River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-11-06
CAPTAIN ISAIAH RYSDERs.
He and Thurl0w Weed are Telling Big
Stories Now-a-Days-.Here is One from
IL. 1l1.....


Rynders.
New York Letter to indianapolis Journal
az id | eyer tell you about the robber
l helped catch in Mississippi
'No, you never did," | replied. 81
would like to hear about 1t first rate"
"Well," said he, tits a good many
wears ago, when ] was a young man.
A fellow in Memphis insuited me, and
| slapped his face and Knocked him
down. Then he challenged me, and
they said | must fight him. / wanted
to conform TO the customs of the coun-
try, but didn't want to be killed.
However, had to fight him. | forget
Iow many PAGES it was, but I was
lucky enough to bring down my man.
| didn't kill HIM, but laid him up for
some months. About week after the
affair-by the way this has nothing to
do with the robbery | spoke Of this is
another story-his surgeon came to me
and said the fellow was badly off, away
from home, without money, and wound
ed. / called on the man had shot and
gave him 800. was sorry for the
poor devil. Well, now here's the point
of it; that man actually sent me the
500 with interest some years after
waTdl Isn't that romanceW
| conceded the point and the captain
went on.
About the robbery? Yes. 1t was
down there on another occasion. A
robbery occurred, and they wanted me
to help catch the thief. helped them
and got the fellow, though he was des-
perado. They took him up the river,
hand cuffed for trial, and happened
to 90 on the same boat. In the night
this robber sent a man to me to say
that the man who caught him was also
robber. who was afraid he would
peach on him for other crimes, and
who was taking him up the river not
to try, but to lynch. He said his cap
tors would take him off the boat at
certain place, and hang him in the
woods. | went to his captors and
pumped them. found out that they
were going to take the man off at the
place the robber had mentioned on the
rivcr-where there was no chance to
try him, and there they expected to
lose him. went back to the rohber
not knowing what to do, but finally |
told him if he would take solemn oath
to reform and lead thereafter an hon
est, righteous life, and not to harm the
other man, would break his chain and
help him Jump into the river. He re-
fused at first to promise not to kill his
captor, and wanted to except that, so |
went away. He sent for me after
awhile, and said he would promise. /
then told him / tried to be guided by
my mothers precepts, and would not
dare release him if thought it was
wrong, and / made him swear by the
memory of Lis sainted mother to live
better life and not harm hair of his
prosecutors head. He swore. let
him CO."
'What do you suppose became of
himf" he inquired, after an impressive
pause.
Saved" 1 asked.
cit was ten years after that, pur-
sued Captain Rynders, ''when / got in
an awful fight with gang of men on
a Pittsburg steamboat. They were
heavily armed, and two of the strongest
of them had me down. They would
have killed me, l know, but suddenly
large man came among 'em with a
club, and IN a minute they were sub
dued, and | escaped. Who do you
suppose it WASP"
'.Tne same robber whose chains / had
brokenp exclaimed the captain. 1t
seems incredible, but it's so. Saved.
Mate of the boat. Getting good wages.
Married and happy, with family of
children about him. 1t paid"
81 should think so, indeed" l said.
BY this time our lunch was over; we
complacently wiped our lips on nap
kins, returned to our desks and plunged
again into the prosy grind of daily toll.