The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-01-08
FRONTIER LIFE.

E0tNtldl Ntdlo Wllti WOO dultt
a young man-and gray is now silver
Ing my hair i had occasion to visit
the far West in Government employ,
with a party of surveyors. The ma
ture of our errand, our numbers, and
the elaborate preparations we had male
against any hostile, demonstrations, in
sured us from any molestation, save in
few rare instances yet in that wild
country it was impossible that we should
remain long without witnessing many
scenes not familiar in law-abiding and
cultivated districts. To be sure we
were not beyond the pale of law that
is, there were certain officers, widely
scattered, who occasionally shot down
some drunken desperate, II his friends
were not toe numerous, but beyond
such heroic acts they seldom exercised
the powers they were supposed to pos
sess. Generally, each separate com
munity had recognized leader, some
man more muscular and reckless than
his fellows, and who by virtue of these
qualities had certain number of fol-
lowers, who were ready to see that his
will was the ruling power in that
vicinity. OF conrse such men were
the real w.makers, and they were
very seldom opposed o. molested.
such one was Jack Dunlaw. Jacks
headquarters were at the station on
the Overland Mail route where we
chanced to he located for few weeks,
while surveying in that vicinity, and
we had good opportunity to witness q
most interesting incident in his expert
ence, which tranSpired while we were
there. In appearance he was formid-
able enough, as we saw him on the
morning after our arrival. Fully six
feet six inches in height, with long
arms and legs, slightly STOPPING, with
a pOnderous frame, immense masses of
hair and beard, clothing in keeping
with his general appearance, and
neither Over.cleanly or attractive, a
bowie knife and revolver thrust into
his belt as he walked about the station,
Jack was certainly the man to intimi-
date any person of moderate nerves.
For many years he had been recog-
nized as the leading spirit in Il at vicin-
ity,and from that position he had grown
independent OF all retraint save his own
will. He had chosen band of follow
ers who were ready to support him in
every vilaiEous undertaking, We
were not long kept in waiting before
some of his peculiarities were brought
to our notice.
The keeper of the station, Frank
Russell, was medium sized man, some
forty years of age, who had recently
come to the place, bringing with him a
family consisting of one daughter, his
wife, and young man who had been
in his employ several years, and who
was the accepted lover OF the daughter
Cora. Stephen Ranney was his name,
a very quiet, gentlemanly appearing
young man, some five feet nine inches
high, and weighing at moderate esti-
mate hundl ed and fifty pounds. He
seldom spoke unless addressed, when
his words we're brief and to the point.
On the morning following our ar
rival, while the chief engineer of our
corps was preparing the work for the
day, the remainder of the party, after
examining their instruments and put
ting everything in readiness for service,
ourselves about the station TO
smoke and wait for orders While
wreathing ourselves in vapot, and long
ing for day or two of rest, in strobe
Jack Dunlaw, and demanded dram
of whiskey. The barkeeper produced
the beverage, and Jack, who was al
ready more than excited by the pota-
tiOns of vile liquor which lie had swal-
lowed, turned it down with a gurgle.
just as he lowered the tin cup which
served instead of tumbler, Cora RUS
sell entered the room, looking for Ler
father.
Here, gal, give us q kiss |" Jack
as he caught sigh. of her.
Alarmed at his brutal manner, the
girl turned to leave the room, but be-
fore she could do so the bully had
caught and kissed her repeatedly with
his liquor-tumed and tobacco stained
lips.
As she broke from bis grasp and es-
capped at length, he turned to the bar
again, and with some beastly remarks,
threw down a coin and sauntered out,
those OF his admirers present laughing
heartily as he left the place.
As the scene progressed / sprann |