CAPTAIN LORAINE'S FARM IN THE FAR WEST--HOT-HEADED YOUNG MEN--OUR
FAMILY--UNCLE DENIS TAKEN SICK--WE SET OUT TO VISIT HIM--THE CORDUROY
ROAD--A WAYSIDE HOTEL--ROUGH COMPANY--APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY--
CROSSING THE FORD AT GREEN RIVER--NEARLY LOST--A BRAVE NEGRO--GRATITUDE
OF MY PARENTS--AT MR. SILAS BRACHER'S PLANTATION--DIOGENES--MAMMY COE--
THE SLAVE-OWNER--MY FATHER ENDEAVOURS TO PURCHASE THE NEGRO--SLAVERY--
UNEXPECTED RECOVERY OF DR. O'DOWD'S PATIENT--A SPORTSMAN'S AMBITION--
TRAPPING--A RICH PRIZE--SOMETHING ABOUT TURKEYS--THE WONDERFUL CAVE OF
KENTUCKY--OUR RETURN TO ILLINOIS.
Some time after the termination of the long war which England had waged
in the cause of liberty when well-nigh all the world was up in arms
against her, my father, Captain Patrick Loraine, having served for many
years as a subaltern, believing that he should no longer find employment
for his sword, sold out of the army, and with the proceeds of his
commission in his pocket, quitting the old country, came to the United
States in the hopes of making his fortune more rapidly than he could
expect to do at home.
Finding that as a British officer he was looked upon with distrust in
the Eastern States, he made his way westward until he finally located
himself in Illinois on a fertile spot, sheltered on the north by a wide
extent of forest, and overlooking that part of the river Ohio which
separates the state from Kentucky. I remember even now the appearance
of the country. On the eastern side was a range of hills of slight
elevation, on one of which our house stood, while westward stretched
away as far as the eye could reach, a vast plain, with the mighty
Mississippi beyond. The scenery could boast of no great beauty except
such as lofty trees, the prairie, with its varied tints of green and
brown, yellow cornfields, rich meadows in the valleys, and the shining
river in the distance, canopied by the blue vault of heaven, could give
it. Still, it was my home, and as such I should have loved it, had it
possessed even less pretensions to beauty.
So well satisfied was my father with the country that he returned to
Ireland to bring back a young lady who had promised to become his wife.
Two or three years afterwards I was born, and was succeeded by my
brother Dan, and finally by my dear little sister Kathleen. My mother,
whose maiden name was O'Dwyer, was, I should have said, accompanied by
her two brothers, Michael and Denis, who came out with the intention of
assisting my father, and ultimately settling near him, but they were
hot-headed young men, and before even they reached the farm they had a
quarrel which resulted in their separation. Denis finally settled in
Kentucky, while Michael, with a rifle on his shoulder and axe in his
belt, saying that he should turn trapper, pushed away further west, and
from that day to the time I am about to describe we had received no
tidings from him. Uncle Denis became a successful settler. He was soon
reconciled to my father, and occasionally paid us a visit, but preferred
remaining in the location he had chosen to coming near us, as he had
originally intended. He had remained a bachelor, not a very usual state
of life for an Irishman; but, somehow or other he had not met the girl
he "wished to marry," as he used to say. He was, notwithstanding, a
merry, good-natured, kind-hearted man, and I remember that we always
enjoyed his brief visits whenever he rode over on his fast-trotting cob
to see us. Uncle Denis had not come for some time, when my father
received a message from a doctor who was attending him, stating that if
his sister wished to see him alive, she must come over immediately. My
mother did not hesitate a moment, and my father agreed to drive her over
in the waggon. I was to accompany them. Preparations were at once made
for our departure, and as the Shawanees, long the foes of the white man
in those regions, had buried the war-hatchet, and were not likely to
come that way, the rest of the children were left without any
apprehensions of danger, under the charge of our old black nurse, Rose.
The waggon was a long, light vehicle, with little or no iron-work about
it, having benches across, and rails on either side. It had four wheels
of equal size, and was drawn by a couple of horses harnessed to a pole;
owing to the height and position of the two front wheels, we could not
turn without making a long sweep.
