The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-05-23


She led the animal through the bushes to
the trail.
she turned into highway that branch
ed off from the trail and urged her
horse to gallop. AS Goshen was too
far distant to admit of riding there for
succor she determined to scour the
roads in the neighborhood of the noun
| tains and arouse the whole region to as
sist her. But as the country here was
| but sparsely settled she realized that
she must ride like the wind.
| ''Come. old fellow. she said, bend
ing forward and patting the glossy neck
of her steed; .'you must do your best
for me tonight. -
Then she drew a whip from the sad
die and piled it to the animals fanks.
And now began that furious ride which
is still preserved in the traditions of
the region.
The gallant horse responded nobly to
Polly's urging and dashed forward at
increased speed On. on they flew.
/
lands. up hill and down. trailing a
cloud of dust behind and awaking the
echoes in the neighboring hills with the
sound of hoof beats. For mile after mile
this furious gait was maintained. and
yet not the sign of a human habitation
appeared along the way. Polly began
to despair.
"Can it be possible. she thought.
"that no people inhabit this country7'
Just then she arrived at a turn in
the road and uttered little cry of de-
light. For few rods ahead could be
seen cluster of dwellings, with smoke
curling up from their chimneys The
buildings were only log huts, but this
in itself was encouraging. for it indi
Gated that their owners were stout
hearted pioneers, who would hasten to
respond to her call
As Polly galloped furiously into the
settlement she aroused all the dogs to
yelping. so that when she drew rein the
inhabitants came running from their
houses alarmed by the disturbance they
raised.
"What is it. gall" cried a burly
frontiersman excitedly. ''Have the In
juns come over the mountains7''
mo. not that" painted Pei r. ''but
something far worse. Oh. if you be
true men arm yourselves and mount
your horses at once. for a neighbor
stands in need of your aid
By this time eight sturdy fellows
were gathered round her. with a circle
of gaping women and children in the
background
"a neighbor in trouble p asked their
spokesman. ''Then tell us his plight.
lass, and well stand by him
"He's to be robbed and murdered. :"
cried Polly. "Oh. make haste or 1t will
be too late.
Then. seeing the men still looked
questioningly at her. she added
"Claudius Smith and his gang are on
their way to Caleb Shurker's to make
him surrender his hoard
This announcement had an electrify-
ing effect upon the men.
"Claudius Smith on another of his
raids dye say2 The robberl The muir
dererl"
And with these ordinations of rage
they hurried away to prepare them
selves for action. Accustomed as they
were to respond to sudden alarms, the
|, ID en- of this border settlement were not
long in making ready for the road
Within few minutes after the mes
senger's arrival they were prepared to
ride to Caleb Shurker's rescue, and,
placing herself at their head, Polly con-
, tinued her journey.
!. She had now eight men with which
. to oppose 30 outlaws. Conscious of the
inadequacy of this force, she turned to
the leader of the frontiersmen and
asked as she galloped by his side:
''Do you know where we can find
other true men to join us2"
"Let me think bitl' he answered,
knitting his brows '"There's Simon
Bevier, that lives three miles from here.
near the Goshen pike, and there's Luke
Harding, about mile further On, an6
J, then ye'n find no living creetur ontil yt
u strikes Hasbrouck's. on the Minnisinl
trail whar thar's old man Jones an6
his sons, Tom and Isaac.
d "And do you think these men will
join us9'' asked Polly eagerly.
''To be sure they will. was the re
i, sponse.
"Then do you lead the way" she
Z cried, "and ride at full speed. for time
= is pressing
e So the frontiersman placed himself
at the head of the galloping troop ant
l. called upon his comrades to quicker
y their speed. After following the roat
- for about mile they branched off int
!, the woods and disappeared among thu
trees By this time the night was fal
advanced and they lost sight of one an
: other in the darkness; but, with an in
/ stinct that was unerring. the frontiers
men made their way rapidly along ;
b. winding bride path until they emerged
b. upon the Goshen turnpike close to tn
house of Simon Bevier.
'e Having enlisted this stanch patrio
/ in their company. they dashed on one
II more until they came to the log cabil
of Luke Harding. While they wer
"a awaiting his preparations to join then