The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-08-01
TIE osKALOosA HERALD.
Thursday, August !, 1872 z
EDITORIAL NERVE"
A BOYS DEFENSE.

q II . p.
Quite crowd had gathered on
the street, and the centre of attrac,
ton was a big fellow, who stood
wlth newspaper in his hand, ravlng
and cursing. --.....er -
+ sWhat's the matter, Wolf p asked
a conner, who was evidently ia
miliar with the irate man.
Matter p returned Wolf, for that
was his name, matter enough, an
rough enough it'll be for some folks.
Them young whelps that prints this
paper has gone an published some
thin bout me. o, I'll fix 'em!
They'd better never ha' been born (!
They'd better go an kill themselves
after ten minutes it'll be an easier
death for EN- .r ~..... z.ssss srs
Wolf was a noted desperate, who,
| it was said, had killed more than
twenty men, and but few knew him
who did not fear him. He was at
that time chief of gang OF loafers
and gamblers that were nearly al
ways to be found lounging in the vi
cinity alluded to, and disturbing the
peace of the whole neighborhood
daily with riotcus conduct. If there
there was any law in those days it 4
was seldom executed against such
characters, and in the full conscious.
ness that they were feared they did
pretty much as they pleased. Led
The newspaper which had given
deadly offense to Wolf was a little
weekly journal, and its office was in
the second story of building on the
same street with the hotel l have
mentioned, aud only few rods dis.
tant. II was published by two young
men-or might say, boys, for they
were only eighteen and twenty years
old, respectively-named Darrell
and Haynes. The paper and its
youthful proprietors were already
we'll known in the city of San Fran
| cisco. ga .8Tasss vito b. t#.- 1880 - sad
The article which had excited the
wrath of the ruffian Wolf was a bold
denunciation of himself and his crowd
for their lawless conduct, and it par
ticularly mentioned him by name,
characterizing him as clustering
bully 1t was the work of young
Darrell, a fearless boy hailing from
Ohio. Before leaving his home he
had acquired fair education, SO that
he could at least edit a newspaper in
those early days and he possessed,
besides, that courage and daring
which may be natural in the first
place, and which are more thorough
Iy developed by exposures to dan
gers and hardships. Young Haynes
was quite different kind of person,
in point of courage, being OF an I'M
usually timorous nature. -....4
To return to the scene on Sacra-
mento street. Working himself up
into his very worst Woodland mis-
best was bad enough, heaven knows
w off tore the paper to atoms and
started for the publication office. He
| was followed by a curious rabble,
most of whom were elated with the
prospect of a murder, though there
were some present who would have
demonstrated with the evil-hearted
man, had they dared. .-.... ...
Jest you watch, said Wolf, as he
reached the door, 'if We want to see
Their bloody carcasses tumble out O.
the winder ! 1t won't be long. l
don't spend much time on such fell
lers.' ......... ....
1t was the intention of the cruel
hearted man actually to cut the
throats of the two boyish journalists
and throw their bodies out at the
window, for the qualification of the
crowd, aud the further exaltation of
his already fearful name. So, the
mob on the street awaited the issue
with feVerish expectation, as Wolf,
tlourishing his knife and revolver,
entered the rude frame building and
rushed up stairs. .... ..
All unconscious of their danger,
the two young editors were busily
pursuing their usual work in their
primitiV office. If they heard
the noise without they paid no
attention to it, supposing it was
merely arow, such as they were &C
customed to hearing every day
Darrell was sitting at rude table
writing, and Haynes was at the
counter arranging some papers for
the mail. -' a".
They heard the clatter of heavy
boots on the stars, but supposed it
was some rough miner coming up to
subscribe for the paper, or, perhaps,
to see lawyer who occupied
couple of rooms on the same floor
for the building was only two sto-
ry one, and the second floor was oc-
cupied exclusively by them and an
attorney-their rooms being separat-
ed from his by a narrow hallway
that was reached by the flight of
stairs alluded to.
sAh-ha! I've got We, my young
imps p exclaimed the desperate,
bursting IN. .5..-....
Haynes recognized him and turned
pale. Being at the counter, which
faced the door, and extended across
the room, he was naturally the first
mark for VOLTS vengeance. d
sYe young devils = he Kissed,
scowling like mailman, YEN never
write or print nothin' more bout mel
Here he fourished his knife nd re.
volver above his head. 'I've got
sure thing on both of ye! Saying
this he looked about him, with a
careful scrutiny, to see that there was
no means of escape for the quiet
youth at the table, who, of course,
would not dare to Jump over the
counter and try to pass him, but
would cover down in corner and
take his turn at being killed; then he
reached across the counter and seized
Haynes by the hair, which was un-
fortunately very long. 4.-2s 80
Coiling the terrified young mans
locks around the great coarse fingers
of the left hand, Wolf laid his re
volver upon the counter without the |
slightest apprehension that his youth
ful adversary would snatch it up and |
use it on him, as he might have done
had he possessed the nerve then
fourished his big cleaning knife,
deliberately, with pure devilishness
prolonging Haynes terror and pain.
Now say yer prayers, d--n yer,
he Kissed, you've got a couple o
seconds or so left-just while I'm
clippin' your ears off, I'll take 'em
first clean an smooth then I'll cut
your throat an throw yer out o. the
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