The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-08-13
JACKSONVILLE, August 8, 1880.


AS promised, l have been ON track of Lelb.
1t was hard work to follow him, for he covers his
tracks very adroitly II was my good fortune to
come upon him face TO face, in broad daylight, as
he emerged from the Slipper" west of Palaika.
l admit was little frightened at first for his
garb was very rough-hat down over his eyes
and mounted on very lean brute, whether horse
or mule il would be very hard to decide. He
looked very much like what we read about, (but
seldom see,) Ku- Klur. l thought he toas one
sure. and began to make my peace. Wasn't
glad when saw it was Leib? He knew me first
and hailed me. My nervousness soon left me
and l said, Leib, how you frightened mel
thought you was Ku- Kma." How he laughed
and | forced one with him, thinking little med
icne would brace me up you knOso l always
carry medicine when ! travel in the woods, las
an antidote against ratlesnake bites in The shape
of good sized pocket pistol, loaded with Ken
lucky ammunition clear up TO The muzzle.
pulled out my pocket pistol, and if you only could
have seen Leibs eyes dance. He seemed to know
at glance what il was and think he said Eu-
rekd several times. We both took a pull !
think he hung on longer than did, but no matter
about that, for it put him in such good humor
and made his tongue wag so freely, and he told
me many little inere,ting things, was more
than compensated, ii he had taken enough to cure
ten big raltlesnake bIies So down on log we
sat, and he began to give little history of what
he had seen and heard since last We met.
Had been 10 Washington, and by liberal
ire Of ta6y among the prominent politicians, had
worked himself into notice as a man Of influence
in the party in Florida, and being pretty glib with
his tongue, got quite loOthold among them. AS
there WAS conflicting views among the leaders OF
The party North as to the prOpriety of sending
funds down here, which Simon was there beg
ging for, Leb was called into the council, and 1t
was concluded that in consequence of the demOr-
dlized condition of the party in Florida, and the
irresponsibleSmen who were in the foreground,
Mr.. Hughes should be sent down under the
guidance of Leib 10 see ifthe conflicting elements
could he reconced, SO as to make a respectable
fight on the electoral ticket If So then possibly
some money might be furnished by the National
Committee. You don't know how glad was at
the prospect Of getting money enough to bring
me back 10 Florida, for they PIT up for the ex-
penses of both Hughes and /. Wasn't l In luck!
And think Hughes was, too"
Leib, who Is Hughes?"
81 don't know much about him, but think he
has been pet of somebody who has kept him in
paying position in the United States District
Attorneys Office in Brooklyn, with nothing to do,
Tor some years, and they got sick OF him there.
don't know anything further, only be s broth
er-in-law of LGndaulst Williams. / think VII
liams married his sister. You know how these
things work, when had Governor Morton At INV
back, when he was alive, always kept in Office
Been very hard up ever since, but my friend. /
feel as II had been bitten by rattlesnake.
think a-another pull al that medicine chest would
do me good"
! could not refuse, and passed It over. and
thought. while he had The chest elevaied--sOv
don't take Homeopathic doses. 1t had wonderful
effect on his tongue, and he proceeded:
NOW. my old friend. we come TO where the
work comes In. o. arrival In Jacksonville. we
met NIL the crew-one at time, at first. 10 pave
the pay. Conoyer, Bsbee and Ledwiih hid awav
for some days. bnt finally came TO time Conant
Conover spoke for Jones, Durkee and Knight: I
cant tell You who all All wanted their own
way Of fixing up matters. Conover was stubborn.
and stood on his dignity. Blsbee tried 70 hull.
doze, and u was mix up generally, and looked
like uphill work. Greeley was an important
man 10 get back In the traces. He was hooked
upon as The dscencs Of the whole party In the
State, and. 10 add little responsibility 10 II
Greeley mast b brought back. How 10 do th,s
was mystery, but happy thought struck some
one, and Hammond and Gardner, OF Putnam
were sent Tor 10 attend 10 GFeeleys case especial
w. and they Jstaasd HIN. With Greeley's assist
ance, things worked better, for they soon matched
w cqmpfomlaa spch an one - II d, and then
ihsy weFe ready for The ratincaiion meeilng
NppovsF rented the train ior obey aayl AaooI ard
psonsht down between nine and ten hundred ne-
sEoes = y .head, ~ swell he crowd apd nm
ply hlmeelf Mn reelly 60. sna 8 11,pen e ~