The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-05-06

the horses of me. Their names ar,
Trask and Chichester. | knew til,
horses they had with them were sto
len, but dared not intimate any sucl
thing to them. No man would b,
safe in mourning their displeasure
and we have TO be mum about wha
we suspect. Some OF as have talkec
the matter ever privately, but wer,
afraid to take any public action, be
cause under such circumstances, on,
does not know who to trust, and if ,
man should earn their displeasure
he would be compelled to leave tn,
country. He said, 81 am glad, Col
onel. you have taken hand in ,hi,
business, for the people have conf
dence in you and will follow you,
lead" "Now," he continued, "tha
We are ia for it, we had better take
some provisions aud horse feed along
with US, for it is uncertain where w
stop tonight, or what kind of far.
we may receive. There is no one
living on the way, this side of the
Wapsie, and owing to the cold and
drifting snow, don't know, well as
am acquainted with the country
that will prove valuable guide.
We started ON our way in good
season, but the weather was so cold
and dissgreable that we were little
disposed to socisbility, and reached
the Wapsie at "Niggers' Point 'abou,
an hour before sunset. Here we
found a comfortable cabin unoccupi
ed, which Mr. Bear informed us had
been built by a negro, who had mys-
teriously disappeared, aud suspicion
was entertained that he had been nut
out of the way by some of the Thorn
son gang. Upon consultation, it was
thought bes, to camp here for the
night, and our horses were placed in
temporary stable, covered with
hay. After building a good FIRE, and
securing wood for the night, Mr.. Bear
and ! started to the river for water.
On the bank Of the stream we MOTTO
ed the carcass of a horse, partly con-
sumed by wolves. The poor animal
had broken through the ice, been
dragged ashore, and probably perish
ed in the cold. We had noticed for
miles back, an unusual number of
wolves travelling in the same direc-
ton that we were, and the discovery
of this carrion accounted for the phe-
We made ourselves as comfortable
as possible, and partook OF the sup
per with such an appetite as only
those who are used to camp life can
appreciate. The storm had passed,
the wind lulled, and the moon arose
making the night nearly As bright as
day. The buffalo robes were spread,
and old man Bear had laid his pipe
aside to tell US of his and Dave Scott's
Of Burt's Cave, (aow the
favorite resort of MsquoketaRs) when
we were startled by the howl Of
wolves, which far exceeded anything
we had ever before heard. Upon
stepping outside of the cabin we
could see wolves in all directions.
Bear dropped one of them with his
rifle, when the rest fled over the hill.
The temptation was too strong for
Bear to resist, and he took his gun
and buffalo robe and secreted himself
near the dead horse, to shoot wolves.
During the night we would OCCASION
ally hear the report Of his death deal
ing rifle, while the hovling of the
wolves perceptibly diminished.
Just at the break of day and after
| had started fire and got the coffee
pot on, Bear put in his appearance,
after him large black
wolf, and looking as fresh as if he had
on bed Of down. He de-
clared that he had had many hunt,
but never before seen SO many wolves.
After breakfast went with the old
man to ascertain the result of his
shooting. We found on counting up,
that he had killed ten wolves that
night. This was too good hunting
place for Bear TO leave, and he resls-
ted all our persussions to accom-
pany US any further, and said he
would stop and skin his game and
shoot somc more the next night.
Col. Cox. Mr.. Moss sad ! took our
departure, promising 10 return next
day. Passing up the Wspsie to Rus
sells, where the town OF Fairview is
now located, Russell and Mr.. Grow
accompanied US TO Linn Grove, to
the house OF Mr., which had been
selected as place Of meeting. Ar
irving there at about II O'Clock we
found the house crowded. Cedar
county was represented by Messrs.
Whitsley, Culbertson, Roberts and
others. Mr.. Roberts wi be remen-
bercd by our members Of the Terrific
rial Legislatures as the gentleman
from Cedar, who, upon the introduc-
tion of any bill, would invariably ad-
dress he chair with "Mr. Speaker,
ar Cedar in that ar bill, If not, can
not vote for it, Notwithstanding
his little eccentricities Of speech, he
was faithful representative and true
to his constituents. Jones county
was represented at the meeting by
Mr. Bowen, Besrdsley, and perhaps
others. The object for which we met
was TO devise concerted action for
the more efTectual protection Of set
tiers from thieves and desperadoeswho
we're daily preying upon the honest
portion Of the community. Col. Cox
explained the steps that had already
been taken in Jackson county, and
said he was glad to sec the leading
men of her sister counties present.
He was an early settler in Illinois,
aud knew that all new countries were
infested with banditti, who had fed
from Justice in the older States, and
held full sway for time on the from
tiers. But the hardy and homes.
pioneers are just the men TO finally
weed GU. such a class. He was oI
the opinion that moral suasion was
wasted on thieves and murderers
You cannot even reach them with ths
law, for when one Of the band wa,
arrested no matter how strong may
be the evidence of his guilt, his con-
fedsrates will prove an alibi for him
In Illinois we rid the country of them
and found the most effectual means
to be hemp, and my idea now is te
.horn,,rL1.. :. aul nro%aai