The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-06-10
INTERESTING STORY.
A NIGHT 0F PERIL.

II was my fortune, some time since, to
take a trip is 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 speed
lily, in comfort and pleasure, to their desti-
nation.
That it was not always SO I was reminded
by story which heard from an old gen.
tleman who was fellow-p passenger, and
whose acquaintance pleasantly formed on
deck; and finding him to be relative of
Kentucky family with whom was on init
mate terms, l accepted his story as perfectly
reliable, and will give it as nearly as l can
in his own words.
" II must have been nearly hundred
years ago, not later, any way, than 1900"
said Mr.. Hobart, that my grandfather,
Horace Hobart, settled where the city of
Frankfort now lies-it was mere hamlet
then. He was the owner Of large flat 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 settle
ment. He used sometimes, to go as far as
Pittsburg, and bring powder, lead and gro
ceries, very often stock, or a small company
of emigrants and their plumber, to point
along the shore.
One trip he made-ii remember right
ly, it was about 1903 or 1904 lin the fall of
the year, which he carried the marks of 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
Pittsburg he met party of half-a-dozen
emigrants for central Kentucky, who gladly
availed themselves of the opportunity to GO
as far as Frankfort on Captain Hobart's fiat
boat.
"well laden, the little party, among
whom were two women, set out on the re.
turn voyage, going on prosperously great
part of the way. Captain 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 eau
tously 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 mer
hailed them from the shore.
g" What's wanted? p demanded Captain
Hobart.
"Want to go down the river. Land,
and take us on board was the answer.
&c Are there only two of you p shouted
Captain Hobart.
That's all. Well be no trouble. Pull
in and get u.s. the men shouted back, evil
IDENTIFY growing impatient.
But Captain 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 do you say, JoS asked Captain
Hobart.
Don't like it, captain said 10, lean
ing on his paddle. 'Nothin' but decoy,
to my notion
To mine, too said Captain Hobart.
ia hate to leave them, if I thought they
were honest
They look like rascals from here, cap
tain,' says 10. Them woods, liker'n not,
are full of Indians, and we've got weemin
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
1.-THE fat-boat passed on, leaving the
men making profane exhibition of anger
ON the shore-a proof that they were not
what they claimed to be.
The travellers proceeded very watch.
fully and cautiously down the river, but
saw no signs of trouble until near sunset.
"They were passing very thickly-wood-
ed spot when two men, carrying third be-
tween them, came down to the shore and
hailed the boat.
"' Hello = answered Captain Hobart
"sCome in and take us on board was
The next call.
What is the matter p shouted the cap
tain.
Got a man hurt here. Want TO get him
up TO the forks. Come and help u.s.
Captain Hobart took out his pocket
telescope, hauled it up to his eye, and took
a look through.
as IT'S the two we met this afternoon =
he cried.
al thought SOL chuckled 10, close be-
side him.
"'well, they won't trap me- said Cap
tain Hobart; and then he shouted, Justify
Can't stop for you! = and ordered his mer
10 help the drift all they could with thei,
paddles.
90 Captain says 10, take a look through
your glass at that clump Of bushes. what's
under emp
The captain looked, as directed, where
the trees hung far over, and the bank was
in deep shadow.