Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-12-31
EARLY "REMINISCENCES.
Blk Grove to Galena In Is4e--A Prairie View
Retrospective and imag the
''shakes''-A Bull Mistaken for q Duck
'sWhoa," January.

W. sNo w IhAS popOA mo
Fast Trip to GaIena." He says:
On the morning OF June the 28th,
1916, 1--WE are thus particular about
the date, for we always noticed that
| reliable historians are perfectly COR
rect in regard to dates and then
the events connected with this chap
ter produced a lasting impression on
our memory we bade adieu to our
fond and dotlng parents, and started
~ our first trip to the city of Galena
Our team was yoke Of oxen, or, to
oa more definite, one of the cattle
was a muley OK, and the other was a
blind bull, said bull having lost his
eyes by looking straight at double
oarrelled shot gun, when he was try
ing to break into corn field. When
we got up on the ridge, about where
the Junction House now stands, the
prospect that unfolded before our
admiring eyes, caused US 10 feel that
the world was brighter and larger
han we had ever imagined it to be
Ali around US were the gentle swell
ing ridges, clothed III their most
gorgeous robes OF green, purple and
scarlet. Away to the west of us
could be seen the wooded outlines of
the mighty Mississippi. Sui further
westward in Iowa could be seen the
solemn outlines of Eagle Point and
Maquokotta. TO the south could be
oIainly seen the bold and majestic
Pilot Knob, and other elevations in
hat vicinity. To the cast was Ora
tiot, with its wooded crest remind
ing one of the plumes Of the warrior.
Looking northward there were the
Platte Mounds standing alone in the
vide expanse OF prairie like two
mighty sentinels Our young imagl-
cation pictured on one of them a
solitary red man, singing a mourntul
Urge to the departure of his race
We journeyed leisurely along, wrap
ped In contemplation OF the beauties
that surrounded US, when we woke
up to the uncomfortable fact that we
were about to have a snake of the
ague, having brought that vilIianous
disease with us from Morgan Co, Ill.
1t was now gong to give US fare
well shake 10 wisconsin, We thought
of the home that was, and the one
that might soon be. We thought of
our team and our shot gun that we
Dad along with us, but EnalIy conclu-
led to lie down in the wagon and
shake it out Old settlers will recol
Iect that about halt mile south of
Craiglow station, there used to be a
pond of water near the road. Look
ing up " bile we lay in the wagon we
discovered some wild dncks in the
pond. Shaking as we were, we could
not resist the temptation to try a
shot at Them. We crawled out of
the wagon letting the cattle go on
We slipped up on the side OF the
pond and as the ducks aised we
banged away at them but our gun
wabbled and bobbled around SO that
instead of hitting the ducks, we hit
the bull directly in the end opposite
TO the one where he was shot when
he lost his eyes. He gave a roar
and away he went about as fast as
Ok teams generally 60. He kept on
running and roaring, and by the time
we caught up with our team we were
pretty nearly used up community
1t must have been the recollection
of what the beast had suffered before,
that excited him so, for we were so
far off that we did him no serious
injury. Shortly after having caught
up with our team, we were overtaken
by a gentleman riding in a buggy.
The gentleman wore a long swallow
tailed coat; on his head was q high,
stove pipe hat his ears were sawed
hard by high shirt collar around
his neck was high, stiff stock that
held his chin up at an angle OF about
forty five degrees. As soon as he
got fairly alongside of us he inquired,
with q degree of dignity correspon
ding with his appearance, "where we
had passed the stage" We hung
down our head to wake mp our recol-
lection, when the gentleman broke
out into a broad, good-natured laugh.
Then we saw the "thing Of it" and
our remarks as he drove on were
not altogether complimentary to his
intelligence. If our recollection Of
faces is correct, the gentleman in
question was our good old friend,
Isaac Hodges, at present banker of
the town of Platteville, If Mr.,
Hodges says he was not the man, we
are willing to make the dnaende hon
0rable, as soon as we can find what
that means. We got along as far as
the Four Mile House without any
particular mishap. Our cattle were
getting very hot and thirsty, but
Sturgis, tho man that kept the house,
would not let us water, We started
on, and all went vel until we got to
the foot OF Franklin Street. There
the bull smelled water, and straight
for it be headed. Down the hill,
across Main Street. he rushed like an
avalanche, taking muley, wagon and
all with him We yelled whoa"
until we were as hoarse as bulltrog.
We beat him over the head until we
were exhausted, but it was no go,
our yelling had about as much effect
upon him as whstllng b jig would
have upon mile post oar hammer
ing his pate made about rs great an
impression as q wood becker would
make tapping at an iceberg, Head
long he rushed into the river We
bid the cattle good bye and st down
on pile of wet lumber, and don't
recolect of being troubled at that
time witha single poetical inspiration.
Some warm hearted lumbermen got
our team out of the river, for which
we hope they will duly repent before
they die. y. NJ X
December 23d, IA
Impossible"