Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-05-26
4 Fearful Straw Rlls.
By EMILE EGAN.

By EMILE EGAN.
The young people Of to-day can
scarcely realize what q STRAW ride"
was like a hundred years ago, or that
the fun.provoking excursion enjoyed
90 much nowadays had an ancient
and necessary origin. 1t Is probable,
however, that rs much fun AMI laugh.
ter accompanied the straw ride then
90 now, for young people are alike In
all ages and the world over.
When our English forefathers set
tie first in the New England States,
especially Vermont and New Hamp.
shire, they established their homes
upon the highlands, because, strange
% II now seems, the larger lakes,
ponds and rivers-where the beauti.
full meadows now are-were com-
passed about with miles and miles Of
thickly wooded swamps, which were
almost impossible even In summer.
Last summer I climbed the noun.
tain which Is the scene Of this story,
and I counted there forty old cellar
holes, overgrown with grass and
brush, but indisputable evidence Of
former homes.
I asked stupidly-feeling certain
the answer would be, "Killed by In.
dams or devoured by wild beasts"-
'Where did all the people 90 to who
once lived here?" The practical one
OF our party answered, "Oh, they
moved down gradually, for, as the
woods were cut of, the swamps dried
up"
A hundred years ago the settlers
on the mountain made nothing OF the
deep SHOWS which in winter covered
all that country, but turned out with
shovels and OK sleds-the only vehi.
cles known In the mountains in those
times-and manfully "broke roads, 7"
In order that their social intercourse
with their ''Notchite" friends might
not be interrupted.
Especially was this the case In o
winter, when Mr.. Stevens, the most
"iorehanded" Of them oil, had built
o frame mansion, and was going to
give o house.warming ball. A string
Of ox.teams was sent over tho rough,
drifted road, and all was ready for the
jewellers.
There were enough people to fill
two sleds, and Thad Waldo and Free
man Eddy, each Of whom owned two
yoke OF oxen, were chosen as team
steers. Their sleds were filed with
straw and blankets, ready for their
respective loads, and they started
merrily OF ct four o'clock, reaching
their destination before dark. They
stayed there until three In the morn.
ing, gayly dancing and ieasting, with
never o thought Of danger.
When the teamsters went out to
"tackle up" for the return home, they
found the sky heavy with dark clouds
and much warmer than when they
came over.
"Guess we're going to have our
January thaw," remarked young
Waldo.
"And I'm afraid we'll get o slump
over the south side. 1t won't be very
easy riding over those stumps and
stones" returned Eddy.
For mile or 50 the high spirits oil
the party made the woods and noun.
tains ring with song and laughter,
but by the time they reached the
heights the fatigue OF the dance be-
gan to tell upon them, and the
younger OF them commenced making
pillows Of the laps OF their elders,
who, also, soon became silent.
Waldo and Eddy. as they reached
the notch, jumped from their sleds to
better guide their teams down the
mountain, and the latter shouted Of
he reached the road, sold Buck and
Bright will be more lively company
than that sleepy crowd"
The drowsy ripple OF laughter which
followed this sally was suddenly
drowned by a horrible scream which
seemed to fairly fill the pass, echoine
and re.echoing among the mountains
IS II being answered by o hundred
others.
The two teamsters sprang quickly
to the heads OF their teams, now
trembling and cuddling up to eaci
other In fright. The men knew thai
they had but moment to prevent {
stampede down the mountain; for, a
soon a. the poor oxen should recov
or from their first alarm, they would
seek safety in fight, when 1t seemed
impossible that the whole party coult
escape being dashed to pieces.
Every person in he company, from
the Oldest to the youngest, fully ap
preciated their double danger. They
knew that that defiant scream came
from . hungry panther-and that it
meant death.
Instantly every young man on tn
sleds had his gun to his shoulder
they never went without them II
those good old days'-peerinl
sharply among the hemlocks which
lined the road, for The two fiery eyes
the only part Of the ugly beast whicl
they expected TO see in the cloud!
darkness. Failing shot, they knew
that he would lump for them, wheI