Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-10-12
A NIGHT OF TERROR.

whom 1 was spending an hour il
pleasant conversation, "you appea
to have met with many adventure
in your younger days. You relate
story SO we'll, that / never tire lis
tening to you; so, if there has beer
any thrilling episode in your lif
that 1 have not as yet heard,
should be pleased to have you narrat'
it, and 1 can assure you that shal
be most attentive listener"
"Tm afraid you're great fiatter
er, Mr.. Williamson" she replied
'However," she added, 81 will com
ply with your request, for a startling
event recurs to my mind at this mo
ment.
Twenty years ago, my HUSBAND
was dealer in jewelry, and also il
most articles of great value. He
travelled almost necessarily, and
stopped but short time in eaet
city or town. I could not bear te
be parted from him for months at &
time, so I always accompanied him
in his wanderings, and endured many
hardships and dangers for the sake
of always being with him. There
were not many railroads in those
days; they were like angels visits
few and far between
"Late in the summer of 1852, we
were in New Orleans; he had finish
ed his business there, and was ready
to leave. On making inquiries he
found that there would be no vessel
for Savannah, our next stopping
place, till the end of the following
month, so he decided to take the
overland route.
"Well, we got as far as Opelaka,
Georgia, without meeting with any
very serious annoyance or danger.
Opelaka, at that period, was little
more than a village, inhabited by
half breed Indians, miserable treach-
erous rascals, and a few whites.
Every two weeks a stage left Ope-
laka for Griffin, the terminus of the
Railroad from Savannah. We got
there in time for the stage, but,
through the stupid obstinacy of my
husband we were left behind in that
miserable place. He had three
trunks filled with valuable goods,
and the stage driver wanted ten dol
lars more than my husband had ever
paid anybody else-that is, for an
equal distance-for carrying them to
Griffin.
"'George, give him what he asks,
rather than stay in this wretched
village for weeks. five remain here,
we will be murdered and robbed by
those villainous looking Indians
"Annie,' he replied, Il won't pay
such exorbitant charges to that
scoundrel, no, not if we have to stop
in this place for a month by refusing
to do So
sWell, as 1 said before, the stage
left without us, for the driver ;efns-
ed to take the trunks for less than
he demanded.
"There was a squalid-looking ho-
tel-tavern rather-in the village,
kept by dirty, ruffianly-appearing
half breed, which my husband and l
entered on the departure of the stage.
"'Can we get team to take our
trunks and ourselves to GriffinT
asked my husband of the host.
"'The roads are in very bad con-
dition, and you couldn't get more
than five miles from here this after
noon, and you'd have to stop at a
house where man was murdered
last week for two dollars. You'd
better stop here tonight; I'll make
you as comfortable as 1 can," he re-
piled.
well, then, 1 guess we'll stay
here till tomorrow morning. Observ-
ed my husband.
"The host went to prepare room
for us, and as he left the apartment a
white man stepped up to my husband
and said:
Mister, you'd better not stay in
this shebang tonight, for you'll sure
ly get murdered if you do. There
were five men killed and robbed in
this ranch within the last two
months. I'm a teamster, and I'll
take you to Griffin if you want me
to-
"'A very pleasant prospect, in
deed,' said George. IF we stay here
we're likely to have our throats cut,
so he tells us; and, if we go on
this afternoon, and stop at the old
tavern over night, mine host says
that the same delightful fate will
await US there. Between the two
evils choose the least; but confound
the whole affair! I don't know
which is the least. My FRIEND he
added, turning to the teamster, 'reck-
on we'll remain here tonight. Be
ready to start early to morrow morn
ing at daylight
"'If you and your wife isn't as
dead as door nail, you mean to say,
mister said the teamster, with a
grin, as he walked away.
"'Good heavens, Georgep I cried,
when safe within the apartment that
we had been conducted to by the
host; we'll be murdered, and only
because you acted like an obstinate
mule and then 1 burst into tears.
"'My DEAR he replied, 'be phi
losopher, and make the best of oul
felicitious situation. There is one
consolation-that is, if our .throats
are cut we shall have the blessed
privilege Of dying in each others
arms. Think Of that, my dear, and
be happy
i IL