The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-01
A Storu Of CattarauQuS.


station boy asked me for drink OF
deformity of his hands.
"Whose child is that?' / inquired of
the station agent.
'Oh, he don't belong around here" said
that official His folks live over at The
Breakers, wild, mountainous section
along the Cattaraugus creek. His moth
er is visiting Jim CrandalPs folks up here
on the hill. and she brought him here
with her."
spoke about the peculiar deformity Of
the child's hands. and the station agent
replied
''Yes, very strange. very strange, and
there's story around here about his
folks. which most of the country people
believe, though | can't say whether it's
true or not"
"Iet ME bear the story" said |. Hand
ing him a cigar and lighting one for my
self, We settled back in our chairs. and
he began
1ou see, many years ago, before this
road was built, people didn't do much
travelling. but staid at home and did
their trading with peddlers, who were
quite numerous about here and who
found il a profitable pursuit. One of the
most popular of these wandering mer-
chants was Il man named Israel Good
| man, who. usually carried select assert
ment of cheap laces. ribbons, jewelry,
table linen. etc, and whose arrival at a
| farmhouse was hailed with delight by
the feminine members of the family.
Goodman, who did thriving bust
ness. was supposed to carry quite a sum
of money with him and was frequently
advised by the farmers to carry some
weapon with which to defend himself in
case of attack. To these repeated warn
ings he would invariably answer:
"'Nein, nein. | will uefer carry a gun.
l haf shtrong arm. goot shtick. und |
am not afraidt.
One afternoon late in November
| Goodman was seen upon the road lead
| ing to C.. Snow was falling. and the
wind. which had been blowing fiercely
all day, increased in severity, until by
nightfall ii had become perfect bliz-
zard
The road, lonely one through an al
most unbroken forest, became drifted
and clogged by the falling snow, and
Goodman. who was still five miles from
his destination, sought shelter in a rude
log cabin inhu bited by a family named
Kelley. whose reputation for honesty
was none of the best and whose source
of income was peeling bark for the tan
neries and selling whisky to the Indians
of the Cuttaraugus reservation. The
traveller was received with apparent cor
diality by the members of the family
which consisted of the father, four sons
and two daughters. and upon Goodman's
entrance the elder Kelley proceeded tc
l L.
illuminate the room by lighting two tai
low candles and sticking them into the
necks OF bottles placed at either end OF
the table for that purpose.
presently supper was announced. ant
the guest was hidden to be seated In the
high backed, rush bottomed chair of In
dian manufacture, the best the establish
ment Afforded during the progress o.
the meal frequent inquiries were made
oy the elder heiley about the condition
OF trade along the road. and he cast re
peated glanceS at the travellers pack
which had been deposited In a corner o.
the ROOM Supper over, bottle of whis
KY was produced and passed around
each one women included. taking Ion:
pun AT the bottle.
AS the eHect OF the WHISKY becam'
apparent the Ola man became Quarrei
some anu nhaii! oemahded that the pacl
oe opened ana lts contents ulstriDute'
among the members or the family. II
lnis proposition OF course, the traveie
opJected, ana, thinking the best way on
OF tue ullncuIty wouid De to pay for nj
= accommodation ana venture totth agail
upon MS journey. ne drew ont his purs
and offered some money to the old man
VINO al the sight OF the money sprang u
ana grappted with the peddler, attempt
ing TO get ms purse away from him. Il
TINS ne was joined by ms eldest son and
aithouGh the peduier fought desperately
fR was 90 match for his two opponents
rho Hrt af1 kicked him unmercifull
and soon had hlm prostrate upon tn
moor.
AS he still refused to give up his mon
ey. the rather ana son dragged MIN to
corner OF the ROOM Where tnefe was
Ifrapuoor opening INTO the cellar, ana ul
on the peddlers $ second refusal to shar
ms property the father shouted TO som
one neloW TO pun the Doll whicn wa
uohe, ana llSlahti! lhe Trap swung dowr
ward the oody OF the unfortunate tray
eler falling with IT, hut not entirely disaI
peaflhs from VieW' Tor III MS tali the ma
clutched the SIDES OF the opening In IN