The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-03-29
a ROBBERS MAGMANlMlTY.

DdiltcN, ana lhc SAME iHlEHL Apply 10 JonH Z
Murlll, the great western land pirate, a
the time he figured conspicuously along tn
Ohio and Mississippi rivers, steamboatn
was comparatively in its infancy, and S
sparsely was the country settled that the re
man still retained his fOothold, although hi
absolute sway was over To the travele
Murrlll was terror bat to the squatters 70
many miles around his cave he was rather
friend than Otherwise, for he had never beer
known to harm any of them, and he had OF
ten lent them his aid in time Of trouble. T.
pCCialy had he bcfricndcd them from out
RACES by the ,avagcs, and he was not slow &
revenge any wrong inflicted upon them b,
the red man Niurrill had been idle for SOM
time. II seemed As if he had prcscntmen
of evil hanging over him, and he had grown
listless, and even melancholy. His men ven
tured 10 whisper among themselves that their
captain WAS becoming ndOlent, and some OF
them declared that he had received Il vast
quantity III gold, which he had concealed and
at the first opportunity he intended to ship to
some distant point and leave them and his
former occupation forever.
All summer the captain had talked of in
cursions, but they had been delayed from
time to time and nothing had been accom-
plished The stock Of provisions had become
so far exhausted that the robbers were com
They became Disconnected, and some of them
openly grumbed; but a single frown of the
chief was sufficient to impose silence.
All day the men had been lolling lcisurely
about, and as night came on they Rugged the
fire closely and ever and anon they cast anx-
lous Chances over the river, rs if expecting
some important event. Even the captain APP
pcared uneasy, and he strobe up and down,
sometimes pausing, and then continuing his
walk at a more rapid rate.
Suddenly man on horse appeared in
sight and at the same time the shrill blast |
OF trumpet was heard. Instantly the men |
were upon their feet, and when the rider came
up he was surrounded in an instant and Il
dozen questions prOpounded in the same
breath. TO one and all of them he made the
answer: l.
"1hc steamer will not come further down
than Louisville, but she is Il rich prize if we
can only capture her Her cargo IS an assert.
ed one, and it will not be removed until snow
tails, 50 that 1t can be taken across to Nash
vile in sleds, unless Il warm spell should
come on; then she will come down the river
and up the Cumberland"
There won't be any warm spell this sea
SON. suggested one of the robbers "In a
week the Ohio will be frozen up tighter than
drum-hcad, and the Cumberland is closed
up now We must seize her where she now
lies"
Aye, aycw was the response from fifty
Threats. Without needing these words Muir
rill asked
How high is the water on the falls nj
Louisyille?"
Hardly enough to get her over, but there
mas oeeen ram above-the river is rising
ana there viii be plenty by the time we get
there"
Are they on the lookout for mcy' asked
"Io,; and WHAT is still worse T was recor.
nizcd,"
"Thc dcyilm
yes, went on board the boat. and in look.
ing around | saw pair Of sharp eve, fixed
upon me, and knew had seen that face Inc.
fore. | walked carelessly out ON the Ic,ne
when heard this chap say that was one oil
Murrills men, and then the captain caution.
ed him to keep quiet until he could secure nv
arrest. Bui IN lcT moments more | was
astridc my nag, and then knew was safe
But knew they were on the lookout for YOU !
Tor, before | was recognized, heard one of
the boat hands say that he hoped MurrilI
would come up, for he wanted the pleasure of
hanging him"
y fierce irown passed over the face of the
robbcr chief, and, turning sharply around he
exclaimed:
MEN, get ready TO move, for we will be off
in an hour. Wen have that boat, or perish
in the attempt 10 capture her."
wild cheer burst from the throats of the
robbers, and then they set about making prepa-
lations for the adventure; and before mid
night fifty armed and resolute men were on
their way toward Louisville, bent upon plum.
der aud DlOodshed.
During the day Murrill himself in disguise
visited The city and the boat he had resolved
10 capture. On his return his ewes flashed
fire, and he exclaimed:
Men, some OF our bodies will be floating
in the Ohio before tomorrow morning if we
attempt this job. To succeed we NAV be
compelled to fight terrible battle. What
say you? Shall we 90 forwardy
What is the especial dangcr?" inquired |
one.
Just this. After it was discovered that one
OF my spies had been on board the boat, extra |
precautions have been taken 10 guard again,;
an attack by us. Regular picket lines have
been thrown out, both up and down the river
on this side, and watch-ires built and guards
stationed on the other side; and all the hands
on the boat are heavily armed, and amiltary
company is held in readiness To turn out AT a
moments warning don't know that am
right, but think that some of their scouts
have already reported the fact thatwe were on
our way up the river. What say youg Shall
we attempt the job with such chances against
usg'
Tn chef Was surrounded by a Sc, OF men
who were physically brave. many OF whom
absolutely ,I terred such danger. as wa,
prcgr 'h dgn ger. 50 ,,ii!. enc voice
thcr ga t ei.
q lat steamer Or 1:c"'
piled Aiur-il, you have DC
eide. accordance with my own feelings. !
We li have that boat or perish in the at
tenn capture her. But there is one thing
gre in our favor"
80 g thg 3"
- is TO BE grand ball in the cabin of
the ner tonight so the military will not
be = ''giisnt as usual, on account Of the large!