Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-08-28


tiOa, aud was widely and favOrabl,
known for his sObriety and homes
ty. Upon the OCCASION just refer
red to when Sam Long CHANGED tt
come while tho desprradocs were
engaged in one OF their shooting
matches, it was demanded that ht
should take part in the sport. The
hunter hesitatcd at first but finally
not wishing to incur the ill.will OF
the rufYians, consented. His skill
with the rifle was known to be some.
thing remarkable, and the despera.
does were not greatly surprised
when he defeated them all save the
captain of the band. This man had
not engaged IN the sport, but when
Long had vanquished all the others
he came forward with the assurance
of an easy victory. The shots were
made, and, to the surprise of all,
Long gained the day. The rage of
the leader of the ruffiaus knew 10
bounds at thus being defeated in
the presence of his followers, and,
although refraining from any vio-
lence on the spot, he intimated dark
Iy to the hunter that he would yet
"get even with him." Long paid
little attention to the threat, ard
soon afterward returned to his cab.
in.
AT just dusk, some days later,
Sam Long having come in from .
long hunt, WAS lying on the floor Of
his cabin and playing with the child,
while his wife Wa getting supper.
The wife, busy with her cooking,
asked Long to 90 to an adjacent
spring and bring some water. a re-
quest which he promptly complied
with, leaving his gun in the house,
a somewhat unusual course with
him. He had reeched the spring
and was just STOPPING to fill the pail
he carried, when he was borne down
by an sttack from behind, bound Se.
curely and dragged some yards into
the woods. When he recognized
his assailants he knew whot to ex-
pect. He had fallen into the hands
of the Rstldett gang, and the lead
er Wa about to "get even" Long
was stripped and bound to tree
by order Of the captain. A supply
of hickory switches WAS obtained,
and then the captain took one Of
them up aud began the whipping,
announcing, with all oath, that 10
man could beat him or his men at
shooting end stsy in the country.
Tho suAerings Of the victim were
terrible. The fleeh was cut from
his b2GA in strips by the blows. and
when the leeder Of the runians had
8ratified his rage, others of the band
the punishment. But one
man among the number showed any
mercy end his assertions that Long
bod been punished enough were re-
ceived with derision. Finally the
hunter fsintsd under the pain, aud
the ru6@ns. hsving satisfied their
grudge, departed, having the Oh
Act Of their spite still bosnd to the
tree. In this position be ives found
by his wife, who bad been attracted
10 the spot by faint moaning. She
him 10 reach the cabin,
which he did with dieiculty, and
hen nursed him faithfully to recov-
,ry. 1t was weeks before he was
we'll enough to move about.
Scarcely had Long recovered from
ais wounds when his cabin was
ound deserted, aed members of the
Rcddett band, thinking that he had
led the country, bOasted openly of
what they had done. At the same
ine, they became bolder than ever
II the commission of crime, always
luntins Or travelling together in a
company of between twenty and
hirty, and defying attack from any
Iuarter. One day, as they were EN-
aged in q hunt, member of the
'and became separated from the
est in the excitement of the chase.
1e was found, lying dead, shot in
he left eye. A few days later, one
# the ruffians, riding alone, was
illed. Again the bullet was found
0 have entered the left eye, but no ,
race of the slayer could he discOv- ,
red. A week or two passed, and
mother of the desperadOes was shot,
he same terrible accuracy being ex. ,
ibited in a shot in the left eve,
rowing all the shots to be from the I
anne source. The robbers became I
L l,rn,od o,,l liant aluarS forothar