Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-02

This being done the push-poles were
used to start the boat out into the
current. Allen all the time standing
by whistling and assisting at the
hand crank.
We landed all o. K and were soon
winding our way through densely
timbered bottom land from which we
emerged onto beautiful bottom only
to climb the east foot hills of the
Kaw river, as we mounted the foot
hills day was breaking in the east
and soon we came to house near
the road side where Allen stopped the
team and calling to the farmer in
formed him that party of horse men
would come that way from Lecomp-
ton the following day and that he ex-
pected him to join as they were go
ing to Atchison to hear Lincoln.
To See Lincoln.
The old gent said he was ready
then and there to go and see Lincoln.
We started on at good gait and ar
rived in Oskaloosa for late break
fast which was furnished free for men
and team by the genial landlord 1t
was only at breakfast that l ascer-
tanned that each Of my companions
was travelling arsenal in himself
Captain Allen carried in his belt the
same dragons that had delivered to
Lapham at Lecompton. At Oskaloosa
great preparations were being made
to go to see Lincoln.
We arrived in Grasshopper Falls
early in the afternoon and was greet
ed by crowd which was wrangling
about old territorial sores. There still
remained canker in the hearts of
some of the pro-slavery men who lived
in that vicinity and who happened to
be that day in the little town. We
got out of the wagon and Allen
was greeting some of his old friends,
when he was informed of the mean
ing of the gathering few rods away
and reckoning me to remain where
was, he went straight to the little
gathering, followed by his three COM
panions, but I broke my mornings
and followed at his heels. AS my
companions approached the crowd, one
of the Missourians said, There
comes Allen by Cd" and he had a
good reason to fear, for Allen worsted
him in both political and pistol en-
counter in the campaign of 1858. Al
lens answer was given quick as 4
flash, by solid front OF four fearless
ard determined men behind eight we'll
loaded revolvers. Instantly the men
were covered by other guns and Capt.
Allen made a detail to thoroughly
search them which was done. Their
horses and saddles were then search
ed and all ammunition removed. They
We're told to mount and then Allen
gave them hearty lecture, and told
them to be across the border by sun
rise the next morning, and If they
ever heard of them being on Kansas
soil again they would hang them to
the nearest tree and then they were
told to ride for their lives BY this
time the horses had been fed and
groomed and after thousand thank
ings and hand shaking we started for
Leavenworth where we arrived at
| dusk November 20, 1859.
We drove straight to Euing Bros.
office where deposited bundle, &C
cording to fathers instructions.
Father, who went on horse back via
| Oleatha and Ossawattama to bring
some OF his old free-state friends with
him to hear Lincoln, arrived in Leav-
enworth early next morning in COM
pany with Henderson and some more
OF the old timers, one Of whom was
Ottawa John, an educated Indian, an
ardent abolitionist, and companion
of John Brown in the battle of Ossa-
wattamie in an early day. Most Of
the men who came on horse back
with father, after feeding their horses
and selves left overland for Atchison.
All being anxious to catch sight Of
Lincoln. Early the next morning in
company with father and the host Of
others we boarded the steamboat. A
stern wheeler, which had on board a
large delegation from Wyandotte, all
going to see Lincoln, with well filled
decks and parting salute from the
little bow gun on the steamer. We
swung into midstream and the prov
of the steamer was headed up the
river for Atchison. We landed at the
fort three miles up stream and was
boarded by two regular army officers,
in full uniform. The steamer had
hardly come to stand when we
again swung into the stream where
the little gun belched forth a part
ing salute, which was answered by a
gun from the fort. Our next stop was
Weston, Mo-, where we were boarded
by a good number of important pas
sengerS, prominent among them being
Jim Lane, whose name has gone down
in history as the grim Chieftain Ben
Holloway, the father of the overland
mail, and Frank Blair, the man who
saved Missouri to the union. And
whose Missouri battery silenced the
| famous Watrons, Louisiana, battery OF
Shiloh. And who afterward with the
intrepid Logan, the genial Dodge, the
lamented Mcpherson and the stoical
Howard, became care commander #
the army of Tennessee. We made but
few stops, one being at the home Of
j. j. ingalls,, who afterwards succeed
ed Samuel G. Pomeroy, the veteran
free state mayor of Atchison, rs
United States senator from Kansas.
Arrive in Due Time.
We arrived in Atchison in due
| time and with Captain Allen carry
ing my buck-skin sack of presents for
Lincoln, and close on the heels Of
father, Lane and Blair, we made our
way to the old Massissawet house.
There Captain Allen deposited my
bundle in care of the clerk in charge.
| He then assumed complete control Of