Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-09-20
STAINING UNDER TIE MOOSE.
A HERDsMAN's LIFE SAVED BY HIS
wIFE'S LETTERS FROM HOME.
denver News. !

In q recent case in the recorders
court Attorney J. W. Donovan told
the following story. 1t halls from,
Texas: @-a = !
On holiday in July, 1860, herds
man was moving his cattle to q new
ranch further north, near Helena,
Texas, and passing down the banks
Of u stream his herd became mixed
with other cattle that were grazing in
the valley, and some Of them failed to
be separated. The next day about
noon u band of about u dozen noun
ted Texan rangers overlook the herds
man and demanded their cattle,
which they said were stolen.
1t was before the day of law and
coart-houses in Texas, and one had
better kill five men than steal mule
worth S., and the herlsmen knew it.
He tried to explain, but they told
him to cut it short. He offered to
turn over MI the cattle not his own,
but they laughed at the proposition,
and limited that they usually conisca-
ted the whole herd and left the thief
hanging Oh tree "a II warning to
Others in like cases.
The poor fellow was completely
overcome. They consulted apart for
a 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 him
self.
He turned to the rough faces and
commenced:
"How many Of you have wives Z"
Two or three nodded. "How many
Of you have children 7" They nodd-
cd again. p"
"rhen know who l am talking to
and you'll hear me-" and he contin-
ued: ~ never stole any cattle; l
have lived in these parts over three
years. l came from New Hampshire;
l failed in the fall of'57, during the
panic; have no home here my fami
ly remain East, for l go from place to
: place these clothes wear are rough
and l am hard-looking customer
this is a hard country days seem
like months to me, and months like
years married men, you know that
! but for the letters from home-(hert
he pulled out q handful of well-wor1
envelopes and letters from his wife,
! Il should get discouraged. l hav,
: paid part of my debts. Here are tn,
q receipts, and he unfolded the letter.
+ Of acknowledgment. l expected II
q sell ont and 60 home in November
r Here is the testament my good OLE
r. mother gave me; here is my girl
) picture" and he kissed it tenderly ant
continued: "Now, men, if you hav'
+ decided to kill me for what l an
"a innocent of send these home
Il and send rs much as yo'
- can from the cattle when I'm dead
= Can't you send half the value7 NJ
i family will need it,"
"Hold on, now, stop right thar
70 said a rough ranger. "Now, l say
" boys" he continued, ~ say, let hir
# go. Give us your hand, old boy tina
= picture and them letters did tile busi
Is ness. You can go free, but your
r. lucky, mind ye."
"We'll do more than that" said
a man with big heart, in Texan gar
te and carrying the customary brace
J. pistols in his belt; "let's buy his cal
G. tie here and let him CO."
They did, and when tho none
was paid over and the man about
start he was too weak to stand. II
n long strain of hopes and fears, bein
" away from home under such tryil
circumstances, the sudden deliverant
from death had combined to rend'
ID him helpless as a child. He sank
as the ground completely overcome. A
20 hour later, however, he left on hors
&c back for the nearest staging route, al
Il, as they shook hands and babe hi
~ good-by, they looked the happie
lr. band of men l ever saw.