The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-11-29
TEE MIDNIGHT RIDE
OF a Young Man Through a
Wild and Desolate Region.
HE GALLOPS AGAINST TINE
To Expose a Forged Letter and has
Fifteen Minutes to Sparc-lIow
Congressman Townsend was
Saved From Defeat.

|
Saved From Defeat.
CLEVELAND, ONO, Nov. 2S.-Congress'
man Hosea Townsend, Of Colorado, Is In
the city visiting his brother.in.law, Mr..
J. II. Bradner. Mr.. Townsend was re.
elected 10 Congress on the fourth instant,
probably through the enterprise. Of the
Denver Republican. There were two Re.
publican tickets in the field in Colorado
for county Offices and members Of the
Legislature, but both factions were
friendly to Mr.. Townsend for Congress.
One faction was run by the editor ofthe
Denver Times and the other by tho edi.
tor OF the Denver Republican,, both Re.
publican papers. The night before elec.
ton the Times came ont with a letter
claiming TO be signed by Mr.. Townsend,
in which he agreed to back the Times
crowd as against the others. Great ex-
citement prevailed IN Denver and Mr..
Townsend would doubtless have beeude.
feated had tho letter gone without dc.
nial. The Congressman resided at Silver
Gill, 100 miles from Denver, and thirty
miles from railroad or telegraph office.
A message must be sent to MIN and an
answer returned In time for the next
issue OF the Denver Republican, which
was printed at 3 O'Clock IN the morning.
AS the story is told by the Aspen, Col,
Chronicle, it was Z o'clock that evening
before the operator at Cotopaxi, q small
station on the Denver & Rio Graude
railway, received his message from the
Republican office. He was made fully
to understand its importance, and told
to spare no expense to communicate that
night with Mr.. Townsend. Mr.. Town
send was at his home in Silver Cliff,
thirty miles away. 1t was long way
of, and the road was rough and up hill
and down. The answer must be re-
Ceived by thirty minutes past 3 o'clock
in the morning or it would come too late
for publication.
The telegraph operator started out to
find messenger. He was fully alive to
his mission and entered heartily into
the excitement. He had but duty to
perform and he did his work we'll. After
Il number OF men had refused to under.
take the daring ride he at last secured
boy, only eighteen years OF age, who
said he would carry the message 10
Townsend and bring his answer back
within the prescribed time.
Darkness had already settled over the
village when the youth, mounted on
good horse, went galloping through the
streets on his midnight errand. He
knew not the contents OF the message
he carried. He had simply been told
that it was matter OF life and death,
and on he rode, counting the miles and
the hours, and only knowing that he
was going on time. The package be
carried had been securely sealed, but be
had no interest whatever in the message
except to see II safely delivered. He had
been promised So for the trip, but be
cared not so much for the money US he
did to keep his promise that he would
bring back the answer on time.
West Cliff is located two miles this |
side Of Silver Gill. Through the for.
mer town the messenger rode at a break.
neck speed, and the inhabitants, who
had retired for the night, came out Won
deriug what could be the matter. Not
until the next morning did they know
Of tho wild ride and its importance to |
Mr.. Townsend.
The messenger reached Silver Cliff at |
II 80 O'Clock, and found MIR. Townsend |
at home in bed. He quickly rose and |
dressed himself, and in few minutes
had read the message aud penned his |
answer, denying the alleged letter from |
him published in the Denver Times. |
The next work in hand was to secure |
suitable horse TO carry the messenger
back to the telegraph station. The one
he had ridden up was thoroughly ex.
hausted and could hardly have Travelled |
another mile. But, strange to say, an |
hour OF valuable time was lost in find
ing a horse. All the livery stables had !
their horses ont, and it seemed as
though the noble work Of the boy was
to fail at last. Finally teamster was
found who gave up his Lronco, and on
the swiit.footed animal the messenger
started Oh the return journey at 1880
O'Clock. Eut two hours and forty min!
utes remained toreach Cotopaxi, and the
boy left with the determination to reach !
the station on time or kill the horse.
The return ride was mostly down hill,
and again the messenger flew through |
West Cliff, waking the people from their
slumbers. The last eight miles Of the
road lies in a deep suich. Down this
the bronco went at full gait, and the boy
knew he would be on time.
at ten minutes alter 8 o'clock inqui.
ries cams from the Republican Office for
news Of the messenger. The operator
all the time had Kept up C. lonely watch
waiting for the messengers return. He
answered back that all was quiet and
nothing to tell Of the boys progress. 1t
was a moment OF supreme suspense.
Many people were watching in Denver
for the expected answer. Another min.
ute passed, and the instrument clicked
back the answer that there was nothing
new. The minutes were counted OIL,
and each time the same report was
wired back. The hands on the clock
pointed to S:l5 and the, operator said
u hear him som;ng.',a It waa tgue,, and
the eQspen0e was oyer, and Representa.
tive Townsend's denial OF the forgery
was given to the people next morning
before the votes were cast that have re-
turned him to Congress for another
term ..,..-
LIVED ! pOyBLb LIE.
a Hook. X ecncr T .uvru ". I,nulR Will n