Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-28

Reporter mas never seen more than the
lower landing, or rather the launch
| ing place.
Having made one successful journey
up the creek, and being now well
started on second trip, We assure
the Reporter that there is not a rock
in the stream. There are no snags
and no disaster of any kind within It's
banks. The water is deep enough for
navigation, but not so deep as to en-
danger the life of a sober man. And
all men are sober when they are 60
| ing up Salt Greek.
The length of the stream is not full
ly determined. Some nayigators go
to the source, while others sneak off
while half way up and make people
believe they have been all the way.
Usually such fellows hurry home to
ask their congressman for an appoint
ment. The best way is to go all the
way up and then quietly, slip back
and never say anything until you are
called upon. If you are republican
and have been started on the journey
from some republican anchoring place,
you will never be asked to take
chances of being sent upon another
journey. If you live in a democrats
county and are a republican you will
be asked to take another chance for
the good of the party
| The man sailing up Salt Creek has
time for meditation. He can think
things over while the other man is
celebrating, the scenery is good, and
while there are no fish in the water
there are suckers" innumerable In
fact, most of the passengers feel they
were suckers and had bitten at poor
quality of bait.
| Salt Creek has been navigated by
all kinds of men. Cleveland took
1 trip once, and it was on a lake at the
head of the creek that he learned to
fish. When he first arrived there he
found Matt Quay taking a summer
outing, and they at once became fast
friends. Later Benjamin Harrison
went up in the same boat that had
carried Cleveland. Cato Sells went
up last summer after the democratic
state convention and is not yet back.
Disaster is feared.
! When he took the first trip up the
river, the man most inquired about
was George d. Perkins. Everybody
seemed to know him. They also in
quired about Hiram Wheeler. John
Mahin is known to the people all
along the line. He went up about fiji
ISCu years d5O, dlISI Iuuulu5 lO1 Adli-
way commissioner. He is remember
ed because he is the only man on the
trip who wouldn't take drink. Just
how he consoled himself on the horrid
water of the county traversed by the
creek is not understood. One of the
popular men of the route is Bob Cou
SINS He went up twice, and then
went to congress. Sometimes history
repeats itself.
i Fred White is popular. He is the
best known man next to General
Weaver. He knows every crook in
the stream, and often shows his good
nature by telling the boys just now
far it is to the next camping place.
4 When they see General Weaver COM
! ing the people always run down to
find out what ticket he had been run
ming on and from what district he
made his start. There is much dis
, appointment all along the creek this
year that the general is not making
his biennial visit.
, and naturally attracted much atten-
ton. His youthful appearance won
him many sympathizers. At the up
: per stopping place he left a silver dol
lar and told the bartender to keep
the change for the benefit of John
Rumple, who, Vollmer declared, would
; be there next year.
/ One old timer asked about LATE
:. Young. He said that LATE had not
been seen for SO long that they bought
he was dead. The old man smiled
when he heard that Late was well.
Nearly everybody remembers the
two trips taken by A. B. Cummins.
AS T. j. Phillips boat is in the lead.
he answers all inquiries about his late
| and successful opponent.
A man almost forgotten on the
] creek is James Wilson. One old far
, mer asked about him. He said he had
} forgotten his name, but he described
him so accurately that his identity is
certain. He said that about twenty
years ago a Scotchman came along.
He had been beaten for congress by a
foundryman. He told the farmer
there was no economy in raising a
! scrub calf when blooded one would
eat no more. He, wanted to send
; the farmerta shorthorn bull, and take
his pay when he made his next trip
+ up the creek. The farmer said he
could not understand how the farm
ers would defeat man so devoted to
: their interests. He was much surpris-
: ed to hear that the present secretary
i of agriculture in the cabinet is the
same man. He carefully noted down
MI. Wilson's name and address, and
said that he would write to him for
seeds.
Another man who made the trip in
p the days before they had improved
, methods of navigation is William
Peter Hepburn, of the Eighth district
He went several years ago, and they
!. have been looking for him to return,
r but they have about given up hope
+ 1--WE will never see Bryan again.
= said an old farmer who sells chicken
!, sandwiches to congressional aspirants
!, and bologna to the legislative
! candidates, land as for myself I wish
!. he had never come. You see," the
: old man went on. he told me. that
, upon the coming of the gold standard
> wheat would go down to SO cents, and
a hang me if did not rush mine off at
go cents and before the next crop my
, neighbor sold for dollar"