Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-02-26

the vehicle, and set it up in running order,
to the great astoDlshment of the gaping
crowd, who had intently watched the
proceedings. This was on Friday. The
day following, taking the carriage to
Rroosa, purchased a pair of horses, and
the next Tuesday drove again 10 Monda-
MIA to meet the friends from Constantine
pie, who were to make Up our party for
the inland journey to Cesarea. This party
consisted Of Mr.. and Mrs Bartlett, of the
Cesarea station, DR.. and Mrs. Davis, with
their TWO daughters, six and ten years Of
age, and Miss B. Chamberlin, destined
for Sivas. We had now before US full
four hundred miles of travel to reach our
mission home, and for the most part,
through country unknown to any of us.
But our trusty servant, Torore, a good
Protestant brother from Talas, had co ..e
all this distance to meet US and guide US
home. Besides the new carriage, he had
hired two springless wagons, each drawn
by two horses, owned and driven by Tar.
tars. These were furnished with very
simple cover, consisting of few bows
made ct green poles, with piece OF cot
ton cloth stretched over them many wa
CONS of this character are now used,
mostly introduced by refugees from Eu-
ropean Turkey during and since the war.
One of these carried most of the baggage,
and the servant, while in the other upon
a generous supply OF beds and comforta-
bles two Of the party always rode in turn,
the new carriage carrying three adults be-
sid: the two children. We spent the first
night in BroOsa at the missionary resi-
dence till recently occupied by Rev. s.
Richardson and family, now In America,
and on Wednesday We took fresh star.
upon our long and somewhat eventful
journey. But we were not even to leave
the city without accident, for in turning
a short corner at the foot Of hill, one Of
the Tartar wagons came in contact with
a young man on horseback, mounted upon
high pack saddle. The pole of the
wagon struck this pack saddle with such
violence, that it was broken into three
pieces-the horse was knocked entirely
out his course, while the rider was thrown
to the ground striking upon lis head,
both feet remaining entang led in the ropes
which had served him as stirrups. The
horse stopped while the poor fellow hung.
by his feet, wholly unconscious, yet
convulsed IN every muscle. A crowd
Immediately gathered, the sufferer releas-
W on\A Val VA w Wv ACUl GOV 1lOuSCs OuE
driver was arrested by the police, and we
were left in no pleasant mood, to await
the result. If the young man should die
the unfortunate driver might be held for
trial tor the crime of murder, and no one
could foresee the amount Of trouble it
might bring upon Us. But "Our Father"
had mercy in store for US, and after a
little the sufferer. revived and, began to
talk, and after an hours delay, the driver
returL ed with the officer, who demanded
half dollar for his release, and our sus-
pense was at an end. During the delay
new pole had been. ordered, a carpenter
had quickly fitted it to its place, and we
drove Oh with q very sensible feeling of
relief. This days journey lay over an
exceedingly rough and mountainous road,
so ditf1cult that ut sunset, after six aud one
half hours of hard toll, we had only made
a distance of twelve miles! The second
day proved hardly less difficult, the
mountain road being often PERCEPTIONS
and rocky and seldom or never repaired.
But by starting early, and driving an
hour and a half after dark, we made q
distance Of thiriy-six miles.
On the morning of the third day, we
started full of hope, for we had passed
the hardest part of the road. The morn
ing was delightful and the scenery charm.
ing, and We were making our journey Ia
the best of spirits, when, without q mo-
ment's warning, there rushed upon us
from a thicket ny the way. u: party: of six
armed .Circassians, and We. found our.
selves at once In their power. One seized
the rein of the. horses and. pointed. his
revolver at my head, while a second put
his revolver at my face, making fearful
demonstrations with sword in his other
hand; another placed his revolver to Mrs.
Davis breast, while fourth with his
gun gave the2Dr. blow on his back from
which he suffered several days. No de.
mands were made in language, but by
threatening gestures, and violent seizures
of our persons, their designs were only too
we'll understood Meanwhile, IN less time
than l can write it, two others of the
party proceeded to clear the carriage of
whatever of value 1t contained, while we
made full surrender, and delivered up
what money we had upon our persons.
When the ruff1ans had finished their
work, which was all accomplished in the
space of two minutes, they left US to
gather up their plumber, which they had
thrown hastily to the ground, as we look.
ed back for q moment to entrcat for. a
email bag of medicines which they had
taken, one Of them poiLting his pistol at
US with the very emphatic order in
Turkish, "git" (go), and without longer
delay, we put whip TO the horses, and
soon rejoined our associates, who had
but just begun to notice that We had lag
ged behind. The entire loss to The party
including money and clothing, was about
$500. But our lives were spared, and no
serious injuries were received. Neither
horses nor carriage were injured, nor were
We hindered from pursuing our journey;
for all of which, We invite you to join US
In Thanksgiving TO our Heavenly Father.
Mrs. Bartlett and Miss Chamberlln were
riding at the time in one of the Tartar
wagons, and were just out OF sight around
curve in the road, and thus escaped the
attack. The wagon containing the bag
gage was also in advance and was nm.
touched. The remainder of the journey
was made without important incident.
The weather Yves excessively hot during
the day, and the dust often binding. By
ri ling long before day, and driving until
night, We were able 10 make distance
of from thirty 10 forty miles per day, aud
on the evening of the seventeenth Gay
from ConstsntinOp:e we reached our
home in safe1y, Sept 25th, but too late to
meet,the,mapy friends who had come out
To welcome lS- back to our missionary
home and work, for they had returned
disappointed just at dark, and we were
half IN. hour later, and that half hour
was over the toughest, rockiest road one
ever travelled, with carriage, ID the dark.