The true northerner., 1874-05-22
THE bR|GANDS OF THE WEST,
j Q H N i 9 N @,
--rHE-
WOLF OF THE PRAIRIES.

dawned on the Upper Mississippi with splen-
dor worthy the anniversary OF American Inde.
pendence. and the patriotic inhabitants Of that
region rose to welcome the sun with grateful
hearts and expectations Of joyful holiday.
None received its advent more happily than
the citizens Of Rock Island, and in no dwelling
did the early sounds OF merry voices, and the
clack and Dusde Of cheerful preparation an
nounce the estimation which the household set
upon the day, more highly than in the home
Of the venerable Col. Davenport OF that place.
The house of the Colonel was worthy OF the
opulent old trader, whose dealings with the
savage tribes had run through more than
quarter OF century, and who had been hon
ored by the Ge,ersl Government With frequent
agencies Of trust and moment. II was line
and spacious mansion on the western shore OF
Rock Island. facing Iowa, and looking over the
main branch o, the Mississippi. It's grounds
were spacious, and without, &c within the resi-
dence, il was adorned with every luxury and
comfort that colld be furnished by taste aud
wealth.
This spot had been the residence OF Col.
Davenport for more than thirty years and be
was now reposiIg away the evening OF his days,
IN that tranquil temper which becomes the sun
set Of the good, and which should he the re-
ward Of long maturity OF peril toll and
strife. Though an Englishman by birth, none
in that household or on that Island, welcomed
the day Of independence more srdently than
he, and none contrasted the muscular progress
OF the country oi bis adoption with the declining
fortunes Of bic native land, with more rational
pride than be. He was IN the very midst OF all
the stir and hustle, with which the younger
members OF hs family prepared TO go forth to
enjoy the day, and when their bonnets were
sll tied, and their pockets well supplied with
spending money for the fete, he added his
blessing. ~ IL that could increase to them the
enjoyment Of the festivities Of the occaeion.
Nay, 90 occupied was bis generous heart with .
desire FOR general enjoyment, that he would
suffer none OF tbem-pot even . 0ngle dones-
TOTO remain al home, bat ordered forth to
happiness, while be Kept house and drew his
share OF pleasure from the contemplation OF
their Joy. The family at first objected 10
leaving HIM thus alone, and pressed that one,
~ least, should stay with him-urYing that il
vse not safe, iI the face Of tho late ravaSss o:
the benditti in ell parts Of the northwest, 10
leave him thus alone. This, however. proved
sn unforrupateArgxment. The venerable man
who had passed through oil the horrors Of In.
dian warfare, and sll the perils incident to 9
frontier could not realize the thought Of dan.
duza tv,fy in ft,a ~ vi
ton and Of peace. SO with . smile OF conf
dence be waved away the objection and bAds
them 90 and have no fear for him, With Q reso
lutte Dildness, which was not 70 be opposed
After they we're thus disposed OF, he drew bin
chair 70 the window, which commanded . view
OF the hssissippi, and devoted bimeelf to
period o. repose
We left the TWO bro,hers Long. snd Fox an,
Birch. re-croesing, on the night Of the 26th O
June, at Thefs Ferry, on the Illinois side, OF
their return from the council in the Mormon
Temple. in relation 20 the Hodgee, who wer
under the sentence OF death /; and it is our dut
now 10 follow the terrible qusrteite 10 the per
Torrance Of the exploit, whose svsils they ha
pledged themselves to devote. Il necessary, L
the rescue OF the condemned. After crossin
the Mississippi, the four brigands passed tn
night at the house Of Potter. to whom the fer
~ belonged, and early IN the morning too
separate paths 10 MoEtrose. whence they re
turned to Fort Madison, for tine purpose Q
taking the steamer Osprey fo- New Albany,
short distance from Eock Is apd
They landed here on the afternoon OF 10
2Sth OF June, and striking from the shor'
some eight or niue miles into tne country, I
CD abandoned hut in the centre o: q dens
wood, which bsd been selected ont by Baxte
as the Indicated point OF rendezvous, previou
TO hs leading them to the crime which he ha
selected for their hands. They found the
spy ~ the place OF meeting, waiting anxiousl
for their srTival, snd received from him eom
reasons why il wss necessary that the sttat
On the Davenport house should be postpone
for = few DAYS. Col. Davenport had son
guests al his house who increased the streDgi
Of bic establishment, and it wss expected thi
they would not leave until the "a or Sd day
July. after duly weighing the subject ther
fore. il wss decided that the robbery should
fixed for the 4th DAY Of July. on which occ
SION Baxter hsd learned from bis intima'
with the family, the house would be almo
entirely deserted by the visitors TO attend Il
, celebration at the town OF Rock Island, on Il
main land OF the Illinois shore. The pos
! ponement being settled upon, Baxter was
rectea 10 return 20 Rock Island and exc
what means he could to induce the entire fan
ly 10 visit the town. on that occasion with the
guests. and whichever way the matters wer
70 report 10 them a. given point on the Mi
sisslppi shore on the evening previous
the 4tE.
he interV& which was 20 eusue betwee
/. however, was too long TO be spent IN idlene
10y such active spirits and before Baxter d
parted for the Island. John Long drew fro
him description Of the residents of the vic1r
ty in which they were, with view to ascerta
II there was no; some casual robbery viii
they might perform, by way OF occupying &
u time and compensatipg them for their della
= = Out Of the information thus obtained, the
}. was fact which promised 20 turn 10 some
count, and which bore upon q man named NJ