Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1879-10-02

A Herdsman's Life Saved by his Wife's
Letters from Home.
Denver News. Aug. 2Q.l

lUenVer News, Aug. 29
In recant case in the recorders court At
torney j. w. Donovan told the following
story. 1t halls from Texas:
On hot day in July, 1860, q herdsma1
| was moving his cattle to new ranch furthe
north, near Helena, Tex, and passing dow1
| the banks of stream his herd became mixel
with other cattle that were grazing in the val
ley and some of them failed to be separated
The next day about noon band of about {
dozen mounted rangers overlook the herds
man and demanded their cattle which they
said we're stolen.
1t was before the day of law and court
houses in Texas, and one had better kill five
men than steal a mule worth So, and the
herdsman knew it. He tried to explain but
they told him to cut it short He offered to
turn over all the cattle not his own, but they
laughed at the proposition, and hinted thai
they usually contiscated the whole herd and
left the thief hanging on tree as warning
to others in like cases.
The poor fellow was completely overcome
They consulted apart for few moments, and
then told him if he had any explanation to
make or business to do they would allow him
ten minutes to do so and defend himself.
He turned to the rough faces and commenc-
ed: ''How many of you have wives?'' Two
or three nodded. ''How many of you have
children?" They nodded again.
''Then know who I'm talking to and you
will hear me-" and he continued: II never
stole any cattle; l have lived in these parts
over three years. came from New Hamp-
shire; failed in the fall of 1857, during the
panic; l have been saving; have no home
here; my family remain East, for 60 from
place to place; these clothes l wear are rough
and l am hard-looking customer but this
is hard country; days seem like months to
me, and months like years; married men, you
know that but for the letters from home (here
he pulled out handful of well-worn envel-
opes and letters from his wife) should get
discouraged. have paid part of my debts
Here are the receipts. and he unfolded the
letters of acknowledgment. expected to sell
out and 60 home in November. Here is the
testament my good old mother gave me; here
is my little girls picture" and he kissed it
tenderly and continued: 'tNow, men, if you
have decided to kill me for what I am inno-
cent of send these home, and send as much
as you can from the cattle when I'm dead.
Can't you send half the value? Ny family
will need it.
"Hold on, now stop right thar said
rough ranger. "Now, l say, boys" he con-
tinued, ii say let him go. Give US your hand,
old boy that picture and them letters did the
business. You can 60 free, but you're lucky,
mind ye."
'sWell Go more than that, :" said man with
a big heart, in Texan garb and carrying the
customary brace of pistols in his belt; ''let's
buy his cattle here and let him CO."
They did, and when the money was paid over
and the man about to start he was too weak
stand. The long strain of hopes and fears,
being away from home under such trying cir
cumstances, the sudden deliverance from
death, had combined to render him helpless
as a child. He sank to the ground completely
overcome. An hour later, however, he left
on horseback for the nearest staging route,
and as they shook hands and bade him good
bye, they looked the happiest band Of men l
ever saw.