Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-11-12
Correspondence Columbus Journal
THE KANSAS EXCURSION.
HArs CIrY. KANsAs. Oet. 3O.

Ii used to be essential in railroad
| improvements that civilization should
go in advance of the locomotive, but
now the locomotive leads the van of
civilization. Steam and lightning have
assumed the occupation of the squat
l ter and the emigfant, and become the
| pioneer of the American continent
/ It is 10 longer the hunters trail but
| the railway track which gives direction
to the currents Of population and
points the future course Of empire,
For nearly two hundred miles the
Kansas Pacific Company has laid its
own highway through an almost uniu-
habited and barren desert. 1t Is diff
icult to realize, while being carried
over it at twenty or thirty miles an
hour through what an inhospitable
and uncultured region it passes. A
closer intimacy with these primitive
wastes and their wild denizens than
you get from the railway car is requir-
ed to enable you to comprehend how
1 boldly railway enterprise has invaded
/ the wilderness and leaped beyond the
| precincts of civilized life.
Hays City, one of only two or three
noticeable stopping places on the west
ern division of the road, takes Its
name from Fort Hays, the military
rendezvous for the entire frontiers bOr-
dering on the headEaters of the Ka|
and the Arkansas. The fort is situa-
/ ted on the eminence near Big Creek
about half mile from the station, and
comprises simply the appurtenances to
military post on the plains, without
any defensive array Of parspet, re-
doubt or bastion. The garrison, COM
manded by Col. Gilbert, is now bust
! ly occupied Ia forwarding supplies to
the odtposts of the Indian country.
where it is not improbable they viii be
needed for active operations during
the coming winter. The government
is four months behind in fulfilling its
stipulations with some of the Indian
tri ibes, and should cold weather set In,
Immediate trouble may be expected.
The fierce Cheyennes are growing res
tive and the Utes are reported to have
already commenced hostilities. A stTag-
Cling baud Of Indians was seen a few
DAYS ago near Buffalo Station, some
forty miles west of here, and band OF
150 strong is reported to have crossed
the track Rt point east OF this only a
few days since. No trains are now per
mitted to run at night between Hays
City and Sheridan.
These two characteristic cities of
the plain deserve more than passing
notice. The wayfarer who arrives at
Hays City, or Hays, as it is more ia
miliarly called, will, before he gets
there, have seen enough Of the so-caI-
ed "cities" Of this great and growing
country to have properly gauged his
antieipations. Though bearing IN
IN
J to the western Eden described in Mar
tin ChuzzleWit, Hays City is not, like
that deleetable town, built In a swamp
but located high and dry on the bleak
and barren prairie. A couple OF score
of wooden shanties, ninetenths o.
which aresplaees for the sale of whisky
and resorts for gambling and Kindred
villiahies, constitute the sum and sub
stance of its architectural acquire
ments. The inhabitants are mostly
the wild and rough hunters, adventur-
ers and desperadoes of the plains, re-
cogniziDg no law but that of force and
desiring no justice but that which Gus
tom or cowardiee comedies to the
knifeand pistol.
1t is healthy place, very healthy
In its brief but brilliant history,
there have been barely sufficient deaths
to start a graveyard, and out OF
some twenty-five interments therein,
some twenty-five were persons whN
in the expressive language of their
country, died with their boots on,
while only three gave their parting
kick to the whisky tub in the natural
aud Christian manner. The favorite
method of disposing of an Individual
Se
to hang him, and to give speed as well
as certainty to the process, the whole
of the honorable body polite resolves
itself into a posse cOn1itatus. In this
way the complex machinery of courts,
juries and lawyers is made unnecessa-
ry, its endless wrangliDg and jangling
is avoided, and the peace and good Cr-
der of society thereby greatly promo
ted. When an unhappy Individual
makes himself nuisance, he goes
the way of all rogues so quick and by
| consent so universal, as to confirm
every one who is not a nuisance in his
security of person. while at the same
time in helping to swing an unright-
F eous william in the air, the volunteer
conservator of peace feels that he has
done his part to vindicate the right
eous public.
Should there be any doubt as to who
is the real nuisance, the favOrite meth.
!, cd is to hang all of the accused in or.
| der to make sure of the guilty indi'
. vidual. An instance of this kind oc.
Cured some time since, when color
ed soldier is said to have unreasonably
shot one Of the high minded and hon
. orable of this Commonwealth. There
} was doubt as to who actually com.
, mitted the deed, but sus picion rested
on three persons of the colored per.
suasion. Accordingly all three were
seized, imprisoned in a cellar and
, bound over" to appear next day be,
fore the drum. head court of the coun
try. But during the night all three
were taken out and "bound over" Il
appear before a eonrt which mo kinG
can corrupt and no mob intimidate.'
On asking our informant why they
hung all three, he said it was because
they could not tell which one was gull
ty, and were determined 20 make sure
of the right one. Verify, this is not {
land of lavender laws or rose-Watel
Ejnstice.
Among the notabilities of thi,
neigh borhood, in fact it may be SAID
that the bright, particular star among
the notabilities of all this region o.
country, is one Wild Bill. whose name
| is reverenced among all cut throatdom
of the western border, and whose fame
! is CO. extensive with the circulation Of
Harper's Monthly. Since this great
man received immortality from the
Harpers to pass him by would be not
only gross slight to greatness, but
might indicate an unpardonable ignor-
aHee of the most prominent ''institu-
tions" of this country,
Wild Bill stands about six feet in
his stockings, is probably thirty five
years of age, light complexioned
! handsome-featured, wears a greceful
mustache and wears long hair, dresses
neatly and presents in all points the
! style and personnel of a gay and
! reckless brigand He always carries q
! brace of revolvers on his belt, at once
/ his protection in an emergency aud the
) signs of his profession. His converse.
tIOn ia ram ~ 10 bia avap bo~o So, -,