My father sat on the box to drive. My mother and I occupied the front
bench, and behind was stowed our luggage, provisions for the journey,
and various other articles, Although I was very young at the time, I
have nevertheless a clear recollection of some of the incidents of the
journey.
Descending by a thickly wooded valley to the level of the Ohio, we
crossed that river in a large ferry-boat, which conveyed our horses and
waggon at the same time, while my mother and I sat in the vehicle and my
father stood at the head of the animals to keep them quiet. The stream
carried us down for some distance, and I remember my mother holding me
tight in her arms, and looking with terrified glances at the water as it
whirled by, apparently about to sweep the lumbering boat far down below
the point the rowers were endeavouring to gain. They exerted
themselves, however, to the utmost. The boat's head was turned partly
up the stream, and an eddy taking her, we at length reached the
landing-place. My father then mounting the box, with voice and whip
urged the horses up the steep bank, and once more the waggon rolled over
tolerably even ground.
The country through which we passed was in those days almost in a state
of nature, with the exception of the high road traversing the State from
one end to the other. The first part lay across the "Barrens," a wild
region, where the soil being inferior in fertility to that of the
uplands, it was destitute of inhabitants. To the south extended a level
prairie covered with long grass, with here and there groves of oak,
chestnut, and elm. To the north the country appeared more undulating,
clothed with a far greater variety of trees; hickory, black walnut,
cherry, as well as magnificent oak and elm.
"I hope we shall not have another river to cross like that," observed my
mother, after keeping silence for some time, while she was endeavouring
to recover from her alarm.
"Not so broad a one, Kate," answered my father, "but there are several
streams which we must manage to get over either by fords or ferry-boats,
for I doubt whether we shall find any bridges as yet put up to drive
over, though they will come in good time, I have no doubt. We run no
danger just now, and I don't suppose that we shall have the least
difficulty in crossing any stream in our way."
As we drove along we occasionally started a herd of deer feeding on the
rich grass in the forest-glades. Hares in abundance crossed our path,
and a fox slunk by, casting a suspicious glance at us, as he ran out of
sight into a bush. Towards evening, as we were hoping soon to reach a
log hut in which we could pass the night, our ears were assailed by a
long, low howl.
"Where can that come from?" exclaimed my mother.
"Possibly from a wolf; but I'll give a good account of the brute if he
makes his appearance," answered my father; "hand me out my rifle."
My mother gave him the weapon, and he placed it by his side ready for
use. He had also a brace of pistols stuck in his belt, so that he was
prepared for an encounter either with wolves, bears, or any hostile
Indians who might have ventured thus far eastward.
At last we found ourselves rumbling over a corduroy road, a sign that we
were approaching human habitations. It was composed of the trunks of
large trees, placed close together across the path, over a swampy place
into which the wheels of carriages would otherwise have been imbedded.
The interstices had originally been filled in with earth, clay, or chips
of wood, but in many parts the small stuff had sunk through, so that the
waggon moved on over a succession of ridges, on which it seemed a wonder
that the horses could keep their legs, and that we could escape being
jerked out. Sometimes a trunk, rotted by the wet, had given way and
left a gap, to avoid which it required my father's utmost skill in
driving. Occasionally, with all his care, he could not find a space
wide enough to enable the wheels to pass. On such occasions, lashing
his horses into a gallop, he made the waggon bound over it, crying out,
as he came to the spot--
"Hold fast, Kate; don't let Mike be hove overboard."
The waggon was strong, and stood the jolting better than my poor mother
did. She, however, bore all the bumping, jolting, and rolling with
perfect good humour, knowing well that my father would spare her as much
of it as he possibly could.
Darkness found us still on the road, although my father could still see
his way between the tall trees. Scarcely had the sun set than we again
heard that ominous howl, followed by sharp yelps.
"Oh! the wolves, the wolves!" cried my mother.
"Never fear," said my father, "they are arrant cowards, and there are no
large packs hereabouts to do us harm."
