pale.faced' brothers. To the pu
9 sued, camp seemed a long way in Il
b distance, while the shouts of the wa
riors, each time seeming nearer than B