The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-05-27
THE BRIGANlS OF THE WEST,
J 9 H N I 9 N @,
WOLF OF THE PRAIRIES.

NNN%%- ~-N~~o
accompIces at the mansion Of the venerable
Col. Davenport. the main event Of which we
shall soon be entitled, by description OF the
result which followed, 70 call murder. When
the atrocty was IN course OF perpetration, and
the relentless rufhans weie maitreatng their
gray haired victim, by dragging him from room
to room, three men who were dropping lazily
down the Mississippi, past Rock Island, in a
sEff. and listening 10 the occasional cannonade
which was the great pulsation OF the national
holiday, heard a shrek OF agony, followed by
sharp cries Of murder. They listened more at
tentively and again, when perhaps the ruffians
we're beating the Old man 10 force him to dis
close his treasures, they heard the cry OF help
repeated. Fixing the sound as coming from
the house, they sprang to their oars, and land
ing on the shore hastened 20 ascertain the
cause Of the alarm. and Z necessary to give
succor to the person IN distress. Bu; Aaron
Long, who stood sentry at the door, perceiy ed
their motives, while they were vet in the
river, and il was in consequence Of his alarm
that the murderers made 30 precipitate re-
treat When, therefore. the intended rescuers
reached the scene, y was deserted OF is vo-
lators, and they came to gaze upon scene
which they had not been blessed with the good
fortune to prevent. on entering The hall the
fears OF the party were confirmed by the sight
OF blood in every direction, and ere they had
fully expressed their horror q. the sight they
again heard the cry OF help issuing from an up
per chamber. They hurried upstairs. and
there their worst apprehensions were realized,
by the discovery Of Col. Davenport, welterng
IN his blood, and evidently in condition which
denied all hope Of life. The foremost Of the
party leaving his companions 10 render assist
ance to the wounded man, ran to little pic
mic party which he had observed at little dis
tance up the shore, and brought them quickly
10 the house. Medical ard was procured. and
the family which had set out so joyous IN the
morning, soon arrived to add to the excitement
Of the scene. We will not attempt to describe
the wild distress that followed, il is enough 70
leave that part to the imagination OF the
reader, and to content ourselves with the state
ment that the assidious attentions OF the physi-
clan so restored the mangled and enfeebled pa
tient. that he was enabled in short disjoluted
sentences, to Ill the circumstances Of his mur-
der, and TO describe the appearance OF his
prominent assassns. The efforts. however,
aggravated his condition, and it was only per-
mtted by his medical attendants on the ground
that few hours less of life might afford
compensation to the family IN a clue to the
pursuit and punishment of those who had
done him this monstro ous wrong. ON the next
day he died.
The audaclty OF this murder, the peculiar
atrocity with which it had been characterized,
produced the greatest excitement among the
citizens Of Rock Island and the adjoining
country, and people ran hither and rode long
stretches Of feverish haste merely to exchange
indignation with each other. and to promise
vengeance on the assassins should they ever
fail upon their track. This temper for excla-
nation at length subsided to a working shape
TO devise measures OF revenge and pursuit.
The motive OF self-protection, too, was not un-
represented IN the agitated gathering, and TO
many OF i,s excited members 1t seemed ss If
the tend OF massacre and ravage had let loose
his band, to decimate the region, aud shock
every household with scene OF blood. \
course Of action was decided upon a commit
tee was appointed to. carry it out, and in addi
ton it was agreed that no single citizen should
relax his personal and independent efforts to
unrayel this appalling mystery. A reward OF
fifteen hundred dollars was offered by the fam
lily OF Colonel Davenport. Handblls we're is
sued by the committee describing the watch,
and part Of the money, and giving as close an
account OF the assassins whom the dying man
described, as his short. general account would
permit.
While these measures were in progress, the
miscreants who had given the cause we're flying
with precipitate haste to make a good ofing to
the storm which they foresaw was brewing on
their heels. They re-crossed the slough on
the Island and then made for Rock river
where they stole another skiff, passed down
the stream a few miles and landed on the op-
posite shore. Hence they struck inward pro-
ceeded to New Boston by land, stole another
skif at that point and hoated down the Missis-
sippi to Nauvoo. There they made brief caii
on Amos Hodges related the tale OF their ex-
plot, refreshed themselves with his yands.
but left him chop-falen and depressed at the
death OF the last hope, in the failure Of this
expedition Of purchasing the rescue of his
brothers, who he now for the first time clearly
foresaw, we're doomed TO be executed on the
18th OF July.
81 had it all fixed" said he II desparng
tone and could have bought them out for
three thousand dollars. IL this thing had gone
right
"'You could have had ten thousand in case
YOU needed !; Il i had gone through said
Long, "but We did our best" and with these
words the four rufians babe a gloomy good
night to the Mormon elder and under cover Of
the night made for 1hief's Ferry, on the road
20 Devils Greek.
It was past midnigh, when the quar'ei'e o.
murderers reached I'D Redden's, bui before
touching their knuckles at his door they went
INTO the wheat ield and with the greatest eau
ton buried the stolen money and the Colonels
watch. They aroused the old reprooate VINO
kent the station. and after drinking with him,
m a suu bumper Of whiskey, confusion to all