The thought, however, that they might follow us, alarmed my mother, and
she kept me close to her side, looking out anxiously behind, expecting
every instant to see a hungry pack coming up in chase of us. My father,
perhaps, was not quite easy on the subject; he kept shouting out, and in
spite of the roughness of the road, made the horses go at a faster pace
than before.
"Hurrah! I see a light ahead," he shouted at last; "that's the log hut
we were told of; and even if the wolves do come, we shall be safe from
them in a few minutes, for they will not approach a human habitation."
On we jolted; I could distinguish a clearing on the side where the light
appeared, it grew brighter and stronger, and presently my father pulled
up in front of a good-sized building, composed of huge logs placed one
above another, with the doors and windows sawn out of them, and roofed
with shingles, which are thin broad slabs of wood, split from the trunks
of large trees.
"Can you afford us shelter for the night, friend?" said my father to a
man, who, hearing the sound of wheels, came outside the door.
"Ay, and a welcome too, such as we give to all strangers who have money
or money's worth to pay for their lodging, and I guess you've got that."
"Yes, I am ready to pay for our board and lodging, but I could not tell
in the dark whether or not this was a house of entertainment."
"I guess it's the finest hotel you'll find between the Ohio and
Harrodsburg," answered the man.
"All right," said my father; "I'll see my wife and child, as well as our
goods, safe inside; then we'll take the horses and waggon round to the
stables."
Saying this he helped my mother and me to the ground. We entered a
large room with a huge cooking-stove at one end, and a long table down
the middle, flanked by benches. A middle-aged woman, with three
strapping girls, her daughters, advanced to meet us, and conducted my
mother and me up to the stove, that we might warm ourselves; for as it
was early in the year, the evening had set in cold. Our hostess talked
away at a rapid rate, giving us all the news of the country, and
inquiring what information we could afford her in return.
We found that we were still nearly another day's journey from Green
River, after crossing which it would take us the best part of a third
day to get to my uncle's location. Three or four other travellers came
in, armed with bowie-knives, and pistols in their belts, each carrying a
long gun, which he placed against the wall. A black man and a girl
appeared, to serve at table, and we heard several others chattering
outside, reminding us that we were in a slave-state. On my father's
return he took his seat by my mother's side, and talked away to prevent
me hearing the conversation which was going on between the other
travellers at the further end of the table, which showed they were as
rough in their manners as in their appearance. However, they did not
otherwise interfere with us.
At an early hour my father begged to be shown a room.
"I guess it's not a very big one," answered our hostess; "but you and
your wife won't mind a trifle like that. There's a bunk in the corner,
in which your young one can stow himself away."
I remember the dismay with which I saw the bunk spoken of. It was in
reality a huge chest with the top propped up, but I tumbled into it
notwithstanding, and was soon fast asleep. At daybreak the next
morning, after a substantial breakfast, in which fried eggs and Johnny
cake formed an important item, we again started off over the same sort
of corduroy road as on the previous evening. On either side were
numerous clearings with log huts, and here and there a more pretentious
store, before each of which several persons were seen taking their
morning drams. My father was an abstemious man, and although invited to
stop and liquor, declined doing so. We drove on as fast as the horses
could go, as he was anxious to cross the river early in the day. The
weather had hitherto been fine, but it now looked threatening, though as
the day advanced the clouds blew off. My father told my mother that he
hoped we should escape the storm.
About mid-day we stopped at another log shanty, similar to the one at
which we had rested for the night, in order to bate the horses. We
afterwards passed through several forests of considerable size, with
more open wild land covered with low bushes, where the rocky soil
afforded no depth for larger vegetation.
The country improved as we approached Green River, growing tobacco,
Indian corn, flax, and buck-wheat, while the numerous parties of blacks
we saw at work on plantations showed that the country was more thickly
populated than any we had hitherto passed through. From information my
father gained, he understood that we should cross Green River by a ford
without difficulty.
"The river is pretty broad about there, and the shallow is not very
wide; so, stranger, you must keep direct for the landing-place, which
you will see on the opposite side. Better drive up than down the
stream, but better still to keep straight across," added his informant.
"Oh, Patrick, must you positively cross that wide extent of water?"
exclaimed my mother as we reached the bank and she surveyed the broad
river flowing by.
