Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-09-13
W estward, Ho!

! For miles our teams pulled through
the soft sand, straining harder than il
it had been mud. After leaving those
sand hills, our road wound arount
some lovely little hills, and some very
large, abrupt ones also, with sides clef
abruptly. sheer and steep.
About II A. NJ. the fourth day W.
passed some lovely little hills lik'
sugar loaves, our road winding in ant
out among them in a most enchanting
way, showing US the varied formation
of rock of different ages and periods
But our enjoyment Of the scenery wal
interrupted by the rumble of thunder
and dark clouds hurrying up from The
west were soon sweeping up in oul
rear. Hurrying On to Riverside, jus,
| across Current river, we saw a large
open barn and with the owners per-
mission we droye in just in time tc
save good soaking; for a cloud just
tumbled over one of those sharp hills,
tearing the bottom out of it, letting its
contents down with a splash and a
roar almost deafening. There we
sat sheltered, listening to the roar OF
the river and boom of thunder. With
stabbed horses in one department, jer-
sey calves. pigs, feas, and other ami
mails, we sat in our cab aud had our
dinner and melons, obtained from a
store close by, at the exorbitant price
of five cents apiece; nice, sweet. and
delicious they were, too. Think of
that, ye poor Irontonian's who have
been chewing Charleston's green,
tough, testeless melons at 2Oc each.
Another wait of an hour for the
clouds to roll Ivy, and being within
twelve miles of our destination, we
pushed ahead for home and shelter,
where we arrived at 4:3O p NJ, not at
all sorry to stretch our tired muscles
on dry ground, or more appropriately
speaking-undcr roof.
Arriving at last at the desired haven
we were disappointed to find our host
away from home; but the tutelage of
old "Central's" gymnasium course and
athletics served us good turn; for by
its aid window was scaled by the
agility of the student, door unlocked
and we flocked in and took possession,
soon shedding our wet habiliments for
warmth and comfort.
A neighbor passing carried the
alarming news to the owner thereof
that "about twenty women were in his
house." Of course he sped home i'm
mediately, rather "upset" by the sur
prise sprung upon him, but our well
come was not less warm and earnest
for the ruse we played.
There we spent four nights and
three days of happiness, enjoying his
the kindness of his warm
hearted neighbors, and equally as
much the long evenings of pleasant,
merry chat. and lively music refresh
ed and delightful by the cool night
breezes which gave both strength and
energy 20 our rather tired bodies, but
thoughts.
While On Black river we passed a
spring covering one and one-half acres
(of ground underneath, / suppose), |
which runs a large, fine two-story
grain mill, and enough waste water to
run four more, as the proprietor po-
litely informed us while showing us
around. Farm wagons were standing |
around waiting their turn. unloading |
wheat, and reloading with snowy |
-four, which almost made one hungry |
to look at its snowy possibilities. |
Here the girls were weighed in the |
balance, but not found wanting, as
they tipped the beam at good round
figures. A boat lay invitingly near On
the pond, or spring, into which the
juniors stepped, and Fred like Char
on rowed them across the river of
Styx. The water of the spring is very
cold, making. ones teeth ache before |
finishing a cupfui1. The volume of
water ls endless, no bottom having |
been found when sounded in the GEN.
tre. The lake is deep green; but
clear as glass.
At another place where We stopped
for dinner on Black river, we saw |
another mill run by a spring, smaller
in diameter. but deep, cold, and clear,
gushing up from a solid rock. The
water was conveyed by wooden race
way to the mill on the hill side where
it fell on and turned the wheel that
turned the other wheels, until at last
broken into foam it fell into the river
TO help swell its volume of power for
good, or destruction, as the case may
be. in food, or prosperity. At all these
mills teams were waiting unloading
corn, and wheat. and reloading with
splendid meal and snowy flour suggest
ing fiaky biscuits, and good appetizing
corn pone.
Following the river for miles, the