The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-12-24

SSOTUi cOuttnucu we WOuii uhNc Dceu
compelled to ride, even IL 1t had lasted
twenty-four hours, as to have relaxed
our efforts for Y moment would have
been fatal, our cattle would have scattered
and the work of a month would have to
be done over again and some OF them we
never would have recovered. The cattle
have acknowledged leaders and these
usually head stampedes. They never have
but one chance to make u display IN
that direction however, as they are in
variably shot down at the second attempt.
You will hear much In Texas about
"Nortlers" and of freezing men to death
before they can put their ovcrcoats on,
ana all that sort OF thing, but gres.
deal Of allowance must be made for the
enthusiasm with which all Texans de.
scribe whatever pertains to their coun-
try. The storms are very severe some
times but usually are not of long dura-
ton. Great changes have taken place
In Rockdale since my first visit
two years ago. Now It is as quiet and
orderly n town of 1850 inhabitants as
one wants to sec has two banks, one in
u building Of cut stole with native gran
itc trimmings; number VI wholesale
houses, aud several good hotels. Then
as now, 1t was the western terminus OF
the International and Great Northern
railroad. The track was just being laid,
and the town consisi"h ." 80.
.wrniy large frame barn-like buildings.
used principally lie hotels. gin mills and
dance houses, prominent among which
were the "Head-light," and "Gold-
rOOm," hundreds of tents were scattered
around which made 1t look like the en-
compliment of an army : scenes of blood.
shed and violence were OF daily occur
renee, and the nights were made lively
by the "merry note of the pistol" n con-
tinu0us fusilade of fire arms beginning
at sunset and continuing through the
night.
This state of affairs lasted until prop
crty began to accumulate, and better
class OF people come IN, who organized
vigilance committee with the aid Of the
railway employees and notified all known
thieves to leave town within twelve
hours, or abide the consequences; they
stood not on the order of their going, but
went at once, breathing out curses both
loud and deep. After this spasm OF vir
tue they did not relax their efforts but APP
pointed as patrol. with extraordny pow
crs, the notorious "Marengo joe" a man
more desperate than any they had driven
away, and lie did very well indeed; he
was always on hand at every row, and
usually took part in the shooting he
seemed to bare a charmed life, and after
lie had killed two or three of the most
desperate disturbers of the peace, his
name became u terror to them, and he
had an easy time Of it, In those days
the party vino got the drop" was the
better man, and as Joe was not slow at
shooting. he always come of victorious
II he made II mistake of u shot 1t was al
ways apoligizcd for in the most gentle.
manly manner, when it was not followed
by the expenses of "a funeral. The popll
lation of the little cemetery increased
rapidly, and ,JOc's time came at last. liz
was taken of by an attack OF pneumonia
and contrary TO his oft expressed wish
did not die with his boots on. Outside OF
the town to-day may be seen a little
wooden cross over the e.ayc of poor Joe
about him sleep his foes, and latter life.
troubled fever they sleep we'll" know
him intimately, and want to record her.
my protest against the dark colors il
which his character is usually painted
lie was man ofpecrlcss bravery, open
hearted and generous to q fault. hav,
seen him give his last dime to poor
shivering wretch, and 60 hungry himself
rcmarking to me, lit may save hin
from committing crime" II,
would risk his life for frien,
and no poor victim OF the numerOu
"fakirs" ever appeared to him for redres
III VAIN. lie never begun y fight, bu
when one was forced upon him he III
not shirk it; had his lines been east |
pleasantcr places. hs might have devo
Oped into something better than the DIES
perado he was. His true name wa
Allen Swanson Williams, and he elaine,
descent from Roger Williams. Perhap
the propensity for rowing vagabond lif,
developed by old Roger became intensi
fled, and cropped out in his descendant
for at the age Of twelve years he rar
away from home, went to New Orleans
and after manifold adventures, he 4
length turned up on tho frontier, wher,
lie took service with the rangers, and u
the age OF eighteen, was known as cool
desperate fighter when they were repcl
ling any of the maraudinS bands sen
over the borders by the Mexican bryand
COrtina. lie had number of Indian
scalps which he had taken from thei
wearers, and did not seem to think h,
was doing violence TO any OF the pro
prietics when wearing them hung to hi,
belt on gala days. lie once odd me tina
he started to go home when abou,
twenty-five years of age and that ht
got rs far rs Cincinnati, wher,
he said "they pinchcd the eagles on hi
silver quarters ill they screamed" II,