Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-05-29
atlistellanu.
Frontier Life.

Several wears since, wien L was Qulle
Young man-and gray is now slvrrin,
nv hnir-I had occision to visit the f.,
west in government employ, wHh Il party
Of surveyors. The nature of our errund
onr numbers and the elaborate prPpara
lions we had made against any huslil
demonstrations insured us from any mo
leSra,ion. save in few rare Instances; We
in that wild country it was imposS bl,
that we should remain long without wit
nrsSing mlny scenes not familiar in law
abiding and cultivated districts To b.
sure We were not beyond the p he of law
that is. there were certain officers, wide
" scattered, who occasionally shot dow
some drunken desperado. if his friend
were not too numerous. but beyond sucl
heroic acts they seldom exercised th,
powers ey were supposed to poss rss
Generally, each separate community hlt
recognized leader, some mtn more mus
cuar and reckless than his fellows, auU
who hv virtue of his qualities had Il Ger
tain number of followers. who were ready
to see hat his will was the ruling poweI
in that vicinity. OF course such men Were
the real law, makers. aud they were very
seldom opposed or molested.
headquarters were at tue Station on tile
overland mtll route where we chtncetl to
be located for u few weeks, while survey
ing in that vicinity, and we had good
opportunity to witness most interesting
incident in his experiences, which trans
pired while we were there. In appearance
he WAS formidable enough, rs we saw him
on the morning after our arrival Fully
six feet SIX inches in height, with long
arms and legs, Slightly STOPPING, with Il
pond r0us frame, immense masses ni hair
and beard, clothing in keeping with his
general appearance, and neither over
cIeanIy or attractive, u bowie knife and
revolver thrust into his belt as he walked
about the station Jack WAS certainly til,
man to inlimldlte any person of moderate
nerves.
For many years he had been recognized
as the leading spirit in that vicinity, ana
from that position he I'll grown indepen-
dent of all restraint save his own will
He had chosen band Of followers who
We're ready to support HIM in every wi
famous undertaking. We were not long
Kept in wailing before some of his pecu-
liartics were brought to our notice.
The keeper OF the station, Frank Rus
SELL WAS II medium sized man, some forty
years of age, who iEtd recently come to
the place, bringing with him family con
siSting of one daughter, his wife, and It
Young man who mad been in his employ
several years, and who was said 10 be- the
accepted lover Of the daugh er, Cora
Stephen Ranncy was his name, II very
quiet. GentIemanly appearing Young man
Eyn E.oI MINI, innI,nS li,rI, 4
ing at II m derd t estimate II hundred anu
if Y poun Is. He seldom spoke nj IS AT
dressed. when his words We're brief and 10
the point.
GA The morning following our arrival.
while The chief engineer Of our corp, was
preparing the work for lhe day. the re
malnder of the party after examining
their instruments and putting every thing
in readiness for service, disposed curse, We,
about the station to smoke and wait for or
ders While wreHhng ourselves in vapor. |
and longing for II day or Two of rest. in |
strobe Jack Dunlaw, and demanded IL |
dram Of Whlskcy. he bar keeper produced |
the beverage, and Jack, who was already |
more than exritel bv the po atons Of vile
liquor, which he had swallowed, lurnel
down with gUrgIc. just us he lowered
the tin cup whnh srrv d instead of II
tumbler. Cora Russell entered the room.
looking for her father.
Here, gal, give US kiss! Jack exclaim
ed rs he caught Sighl Of her.
Alarmed ii his bulal manner. the girl
turned TO leave the room, but before she
could do 50 the bully had caught and kiss
cd her repeatedly with his liquor fumed
and tobacco siained lips.
As she broke from his grasp and escap
I'd at length, he turned to the bur again.
and with some bea>tiy remarks. threw
down II coin and sauntered out, those OF
his admirers present laughing heartily rs
he left the place.
As the scene progressed, l sprlng from
my seat and took step toward The ruflian
but II surveyor pulled me back, and with |
ditlidence and cowardce of which ever
since have been ashamed, | did not make
second movement
saw the father turn slightly pale, buI
he made no protest, only following his
daughter from the room, and returning
several minutes atterward us calm as even
No one seemed to resent this fearful III
saii, which. perhaps, no where else in thu
civilized world, would have been permitted
I" 20 unpnnished. and in day or two we
almost ceased to think of it, as other bru-
tai acts on the part of Duplaw came under
oar notice.
The third day after the above incidents
took lace we were off duty. 1t had
threatened rain during the morning, and
the day proved dark and cloudy. Shortly
ALTER noon one OF Onr party, anxious 10 see
some specimens of the famed rifle shoot
ny OF the west, took from his baggage
hn' ly mounted powder flask, which he
Chtrcd Il, prze to the best shot.
There We're half dozen volunteers. and
the details were speedily arranged. Three
shots each We're to be allowed, at one hun
dfrd and fifty PAGES, and The man whose
three shots made the shortest string,
measuring from the centre of the bull
eye was o receive the flask.
Jack Dunlaw and Stephen Ranncy were
among The Contestants. had been q lite
curious to see how these two persons
MMo'ru meet but | noticed no change in
Int Young mans department. He spuke
D"V nue. ana "hcn the list was arranged
,or lIie weccdencr voluntarily took the
!'SD place, then folding his arms and lean.
Ing against the doorway, he carefully
"'t H'V lHt HI.
Jack was one of the first to try his
t.k'II' and when three SLOTS had been fired
It was found that one of his bullets had
SIT It " Min an inch of the centre, while
Tue oilrI two were not more than half AN
men hHhcr removed
Four inches! the surveyor announced
"i'er carefully measuring the distance of
lie several shots.
las' ,growed Jack, throwing himself
upon bench; III wait here till you beat
ti'I li some on yer, and WItcn yer dew it ye
MI, take that tber lttlle powder box.
me Others fired in their several turns,
,n %"u our party was quite surprised to find
.e sh'otlnS no mole accurate. Indeed
We o"gan to look with distrust upon the
wonderful stories of romantic writer's.
All had fired at last save Stephen Ran
ney' an Jack had made much the short
est string.
me Young man took his place, and
InS'd his life, which was considerably
'"1rter than any of the others.
nl LOOK here, youngster, growled Jack,
""h wink TO his aImrers, you better