The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-09-25
A NIGHT OF PERIL.


take trip on one of the splendid floating
palaces which wing their way daily up
and down the Ohio river, and carry their
living and commercial freight so safely
and speedily, in comfort and pleasure,
to theiI destination.
That it was not always 50, l was re-
minded by story which l heard from
an old gentleman who was fellow pas
senger. and whose acquaintance l pleas
antly formed on deck; and, finding him
to be relative of Kentucky family
with whom I was on intimate terms, |
accepted his story as entirely reliable,
and will give it as nearly as / can, in his
own words.
at must have been nearly a hundred
years ago, not later, anyway than 1900"
said Mr.. Hobart, ''that my grandfather.
Horace Hobart, settled where the city
of Frankfort now ies-it was a mere
hamlet then. He was the owner of a
large fiat boat, SO the settlers always
called him Cap'n Hobart, and used to
hire him to make trips down the river,
for supplies for the settlement. He
used sometimes to go as far as Pittsburg,
and bring powder, lead and groceries,
very often stock Or small company of
emigrants and their plunder, to points
along the shore.
Zone trip he made-if | remember
rightly, it was about 1903 or 1S04-in
the fall of the year, which he carried the
marks of to his grave. His cargo that
time was mostly of powder, lead for bull
lets, and cured bacon-a very desirable
prize to the Indians who were lurking
up and down the shore. At Pittsburg
he met party of half dozen emigrants
for Central Kentucky, who gladly availed
themselves of the opportunity to go as
far as Frankfort On Capt. Hobart's fat
boat.
"Well laden, the little party, among
whom were two women, sat out on the
return voyage, going on prosperousiy a
great part of the way. Capt. Hobart
knew that the danger lay between the
Big Sandy and Kentucky rivers.
"After passing the mouth of the Big
Sandy it would be necessary to proceed
cautiously until they left the Indiana
shore and turned into the Kentucky
river, where they would be comparative
ly safe.
Nothing occurred, however, for some
days. The weather was glorious, the
river smooth, and they were enjoying
the trip very much, when, one morning,
two men hailed them from the shore.
whats wanted?" demanded Capt.
Hobart.
"Want to so down the river Land,
aud take us on board, was the answer.
care there only two of you?" shouted
Capt. Hobart.
That's oil. Well be no trouble.
Pull in, and get US - the men shouted
back, evidently growing impatient
"But Capt. Hobart knew where he
was and meant to be careful. He turned
to one of his boatmen, an old fellow
called Usage 10, who had spent his life
in that region, and was thoroughly
trusty.
"What say, 10 2 asked captain Hobart.
Don't like it, cap said 10, leaning
on his paddle. .Nothin but decoy, to
my notion.
ITO mine, too, said captain Hobart;
I'd hate to leave them if thought they
were honest -
"They look like rascals from here,
captain saws 10. Them woods, liker'n
not, are full o Indians, and we've got
woemin aboard. 'Twon't do captain
"No 10, we won't risk it, Captain
Hobart then shouted to the men, You'll
have to wait for the next boat. We're
full
The fiat-bcat passed on, leaving the
men making profane exhibition of an
ger on the shore-a proof that they were
not what they claimed to be.
The travellers proceeded very cautious
ly and watchfully down the river, but
saw no sigrs of trouble until near sunset.
They were passing a very thickly
wooded spot when two men, carrying a
( third between them, came down to the
shore and hailed the boat
fsHallo - ausuarad Capt uol,,r4