The bee., 1884-02-02
A NIGHT OF PERIL.
A THRILLING STORY OF PIONEER LIFE.

.oAo d Iilp Ia oIc vi the splendid HOat-
ing palaces which wind their way daily
up and down the Ohio river, and carry
their living and commercial freight so
safely and speedily, in comfort and pleas
ure, to their destination.
That it was not always SO, was re-
minded by story which heard from
an old gentleman who was fellow-pas-
senger, and whose acquaintance l pleas
antly formed on deck and, finding him
to be a relative of Kentucky family
with whom was on intimate terms, 1
accepted his story as entirely reliable,
and will give It, as nearly as l can, in
his own words:
1T must have been nearly hundred
years ago, not later ANYHOW than
lS00," said Mr.. Hobart, ''that nv grand
father Horace Hobart, settled where
the city of Frankfort now lies-it was
mere hamlet then. He was the owner
of fiat boat, so the settlers called him
Cap'n Hobart, and used to hire him to
make trips down the river, for supplies
for the settlement. He sometimes used.
to go as far as Pittsburg, and bring DOW
der, lead and groceries, very often stock
or a small company of emigrants and
their plunder, to points along the shore.
One trip he made-if l remember
rightly it was about 1903 or 1904, in the
fall of the year-of which he carried the
marks to his grave. His cargo that time
was mostly of powder, lead for bullets,
and cured bacon-a very desirable prize
to the Indians who were lurking up and
down the shore. AT Pittsburgh he met
party of half dozen emigrants for
Central Kentucky, who gladly availed
themselves of the opportunity to 90 as
far as Frankfort on Captain Hobart's
fiat tboat.
Well laden, the little party, among
whom were two women, sat out on the
return voyage, going on prosperOusly 2
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 comparatively
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 go down the river. Land,
and take us on board was the answer.
Are there only two of you% shouted
CAPT. Hobart.
That's all. 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, JO? asked Captain Hobart,
Don't like it Cap'n,' said 10, leaning
on his paddle. Nothin' but decoy, to
my notion
To mine, too, said Capt. Hobart I'D
hate to leave them, if l thought they
were honest
They look like rascals from here,
Cap'n, says 10. Them woods, liker'n not,
are full o Indians, and we've got weemin
aboard. Won't do, Cap'n'
No, 10, we won't risk it, Capt. Ho-
bart then shouted to the men:
You'll have to wait for the next boat.
We're full
The fat-boat passed on, leaving the
men making profanc exhibition of an
ger on the shore-a proof that they were
not what they claimed TO be.
The travellers proceeded very watcn
fully and cautiously down the river, but
saw no signs of trouble until near sunset.
They were passing very thlckly
wooded spot when two men, carrying
third between them, came down to the
shore and hailed the boat
'Haloo answered Capt. Hobart.
Come in and take us on boardP was
the next call.
What is the matter? shouted the
Captain.
Got man hurt here. Want to get
him up to the Forks Come and help u.s.
Capv. Hobart took odt his pocket tele
scope, hauled it up to his eye, and toos
:. look through.
It's the two we met this morningT he
.ried.
L thought SOP chuckled 10. close bA-
lido l:,~.
We'll, they won't trap mep said Capt
Hobart, and then he shoWed Justify
Can't stop for your and ordered hia
men to help the drift all they could with
their paddles.
Cap'n,' says 10, take look through
your glasses at that clump % beechea
What's under 'em|
Lhe Captain looked, as directed, wher1
t''c trees hung far over and the bank
Ne" " teeU siiano"
What dye maker eagerly asked 10.
1T looks like an old tlat-bOat, but l
rant surely make out. So, if they've
got boat, we'er in a bad fxP
Fact, Capn! An its goin' to be moon
light night, full moon, an coming up
irlyl Weemin aboard too
We'll, 10, We'll prepare for 'em, and
then run our best. It's all we can do
As if to prove that their suspicious
wera correct, an arrow was hurledi a.
them from the shore, falling short of its
mark, which was, probably, the tall
form of Capt. Hobart, as he stood boldly
ND in his boat.
This decided him. He called together
the men-including the emigrants; there
were only eight men, all told-directed
the women to lie fat down in the bot
.om of the boat, and made all the prepa-
rations he could for fight, in case it
ranno
-Iney ala not neeu TO walt very long
Even before the moon was fully risen
they could see that the woods were full
of moving, painted, half-naked forms,
and heard wells which could come from
none but an Indian throat.
Keeping careful watch, they could
after a time, distinguish dark o9Jec
moving upon the water, and, as it DIRE"
nearer. they saw that it was tiat-boat
filled with Indians.
~ nnnst he the old thing that used to