Wichita eagle., 1888-12-30
PETER RUGG.

and child
You may remember that business called
me to Boston in 1870. sailed in the packet
to Providence, and when I arrived there
learned that every seat in the stage was en-
gagged was thus obliged either to wait a
few hours or accept seat with the driver,
who civilly offered me that accommodation.
Accordingly took my seat by his side and
soon found him intelligent and communica-
tive. When we had travelled about ten
miles The horses suddenly threw their ears on
their necks, as fat as hare's. Said the
driver, "Have you a surtout with youl"
''No," said 1; ''why do you ask"
"You will want one soon," said he. "Do
you observe the ears of all the horsesi"
eyes" and was just about to ask the rea-
SON
''They see the storm breeder, and we shall
see him soon"
At this moment there was not a cloud Wis
ible in the Ornament Soon after a small
speck appeared in the road.
"There," said my companion, ''comes the
storm breeder; he always leaves Scotch mist
behind him. By many wet jacket do l re-
member him. suppose the poor fellow suf-
fers much himself-nuch more than is known
to the world"
Presently man with q child beside him,
with a large black horse, and weather
beaten chair, once built for a chaise body,
passed in great haste, apparently at the rate
of twelve miles an hour. Heseemed to grasp
the reins Of his horse with frmness, and ap-
peared TO anticipate his speed. He seemed
detected, and looked anxiously at the pas
sengers, particularly at the stage driver and
myself. In moment after he passed us the
horses ears we're up, and bent themselves for
ward 30 that they nearly met.
"Who is that mang' said L; che seems in
trouble"
Nobody knows who he is, but his person
and the child are familiar to me. l have met
him more than a hundred times, and have
been so often asked the way to Boston by
that man, even when he was travelling di-
rectly from that town, that of late have re-
fused any communication with him; and
that is the reason he gave me such a look"
But does he never stop anywhere2'
u have never known him to stop any
where, longer than to inquire the way to
Boston; and let him be where he may, he will
tell yn be cannot stay moment, for he
must reach Boston that night"
We were now ascending q high hill in
Walpole; and as wa had fair view of the
heavens, was rather disposed to jeer the
driver for thinking Of bis surtout, as not a
cloui as big asa marble could be discerned.
go you look" said be, sin the direction
WHENCE the man came; that is the place to
looi. The storm never meets him, it follows
bin"
We presently approached another hill: and
waen at the height, the driver pointed out in
al eastern direction little black speck about
y big as hat.
There" said he, sis the seed storm; we
----SaE possibly reach Polley's before it reaches
Vi but the wanderer and his child will go to
Ppvidence through rain and thunder"
md now the horses, as though taught by
insinct, hastened with increased speed. The
1.-the black cloud came on rolling over the
turnpike, and doubled and trebled itself il
all directions. The appearance of this cloud
Attracted the notice of ell the passengers for
after 1t had SPREAD itself to great bulk, it
sudd.nly bscsme more limited in circumfer-
ence. grew r1ore compact, dark and CONSOLE
dated Arl now tho successive flashes of
chain lightning caused the whole cloud to
appear lie sort of irregular network, and
displayel thousand fantastic images The
driver Bespoke my attention to remarkable
confiruration in the cloud; he said every
flash of lightning near its center discovered
to him distinctly the form of man sitting
nan open carriage drawn by black horse
In the meantime the distant thunder gave
notice Of shower at hand, and Just as we
reached POlley's tavern, the rain poured down
IN torrents. 1t was soon over the cloud
passing in the direction Of the turnpike to-
wards Providence. In a few moments after
II respectable looking man In q chaise
stopped at the door. The man and
child in the chair having excited some little
sympathy among the passengers, the gentle
man was asked if he had observed them he
said he had met them; that the man seemed
bewildered, and inquired the way to Boston;
that he was driving at great speed, as though
he expected to outstrip the tempest; that the
moment he had passed him q thunder clap
broke directly over the mans head and
seemed to envelop both man and child, horse
and carriage. 81 stopped" said the gentle
man, ''supposing the lightning had struck
him, but the horse only seemed to loom up
and increase his speed; and, as well as could
Judge, he Travelled just as fast as the thunder
cloud"
This was all / could learn at that time. and
the occurrence soon after would have be-
come with me like one of those things
which had never happened" had not, as
stood recently on the door step of Benefits
hotel in Hartford, heard man say, There
goes Peter Rugg and his childl be looks wet
and weary, and farther from Boston than
evern | was satisfied it was the same man
had seen more than three years before; for
whoever has once seen Peter Rugg can never
be deceived as TO his identity.
Peter Ruggr said ], ''and who is Peter
Ruggr
That" said the stranger, sis more than
any one can tel exactly He is a famous
traveller, held in light esteem by ell inn hold
ers, for he never stops to eat, drink or Sleep
wonder why the government does not en-
ploy him to carry the MALI
'Ay," said bystander, ''that is thought
bright only on one side; how long would it
take il that case to send letter to Boston,
for Peter has already, to ny knowledge, been
more than twenty years travelling to that
place.
But said l, docs the man never stop
! anywhere; does he never converse with any
years since near Providence and heard a
strange story about him Pray, sir, give me
Some account OF this manl'
Sir" said the stranger, ''those who know
the most respect:ng that man say the least
] have heard it asserted tina. heaven some
times sets mark on a man, either for judy
ment or a trial Under which Refer Rugg
now labors cannot say"
You speak ike humane man" said I,
'and If you have known him so long, pray
you give me account Of him. Has his ap-
pearance much altered in that timer
"Why. yes Eeslooks SIS though he never
sta dronlr or Giant. and his child looks older