The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-04-02
WASHINGTON IN 1859, By SAVAGE.

Lawrence and at the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi by line Of forts which should
hem the English in between the noun
tains and the sea.
1t was in October, 1853, that Din
widdie, the governor of Virginia, sought
for commissioner to send with mes
sage to the French commander, then in
trenched near the south shore of Lake
Erie, calling his attention to the viola
ton Of treaty obligations and notifying
him to desist from a farther advance
into territory claimed by the English
crown. After it had been vainly offered
to several it was at last accepted by
Washington, at that time but 81 years
of age.
He was then no penniless adventurer,
dependent upon his labors or his sword
for a subsistence, but a gentleman OF
good standing, allied with some of the
best families of Virginia and now pos
sessed, through accession Of his fathers
bequest, of considerable property. But,
such was his valiant nature, his high
courage and his devotion to what be
considered his duty, that he at once
closed with the offer and set out upon
his perilous journey.
The distance to the French post was
some 600 miles. all the way through
bowling wilderness, infested with In
dians more in sympathy with the French
than with the English oolonists. There
were high mountains to cross, deep riv-
ers to ford and vast forests to penetrate.
The season, too, was most unpropitlous
for an undertaking Of this character, for
it was at the beginning of winter He
did not reach the frontiers of Virginia
until mid-November and only succeed
ed in delivering his message to the
French commander toward the last of
December.
Receiving his reply, he and his sole
companion set forth on foot, having
abandoned their horses, on the return
journey. During the first part Of it they
were followed by Indians in the pay of
the French, with murderous intent, and
at a place called the Numbering Town"
one of them fred at Washington at
distance of only Is PAGES, intending to
kill him. His aim was bad, and he was
at once seized and disarmed. Washing
toms companion, a brave frontiersman
named Gist, was for killing the miscre-
ant on the spot, but this Washington
would not allow and set him free,
though his worthless life had been just
~ forfeited.
Fearful of another attempt upon their
lives, the two explorers pushed on rap
idly through the cold December night
and in the morning reached the ALE
ghsnv river. Finding it filed with
floating ice, instead or being frozen
over, as they had hoped, they worked
all day, with only one poor Ratchet, 4"
at the building of raft, upon which,
the next morning, they attempted the
passage Of the river. The floating ice
was drifting furiously with the rapid
current, and when in midstream Wash
ington was thrown into the raging
stream by the slipping of his setting
pole and nearly drowned. Rescued by
his friend. the two indomitable men
passed the bitter night on an island. the
cold being so intense that the hardy
frontiersman had both feet and hands
badly frozen. In the morning, however,
they reached the opposite bank of the
river. Securing horse from a settler.
Washington Immediately set ont for
williamsburg, which he reached On the
18th Of January. 1854.