The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1841-12-17

know not, ask not If quilts in that heart
but know that love thee, whatever thou art.
Moore.
Whether the wild scenes Of frontier
life have a tendency to excite a spirit OF
lawless adventure, or whether a defective
administration of justice enticed thilher
the outcass of other communities, GER
tain il is, that in the early settlement of
the western states, each in succession
was infested by marauders quite rs de-
PRAYED and reckless as ever brandished a
stiletto, or handled carbine in The noun
tain passes of Italy. When a robbery or
murder was committed by these despera-
does, the settles collected en- moSSc, I'M
der the name of "ReguimOrS," to infict
summary punishment. Frequently the
gang, when hotiy pursued, retreated to
one of the caves i'll the bluffs that border
upon our western rivers, and there de-
Tended themselves to the last extremity.
Quarter they neither asked nor received.
When any of the brigands were captured,
they were Immediately shot, or suspend
cd from the branches Of the nearest tree
Long after Kentucky and Ohio ceased
to be frontier states, and the strong arm
of the law rendered hopeless any attempt
at plumber, these banditti reappearcd on
the banks of the Illinois, committing their
accustomed depredations upon the few
and feeble settlements of that frontier.
The last robbery committed in this re-
gion by an organized band, occurred in
the spring of 1918, and gave rise to an
cvant Of thrilling interest.
Clifton is situated on the east side of
the Illinois, at the base of high range Of
bluffs, about forty miles above the conAu-
cncc Of that river with the Mississippi.
This settlement derived its name from
Major Clifton, an English gentleman
Of great wealth, who emigratcd to the
United States in 1916, and settled at this
place. His family consisted of daughter
of fifteen, son much younger, and eight
or ten servants and lahorprs Several me-
chanics, with their wives and children, ac-
companicd him from England. AT that
period, this region was uninhabitcd, and
the land had not been offered for sale.
To obyatc the latter Inconvenience, Ma
jor Clifton purchased a large amount of
what are still known as '0Oatiag ciaims,"
ready to "{0Cate" them on the tract he
had selected, whenever it should come
into market. The building he erected,
the extensive agricultural and other i'm
provements that he planned; but more
than all, the exaggerated reports of his
wealth and liberalty, drew thither emf
grants from all quarters. In two years
nearly a hundred families had settled
within five miles of his residence.
Early in May, 1918, gang of villains
who had long been prowlng about the
vicinity, taking advantage of dark and
stormy night, stole many of the horses
Of the settlers, and fled. The robbers
failed not to levy their tribute of "black
MALI rather heavily upon Major Clifton.
A horse of great value which he had i'm
ported from England was among the miss
ing. The loss of this animal aroused his
ire more than twice the amount in any
other kind of property would have done,
for he was excessively vain OF the animal,
and conscious that more than one of the
neighbors would secretly rejoice at his
disappointment.
AT an early hour in the morning the
news OF the robbery was known through
ut the settlement, and the citizens soon
after assembled at Major Clilton's to con-
suit upon the measures they should adopt.
Their deliberations were brief Waiting
only % partake of a hastily provided
breakfast, Major Clifton, breathing threats
of vengeance, mounted a horse and put
himself at the head of we'll armed band
OF his neghbors. In an hour they disco
vered the trail Of the horses, and rapidly
pursued 1t to the ferry on the Illinois.
Here they found, to their morliicaiion
that the robbers had crossed the river UNI
discovered, and then, to delay pursuit,
sunk the boat. No other boat could be
procured within the distance of thirty
miles. From the appearance of the trail,
the robbery was committed in the early
part OF the night, as the tracks of the hor-
ses were partly obliterated by the heavy
rain that had subsequently, fallen. Farther
attempts to overtake them were regarded
as hopeless, and the settlers bent their
way homeward, more indignant at having
been foiled of their meditated revenge,
than at the loss of their property. With
their passion thus excited, the current of
their vengeance was easily turned upon a
new object.
About two months before, q young Vr-
glnian, of prepossossing manners, arrived
in the settlement and took lodgings at an
humble cabin about five miles from Major
Clltton's. On his arrival he spoke of re-
moinipr hut o;,olo ,1,,- ,vitb out ne