Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-13
A BOYS MOUNTAIN RIDE.
Sixty Miles at Breakneck Speed In the In
terest of Congressman Townsend.
From the Cleveland Leader

Sky Miles At Bre0kneck speed In the In
terest of Congressman Townsend.
From the Cleveland Leader.
Congressman Hosea Townsend of Colorado is
In the city twisting his brother-in-law, Mr. J. H.
Bradner. MIR. Townsend was reelected to Con-
gress on the 4th ultimo. 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.. Town
send for Congress. One faction was run by the
editor Of the Denver Times and the other by
the editor Of the Denver Republican, both re-
publican papers. The night before election
the Times came out with a letter claiming to be
signed by Mr.. Townsend. in which he agreed to
back the Times crowd as against the others.
Great excitement prevailed in Denver, and Mr.
Townsend would doubtless have been defeated
had the letter gone without denial.
The Congressman resided at Silver Cliff 100
miles from Denver and 30 miles from a rail-
road or telegraph Office. A message must be
sent to him and an answer returned in time
for the next issue of the Denver Republican. 1t
was o clock that evening before the operator
at CotopaXl, a small station on the Denver and
Rio Grande railway, received his message from
the republican Office. Mr.. Townsend was at
his home In Silver Cliff. thirty miles away. It
was long way off, and the road was rough and
up NIL and down. The answer must be in by
1t would be too late for publication.
Inc telegraph operator started ont TO find a
messenger After number of men had re-
fused to undertake the daring ride he at last
secured boy, only eighteen years of age, who
said he would carry the message to Townsend
ana Drlng his answer back within the time.
Darkness had already settled over the village
when the youth, mounted on a good horse
went galloping through the streets on his mid
night errand. He knew not the contents of the
message he carried. He had simply been told
tiiat 1t was matter of life and death, and on
he rode, counting the miles and hours and
only knowing that he going on time. The
package he carried had been securely sealed,
but he had no interest whatever in the message
except to see it safely delivered. He had been
promised S25 for the trip.
West Cliff is located two miles this side of
silver Cliff. Through the former town the
messenger rode at a breakneck speed, and the
inhabitants who had retired for the night came
out wondering what could be the matter. Not
until next morning did they know of the wild
ride and Its Importance to Mr.. Townsend.
The messenger reached Silver Cliff at II 80
o'clock and found Mr.. Townsend at his home
In bed. he quickly arose and dressed himself
and In q few minutes had read the message and
penned his answer. denying the alleged letter
published in the Denver Times.
The next work in hand was to secure a suit-
able horse to carry the messenger back to the
telegraph station. The one he had ridden I'D
was thoroughly exhausted and could hardly
have travelled another mile. An hour of valu-
able time was lost in finding horse Finally a
teamster was found who gave up his bronco
and on the swift-footed animal the messenger
started on the return journey at 123O O'Clock
But two hours and forty minutes remained to
reach Cotopaxi and the boy left with the deter
mlnatlon to reach the station on time or kill
the horse. The return ride was mostly down
NH and again the messenger flew through West
Gilff; waking the people from their slumbers
The last eight miles of the road lies in steep
gulch Down this the bronco went at full gait
and the boy knew he would be on time.
AT ten minutes after o'clock inquiries came
from the Republican office for news of the mes
senger. The operator all the time had kept up
lonely watch waiting for the messenger re-
turn He answered back that all was quiet and
nothing to tell of the boys progress. Another
minute passed and the instrument clicked back
the answer that there was nothing new. The
minutes were counted off. and each time the
same report was wired back. The hands on the
clock pointed to 3:l5, and the operator said: Il
near him coming" 1t was true. and the sus-
pense was over and Representative TOwnsend's
denial OF the forgery was given to the people
next morning before the votes we're cast that
nave returned him to Congress for another
term.