Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-07-21
A Jaunt on Horseback.

Many of our readers will be inter-
ested in the appended account of a
trip on horseback through this por-
ton OF the state written by Ed Coe,
of The Whitewater Register. It will
be readily conceived that Mr.. Coe was
the 'scavalryman" referred to, having
been one of the gallant fighters of the
First Wisconsin Cavalry in the rebel
lion, enlisting here, while his comrade
was Prof. Schutts, of the Whitewater
normal school. Goes own style is
apparent throughout the article:
A few days ago, about the beginning of the
month, two solitary horSemen left the city by
the north road just before certain noon. We
say SOLITARY" because that has been proved
to be a good word in that connection, and also
because they usually rode three or four rods
apart.
1t was at the end of our late burnt period
that they started, and its radiant glow en-
drew much attention from old men sitting on
porches, and from women and young men
working in fields; in fact, swath about 125
miles long of interrupted labor was one of the
consequences of their expedition.
One of the solitaires was normal professor,
the other had been calvaryman in the early
sixties. The undertaking was one which they
had planned for two or three years, but it is
doubtful if either expected it would ever ma
terialize, and very probably both were genu-
lnely surprised when they found that they
were actually in the saddle and had all North
America before them to roam over-that is, in
four days.
Ten miles out they stopped and had picnic
dinner; and 1T was so satisfactory that they
expected to repeat it every day, but failed to
do SO. The professor was scientifically aston
lshed to observe into what a thin oil hard
creamery butter can be changed under favor
ing conditions; he made mem.
Six O'Clock found them wading Rock river,
and over the same smooth stone bed that knew
the calvaryman's bare feet long de-
cades ago. And hospitable greeting and good
supper awaited them on the old farm where he
first saw the light. Starting to go to Water
by so many early day friends that the night
was finally spent among them, and Watertown
six miles away.
The next day Watertown, Juneau and Bea-
yer Dam were accomplished. At Juneau they
met Miss Rogers, of the normal, whose fine
family home on big farm stands at the east
edge of the place. The country all day, as we'll
as the day before, had been magnificent in its
beauty and In Dlg promise of bountiful har-
vest. There were frequent rests in tempting
groves by the wayside and in one of these the
professor experimental with small revolver
which had been brought along to scare and, if
necessary, kill bad dogs with. Several shots
fired at poplar ten feet away aroused suspi-
cions of blank cartridges, but on reducing the
distance ore half the scars the white bark
proved that it would not be entirely safe for
dog to come too near.
From Beaver Dam to Fall River is one of the
loveliest rides in Wisconsin. The road runs
long miles on the level top of ridge, giving
the finest possible views of most beautiful
country. In Dodge and Columbia counties
there are few road fences and the fields are
sowed or planted to within few feet of the
roadway each side. 1t looks much better
than the weed grown roadsides sometimes to be
seen hereabouts. Fall River is a very pretty
village built mostly on one street-a village of
pleasant homes. It's chief attraction is the
noble soldiers monument erected last year at
the cemetery. Its lofty shaft can be seen for
miles around, declaring equally the patriotic
devotion of the dead and the grateful memory
of the living.
That night the travellers passed at the de-
nghtful home of Major and Mrs. Hobart on
Fountain Prairie, about two miles and a half
southwest of Fall River. 1t was truly happy
fortune. From this beautiful spot where they
would have been glad to lengthen their stay
they had to take an early departure, as they
had reached their last day, and 80 miles lay
At every stopping place the professor had
found normal students whose pleasure at see
ing him made the travellers happy too; and
the same experience continued during the day.
Columbus, Waterloo, Lake Mills and Fort At
klnson were passed without mishap or deten-
ton, though some very suspicious chances were
bestowed upon the wayfarers; and by careful
riding and judicious stops, Whitewater was
made at eleven in the evening" and no harm
done to horse or man.
For an informal undertaking whose nature
was left to development as it went along this
expedition was most gratifyingly successful
from first to last and its projectors cordially
say to others, go and do likewise.