The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-12-02

I. was just dark as we left Col, Brush's
ana made a "bee line" across the prairie TO
MIR. Browns, where we changed horses
aud after right royal lunch, which MIS-
Brown set before us, We started on the
"war. PATH" Our conveyance was an open
democrat wagon, just the vehicle tor a
night ON the prairie, and drawn by spir'
tied span of creams. The night was one
of Heavens own making; not breath OF
wind disturbed the solitude Of the plains.
The Minnesota zephyrs and the Manitoba
blizzard we hear so much, and feel 30 hard
when awake, were sleeping Aurora 30
realis was holding high carnival with al
of them-tellewss-in the northern re.
g,ons, while in every other part OF the
heavens the stars were out in all their col
ors and evidently enjoying Aurora'S spurts
of flirting Scarcely had We got well
under way when insectal music filled the
air. by which we soon fully realized that
the blood.thlrsty mosquitoes we're on the
wal. path, and from that on until we reach
ed Campbell our hands, arms and legs
were employed IN fighting those imps OF
the devil. On any side 1t was buz z'z'z q
whlr, buz, and then slap, slap, slap bang
-d-natlon! A pause and again buzz
whir, slap, bang and then some more "cuss'
words. II was enough 10 make q saint
swear. After which they would 60 Tor US
IN squads, by brigades and IN myriads.
And after every repulse few brief mo-
ments would pass, during which time we
thought victory had perched upon our ban
ners, but in q moment or so more Aurora
would shoot brilliantly up and light our
foes to their CORY banquet" And then
from the next slough or "coolie" fresh
army would fling themselves upon us with
such force as to take US all by storm, i'm.
pressing US with the belief that we we're IN
the dominions of Hades, battling with the
imps and getting the worst of It. We were
beseiged on all sides, and our arms and
hands actually ached from our efforts to
murder them. Our hands, face, neck and
head were covered with bites and swelled
up like smallpox patientin an advanced
stage Then ii was
Scratch, scratch, scratch,
As we never scratched before;
And rub, rub, rub,
Till the blood began to pour!
Causing us to feel as though we had passed
through the middle stages of the seven
years itch As we neared Campbell the
main army retired, with loss in killed
and wounded that If mosquitoes have any
love for one another must fill their wig
vans with mourning for many moons. In
all of my wanderings and the whole OF
my travelling career | never put IN three
such hours, and now, even at this remote
distance-which certainly lends enchant-
ment-I believe that an hour in Turkish
bath in Satan's inferno would have been a
change quite agreeable at the time.
The first Ottawa man met in Campbell
was Mr.. George Leland. His appearance
was that of an "out and out" granger
Tanned and sunburned, but the very pic
ture Of health, indicating that life in the
northwest agreed with him. His place.
understand, for l did not visit it, is abou,
nine miles from Campbell. He was early
IN town that day TO meet the Judge, who
had arrived that morning for the purpose
of remaining a few weeks IN the country
S. w. Ruger was the next Ottawaitc tc
show up, and although not having the
pleasure Of his acquaintance when resi-
dent OF the Valley" his sfiable manner
and genial mode of entertainment led Us tt
imagine that NC had known HIM from boy
hood. Mr.. Ruger is county attorney, town
clerk, justice OF the peace, and, In fact
holds all the fiat offices Of the burg
none of winch, he stated. a. yet has beer
very lucrative.
OF all those from below" as they cal
Ottawa, none was | more pleased 10 NEE
than Theron Bushnell. His sunbrownec
face beamed like full moon IN harves
time, and in addition to his usual goOt
looks he wore the minnesota bloom" like
native. lie takes to farming as naturally
as a duck to water, and judging from thu
fitness of things" around his place, he II
success In the business. His place dot
the plains just seven miles from Tintah
Theron IS town clerk of Tintah and holds
several other offices too numerous to men
ton, one of which empowers him to lini
together any two hearts that may wish tt
beat as one. He says he has 1.-THE marriage
ceremony down fine" having satup night
committing it to memory; and to get tn
dead wood" on the regular ministers o
the town, he put the fee down to hard.paI
prices-one dollar--but as yet he has no
had single application. He returns t
I"God's own country" as he calls Ottaw
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