Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-18

the place safe, and returned to the skif for our
sack and axes and Adams bundle. The moon
| was then fully risen and bright Got safely
into the woods above the road, where we
Saturday, May 24.-About ~ o'clock We
shouldered our axes and bundle and sack.
and trudged up the road past the few houses
| that constituted Randolph. As we passed the
principal house, a man hailed US to know i;
We we're woodchoppers. Adams replied
pered to Adam to say ''yes," but too late. He
said mo-" The man then walked out into
the road and offered us 4 job. stopped; ask
ed the price. He said seventy-fve cents to
one dollar a cord. told him that was not
enough; that We were going up to Ell
as we were told $1.12]4, but that if We did not
succeed, that We could stop and see him on
our way back.
Encountered five or six other persons on
the road, but no one paid much attention to
| us. Found q running branch up which we
passed out of sight of the road, and sat down
to eat our breakfast; staid there unseen till u
oclock;d isappointed that the boat did NOT
come as it should at 10 o'clock.
Arranged what story to tell at Randolph.
if questioned. Made up bundle of some Of
the provisions, ETC., in my blanket, leaving the
the whistle of the boat for Kansas City, five
miles above. Waited half an hour by the
watch, and then left the ravine; passed down
the road to a convenient place, and then as
cended the hill where we had view of the
river for two or three miles.
Saw the boat coming, but could not make
out her name till she was so near that we had
to run down the road. She hauled up to the
landing full of passengers, and as the plank
was run out went on board painting with
heat, fatigue and thirst. Passed back among
the deck passengers, where according to my
dress belonged: laid down my axe and
bundle and found quite q number of pas
sengers there.
The deck clerk soon called for my fare,
and took a ticket to Waverly. turned into
one of the hot and sitting berths, and never
suffered SO much from thirst in my life;
would have given anything for a drink, bui
laid still with my back to the passengers and
give me change. II heard him ask:
Where is the old man with the pipe?''
"There he lies" says hand, che is asleep;
he feels his oats, l guess" "Yes," says an.
other, she had good load on when he came
on board" The clerk came behind me and
said: Here. if you want money take il, and
as / turned half over and took it: 'Ah, I
thought that would fetch you"
Toward evening l got up, walked about
got some water, and to my CONSERVATION I
learned from their talk that some of my
fellow passengers were part of the inv8d-
ing force returning from tho sacking of
Lawrence, and that some leading men, no
doubt to please their followers, had also
taken passage. Among them l say Henry
l.. Rout, lawyer of Liberty, Mo-. who
picked up my pipe, which / had dropped In
the berth, and made some jocular remark to
mt. was confident he knew me, and was
very Uneasy, especially as We were to lay that
night at Lexington. Arrived at Lexington
about 8 o'clock: Invested myself Of all that
would lead to my Identification, or that was
boat till about II O'Clock, and then went to
bed.
Sunday, May 25.-Laid in my bunk till
near O'Clock. AS we passed Waverly the
clerk came and notified me. / told him
that gentleman on board had informed me
that my friends did not live there any more.
and that would go on to Bonneville. This
was partly true. A man on board having
heard me say was going to Waverly, 4ues-
toned me, and l told him had friends
there. He asked their name, and told
him, at random. He said NO such man
lived there. l afterwards followed him up,
and by a plausible story put him off his
guard and thanked him for the information.
In the forenoon, Captain Bowman took the
opportunity to speak to me and said lie could
not get me up stairs till night, and that he
had lot of border rufIians up IN tho cabin.
Sent the steward to me, under pretense that
was sick, to offer me anything that
wanted to eat. l declined however and ate
from the stock l had in my bundle, with
Sooo bread and cheese and 4 tin cup of wa
ter. l made good meal, delighted that !
had not been stopped at Lexington, for had
become convinced that was recognized, or
ut least suspected.
Saw the captain again, learned that Fogg
hoard. tar n ha
not to take me up s1airs that night, as !
might be missed by those below, and l would
prefer to stay where | was. My bedfellow
was pro slavery mar by the name OF Ross,
very Senteely dressed, of whom l had be-
come very suspicious, and who seemed to
watch very closely.
This evening we laid up at Bonneville. and
there quietly paid on to st. Louis. After
night watched with great care some three
Of four men, who, had persuaded myself
were suspicious of lie.
Tuesday. Nay Give Were tlen in Hi
nois. Bassett and Bracket found a boat
going down to A:ton. and ]
hired team to take me to
Jerseyville, fourteen miles, Mr. Brock being
he driver. At Jerseyville found good
hotel and livery stable. and hired man to
AXE me to Brighton, where l got on the
evening train for Chicago. found Focg and
my llttie baggage on board. L learned the
hight before as we Travelled through the
woods. that the rufiians had broken open my
runk at Lawrence, stolen and put on my
,lothes, and chased Chaplin, of Ohio, as he
,ame out of the hotel, calling out that it was
ne, firing at him, and threatening to xii
lim,-and that there was a universal deter
nination expressed among them to kill me.
Arrived at Chicago.
Wednesday, May 23.-At9 o'clock wa.
called on and most enthusiastical-
y welcomed. People came in crowds to
ook at and welcome me.
In the evening as lay asleep on a sofa, a
Gentleman walked me to say that there was
thousand people in front of the hotel call
ng for me. Went out on the balcony, was
eceived with cheers upon cheers, made them
speech. and was kept all the evening shak-
ne hands-had perfect levee,-at I0:sO D.
H., took the cars for Bloomington, where
he state convention was to meet next day.
rived there On
Thursday, May 29th at o'clock a. H.
'ound there great concourse of people,
nd to my surprise. the wife of Gov. Robin
on, with j. 5. Emery, of Lawrence. Was
onized all day, and engaged to speak in
he evening. Spoke two and half hours
an enthusiastic audience. and at II O'Clock