The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-09
M0RGAN'S MEN in OHIO
HOW HOOKSTOwN PREPARED FOR
THE CONFEDERATE RAIDERS.
Many Places with Such "Reminiscences
"A Congressman Put to Flight
Hiding Family Treasures.

LleE Dy IdiSe reports OF laWleSS raiders IN
vading Ohio that We had come to look upon
every new rumor with suspicion, in fact,
as a huge joke, invented for the express
purpose OF frightening timid women and
children. Hence, the scare-lines in the sem
sational dailies announcing Morgan's move
ments after he had actually invaded the
State were regarded with considerable skep-
ticism, people doubling the statements Of
his whereabouts.
1 was teaching in Hookstown. little
Pennsylvania town some three miles back
from the Ohio river, at that time. / boarded
with my aunt, and on that never-to-Se-for-
gotten Sunday accompanied the family to
church usual.
The day was warm and sultry, but in
spite of the heat and the uneasiness caused
by rumors, the church was fairly we'll filled
at the opening of the morning service. The
devotional exercises were over, and Parson
Darwin had just reached his secondly"
when Hardy Davis. the village black
smith, appeared at the open door without
hat coat and, rushing up the long aisle.
beckoned to the minister to lean down over
the front of the high pulpit The parson
obeyed, in a dignified way, turning MS ear
to catch the excited whisper. He nodded
confusedly as the smith still tarried. and
then, at the big mans impatient gesture,
said:
II am informed that the raider Morgan
and his men are at Smiths Ferry-prison-
ers, 1 presume
Shades of stupidityr' shouted the irate
blacksmith. Il tell you he is there with his
army and all who don't want to become
prisoners in his hands had better make
ready to defend their homes Let every man
who can find a gun, pitchfork or ak report
hitch the horses from buggies, carriages
and wagons without minute delay
me e paniG;stricken congregation rusneG 10
schoolchilren trying to escape from burn
ing building, not hating even when the
most pathetic prayer for their safety and
the preservation Of their homes.
SAVING THE FURNITURE.
The work Of dsmantling the houses be-
gan at once. Best things were secreted in
unheard-of places, treasures were buried
and horses, cattle and even poultry were
driven down to ravnes that promised them
protection while the town was being pill
LACED.
Johnny was sent post-haste to the hollow
with "Brinde." many charges concerning
her safety ringing in his ears, while across
his shoulders swung a brace of quacking
Muscovies, the boys own valued posses
sion.
Under Aunt Hates direction Lydia and 1
packed the family heirlooms, hiding boxes
ners, while the best silver and valuable
trinkets were buried under the onion bed,
our digging being done in tunnel-fashion by
the aid of a new-fangled post digger.
"Oh, mother. don't let us begin to take
carpets up" Lydia pleaded, as, coming in
from one Of our hasty trips to the sawmill,
We encountered her mother down on her
knees.
DO you think I'm going to have those
cutthroats tramping the roses out OF my
she gave the refractory carpet a vicious
jerk. NO. indeed; 1 wove many a web of
flannel to pay for it, and consider it real
work of necessity to lift it, Sunday and all
Just then Joe returned from his long
tramp, .whistling Yankee Doodle" at the
Joseph Addison Blake, you wicked, wick
ed boy" his mother exclaimed sternly,
grasplng his arm and shaking him vigorous,
Yankee Doodle at that! What will become
of Il y9 FORGOT. mother indeed did seeing nso.
pie rushing about worse than / ever saw
them on week days." Joe answered, scarcely
knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Pretty time to make such mistake, and
an army of cutthroats marching on the town
ready TO burn your home, and maybe shoot
You down in your tracks, she added, look
ing at me as If suspicious of my loyalty. I'll
give you a chance to work off your extra
spirits. Get right down there and pull those
lacks out. and be careful not to break them
off: and do not tear the carpet, either"
Il CANT see the difference" began joe
rebelliously, still smarting under what he
considered his mothers injustice: but she
would not allow him to talk back.
A FRESH ALARM.
Suddenly the loud changing Of the church
bell brought us to a realization of our utter
helplessness in the hands of an unprinciped
mob. such as Morgan's band had been pic
tured. Women and children flocked into the
streets. wringing their hands and crying and
begging their neigbbors to fee with them
to the hills or valleys or ravines-anywhere
to hide until the lawless raiders, having
satisfied their greed by ransacking the viii
lage. should have taken their departure.
Three horsemen, lads from the neighbour
hood, rode past at breakneck speed, shout
ing: They are coming up Cameron's lane
at full tilt. Get in and bolt your doors
quickly"
are when the lane is out of sight?" asked
some one on the. sidewalk. 1T is guess
Not a bit of it," was the reply 1.-The
dust rising above them like cloud settles
the point OF their whereabouts
Nearer and nearer came the tramp of
horses feet, until, through the cloud of dust
they were making. a squad of horsemen
galloped past, and on-on-out of hearing
but tney were our own village b0yS-f1eeing
no doubt from an overwhelming foe.
through the barred village like a whirwind
Far down the long street we heard shout
ing, screaming; then, above the deafening
roar Of the horses hoofs, the firing of mus
kets. The next moment the horsemen thun-
dered past. and even through the binding
own men, neighbors from the Ridge district
who, like the Hookstown youths, had gone
out to stop the progress Of the guerrillas.
In the distance they had mistaken the first
while it was quite evident that the Hooks
town boys. returning the compliment, were
fleeing from them The mistake was both
annoying and ridiculous. but at that time
scarcely mirth-provokEg, since in addition
to the duel likely to occur before il could
TO the river entirely unguarded, and the
town wholly at the mercy Of the raiders.
AFTER THE WRONG CROWD.
The horsemen galloped on, deaf to the
shouts from the sidewalk. and Il a trio
of laggards had not brought up the rear
far enough behind the racers to hear what
the villagers were screaming il is quite
probable there would have been blood.
shed between the friendly squads before
they discovered their mistake. But the
laggards were not long in overtaking
the hind riders whose white flag soon
brought the runaways ahead of them to
a standstill. Half an hour later the would
be troopers came numbering back looking
crestfallen. There was no hating in the
town, however, the report that the raiders
were coming up the valley leaving no time
for the exchange of jokes
The remainder of the afternoon proved
ffn volt inc he ~