"There are marks of wheels on this side, and I make out an easy
landing-place on the other," answered my father.
Having surveyed the ford, my father without hesitation drove in, telling
my mother not to be afraid, as he did not suppose that the water would
reach above the axles.
The stream as it flowed by, bubbled and hissed between the wheels,
making me quite giddy to look at it. The water grew deeper and deeper
until it reached the axles; then in a little time on looking down I saw
it bubbling up through the bottom of the waggon.
My father did not turn his head, but keeping his eyes steadily fixed on
the landing-place, urged on the horses. They had not got more than
half-way over when they began to plunge in a manner which threatened to
break the harness. Again my father shouted and applied his whip over
their backs; the animals seemed every instant as if about to lose their
legs, while the water not only bubbled up through the bottom, but
completely flowed over it. To turn round was impossible, not only from
the construction of the waggon, but from the pressure of water, and in
all probability had the attempt been made an overturn would have been
the consequence.
My mother suppressed her fears, but grasped me tighter than ever.
Presently I heard a dull roar, and looking up the river I saw a
white-crested wave--so it appeared--curling down upon us. My father saw
it too. He leapt from the waggon into the water, which reached almost
up to his shoulders, and seizing the horses' heads, endeavoured to drag
them forward. Every instant the current became stronger and deeper and
deeper. At last it seemed as if the waggon must inevitably be swept
away down the stream. Just then I heard a shout from the shore, where I
saw a black man running rapidly towards us. Without stopping a moment
he rushed into the water, wading as far as the depth would allow him,
then he struck out swimming, and quickly reached the horses' heads.
"Here, massa stranger, nebber fear, dis boy help you," he exclaimed, and
seizing the bridle of one of the animals he pointed to a spot, a little
lower down the bank. My father, being taller than the negro, was still
able, though with difficulty, to keep his feet, and grasping the bridle
of the other horse, he followed the advice he had received. Before,
however, we had gone far, the wave was upon us. The next instant the
waggon was lifted up and jerked violently round. I had until then been
holding on, but how it happened I cannot tell, for I felt myself
suddenly thrown into the water. I heard my mother's shriek of frantic
despair, and my father shouted to her to hold on for her life, while he
dragged forward the horses, whose feet almost the next moment must have
touched the firm ground.
"Me save him!" cried the black, "go on, massa stranger, go on, all safe
now," and the brave fellow, relinquishing his hold of the horse, which
he left to my father's guidance, swam off to where I was struggling in
the seething water. With one arm he seized me round the waist, and
keeping my head above the surface, struck out once more towards the
bank. His feet fortunately soon regained the ground, and wading on
while he pressed with all his might against the current, he carried me
safely in his arms to the bank. Having placed me on the grass, he
hastened back to assist my father in dragging up the waggon.
My mother, as may be supposed, had all the time been watching me with
unspeakable anxiety, forgetting the danger in which she herself was
placed. As the banks sloped very gradually, the horses, by a slight
effort, contrived to drag the waggon up to the level ground.
"Blessings rest on your head, my brave man!" exclaimed my mother,
addressing the black who had saved me, as she got out of the waggon and
rushed to where I lay; then kneeling down, she gazed anxiously into my
face.
I had suffered less I believe from immersion than from fear, for I had
not for a moment lost my consciousness, nor had I swallowed much water.
"Berry glad to save de little boy, him all right now," answered the
black.
"Yes, I believe I'm all right now. Thank you, thank you," I said,
getting up.
My mother threw her arms round my neck and burst into tears.
My father wrung the hand of the black, who had hurried back to help him
rearrange the harness of the horses. "You have saved the lives of us
all, my gallant friend; I thank you from my heart, and should wish to
show you my gratitude by any means in my power."
"Oh, massa, him one poor black slave," answered the negro, astonished at
being so spoken to by a white man; "him berry glad to save de little
boy. Now, massa, you all berry wet, want get dry clo' or catch cold an'
die ob de fever."
"Indeed I am most anxious to get my wife and child under the shelter of
some roof;" answered my father. "Can you guide us to the nearest house
where we can obtain what we require?"