The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-10-21

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other route from Madison to Baraboo
partly train from Madison to Mazoma.
ME and thence to Baraboo by stage
This route was, as a rule, better
patronized than the old stage line ny
way of Lodi and Merrimack.
IF remember correctly, the train
left Madison at or about 5 o'clock in
the afternoon and ran TO Mazomanie, a
distance of % or 81 miles, and from
there the ride was over the bluffs by
the East 'Sauk road, coming into Bara-
boo at the crossing on Walnut sereet,
east of the present passenger station.
[ travelled this route but once or
twice, and was not so familiar with it
as with Mr.. Cowles' route by the way
of Lodi and Merrimack. But had
all [ wanted of it, for it was tedious
ride over that rough and stony road, to
| say nothing of the steepness of the
bluff, and the consequent slow pro-
gress.
The arrivalin Baraboo was, believe,
as a general rule, somewhere between
or 10 o'clock, when the roads were
at their best; and at other times
according to the condition of the high
way.
A Terrible Night.
AS said above, [ had but limited
experience over this route; but I
remember one night when my wife
and daughter, now Mrs. III. J. Irwin,
came home to Baraboo over this trail.
The weather was not so severe when
they left Madison as to cause them
serious apprehension, but it turned
cold, and very cold at that, before they
reached Prairie du Sac, and by the
time they left there it was about as
cold night as is ever seen in this
latitude. In addition to the low
temperature the wind blew small
hurricane, so that there could be
nothing else than serious apprehension
for the safety of anyone who might be
exposed to it's fury.
After the stage had gotten out some
distance from Prairie Gu Sac the driver
became alarmed for the safety of his
passengers. He spoke to them, and,
finding them still alive, he put a
buffalo robe or blanket on the bottom
of the coach and told them to get down
on that, so as to be out of the wind.
Then he covered them with another
robe or blanket, so that when they did
reach Baraboo they were not so terribly
cold as the waiting husband and
father feared they would be.
Anxiety.
But who can tell of the anxious
hours of the waiting friends at home?
This writer and lady friend from
Ohio, Miss Rose P. Thrall, who had
come from Ohio to start select school,
and who was living with us, sat until
long past the usual time for retiring,
listening anxiously for the sound of
the wheels of the stage. Whe4, at a.
bout eleven o'clock or half past, the
voice of the driver was heard calling
for the owners of his passengers, we
did not know whether we should find
| them dead or alive. Our relief was
very great, when, on opening the door,
we saw the loved ones on their
feet, hustling as fast as the fury of the
wind would permit them for the door
and the shelter they so much
needed and desire. Twas hap
| py hour that we spent at the fire
before sleeping that night.
A few weeks ago as [ was looking
over the files of the Lodi Valley News
of a long past date 1 came upon a
letter, written by Hugh Kelley for one
of the Barabeo papers, telling of an
other ride / once took from Baraboo to
Madison, in company with William
H. Garfield, to get little Ruggles
rotary printing press I owned and
had loaned to M. j. Cantwell and
George p. Robinson ana which was
for time the only press they had in
their office. 1t was their start.
| Hugh did not forget to tell of the
other passenger in that sleigh ride, for
such it was. She was lady canvasser
in the employ of Brick Pomroy, who
was out hunting subscribers and
seeking information on more points
than / could tell of, so [ must
refer the readers to Hugh if they
want any more facts concerning
that ride and our companions
in it. Hugh made out that ]
brought in the first rotary press that
ever was seen in Baraboo. That press
played very important part in the de
feat of G. F. Viebahn, the republican
candidate for county superintendent
| of schools, and the election of Moses
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