River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-09-14

/ you privately for few moments.
certainly | replied. "Will you
walk up TO my room
The invitation was promptly accept.
ed, and, ascending TO my chamber, we
were soon engaged in highly inter.
tsting conversation.
II think am justified" said the
( Judge, seating himself with judicial
air, In saying to you. sir, that circum.
stances combine to place you in Il very
unpleasant position
Proceed, | said.
"1he citizens of Cottonyille, sir, are
inclined to regard you as-as era sus.
| picious character. We anticipate So.
rious trouble with our colored popula.
/ tion, and your strange conduct, your
reticence and SO on, lead us TO suspect
that your business here il OF an unlaw-
FIJI character. Have you any explana.
! tion to make 7"
AS I did not know exactly what ]
ought to say, contented myself with
! the mild remark that the citizens OF
Cottonsyille were a set of unmitigated
| idiots.
You hear that, General Booms =
said Judge Miggs excitedly. "You see
our suspicious are completely confirm
| ed -
"Ilold on T. cried IL you think
that am going to tamely submit TO
4 insult and indignity from a committee
of jackasscs. you are very much mis-
/ taken. You will find my name on the
/ hotel.register. II you suspect me, tel.
! On al 80 10 aaHiNl inf
you of my standing as \ citizen. But
| II you attempt any tricks, | shall de-
/ fend myself. You see lam prepared, !"
and drew six. shooter.
lies trying the bluff game" said
Gen. Booms.
But the sight Of my weapons had a
{ good effect.
at is possible, remarked the Judge.
"that we have been hasty but in
times like these we cannot be too eau
tious.'
"And vigilent," suggested General
! Bo0ms.
"And vigilent. " added Miggs. "But
! | am willing TO give you u chance.
| The niggers are to hold secret meet
ing tonight in an old cabin about a
mile from here, and some of us are
going ont to arrest them. Will you
join us -
| hestated. 1t was possible that
some foul play was intended; but
felt an absorbing curiosity as to the
truth of the instruction rumor, and
the expedition smacked of adventure.
Enough said" replied. II will
accompany your party with pleasure.
Then it's time to move, said the
General, marching out of the room.
followed, with the Judge acting rs a
sort Of rear.guard, and, descending to
the piazza. we found some thirty men
assembled, all armed with shOt-guns
and pistols. They seemed a little sur.
prised ut my appearance but a few
words from my two companions recon.
ciled them TO the situation, and our
little army was soon on its way TO the
front"
There was very little talking on the
march. The Cottonyillians were in
dead earnest. They were honestly con
WINGED that their cOlOred neighbOrs
were plotting an instruction, and the
worst evils were anticipated. could
oNN AAAfAN INV AlAfiA NhNNlAtu NiOSttN .
but when | thong of the conviction
under which they were laboring my in
dignation vanished, and | felt that
WAS truly one of them.
The old cabin which was supposed to
be the rendezvous of the conspirators
stood in IN open field, some distance
from the road. As we cautiously APP.
preached we could hear loud voices in.
side and occasionally a round of ap.
plause. My companions halted a mo-
ment TO listen. GEN. Boops ordered
several men 10 station themselves at
the doors and windows. and requested
me TO remain by his side.
just as thought, he muttered.
They are making their incendiary
speeches in there, and if we listen
awhile we can learn their plans.
We secured an eligible position for
"aves-dropping, and opened our ears.
Somebody in the cabin was evident
! iy making speech. And il was a
/ pretty good speech, too. We were
IN time to hear the following frag.
ment:
"fhcre is no longer any room for
/ hope, rOared the orator. "lf we wish
to he free. IL we mean not hasely TO
abandon the noble struggle in which
we have been so long engaged, we
must fight repeat it. sir, we must
/ fight. An appeal To arms and 10 the
! God of Hosts Is all that is left us ~
My gracious !" whispered Judge
Miggs. Ibid you hear what that fel.
low said about lighting :"
! The black orator continued "They
/ tell Us, sir, that We are weak-unablp
To cope with So formidable AN enemy
But when shall We be stronger viii
1t be the next week or the next
I year o.
These rascals mean business. I"
growied Gen. Rooms.
80 Lord = groaned the Judge.
They say they won't even wait till
next week.
| didn't say word but il was all
could do 10 hold my tongue.
The unconscious negro proceeded
with his speech. The sonorOus words
rang ont on the night air, and, barring
/ the African dialect, il was a fine spec.
linen Of defamation. But my com.
| pmlons did moi enjoy il, and il was
with difficulty that they were re-.
| strained from iirlng q yOlley into the
cabin. Judge MiggS suggested an i'm.
mediate attack aud Gen. Booms
agreed with him. AZ this jmcture
| lnteruosed.
"Gentlemen," said |, 'yos have
treated me rather shabhily Ia this az.
fir, but cannot stand by and see
men OF my own race and party make
fools OF themselves. and perhaps com.
init q great crime, without inter.
/ ttafHrF