The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-10-14
STANDING UNDER THE MOOSE
A Herdsman's Lite Saved by His
Wife'S Letters from Home.
(Denver News, August 30.

III u IcCcut CASE III tuC htCUIuct
Court Attorney j. W. Donovan told the
following story. 1t halls from Texas
On hot day in July, 1860, a herds
man was moving his cattle to new
ranch further north, near Helena, Tex
and passing down the banks of 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 band Of about a
dozen mounted Texan rangers overlook
the herdsman and demanded their cattle
which they said were stolen. f
1t was before the day ofaw and court
houses in Texas, and one had better kill
five men than steal mule worth SIS,
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 propo-
sition and hinted that they usually. con-
fiscated the whole herd and left the thief
hanging on tree as warning to Others
in like cases. N
The poor fellow was completely over.
come. 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. a
He turned to the rough faces and com.
menced allow many Of you have
wives ?" Two or three nodded. "How
many of you have children ?" They
nodded again. aia 1
"Then know who I'm talking 10 and
you'll hear me-" and he continued: 81
never stole any cattle; have lived in
these parts over three years. / came
from New Hampshire; failed in the fa
of 81, during the panic; l have been sa'
wing; / have no home here my family
remain Fast, for go from place &c
place; these clothes wear are rougl
and am hard-looking customer; bu
this is hard country; days seem like
months to me, and months like years
married men. you know but that for the
letters from home-( there he pulled ou'
handful of well-worn envelopes ant
letters from his wiie)-I should get dis
couraged. have paid part OF my debts
Here are the receipts, and be unfoldet
the letters of ackno wledgment. / ex
pected to sell out and 60 home in No
vember. Here is the Testament my goo(
old mother gave me; here is my LITTLE
girls picture,' and he kissed it tenderl,
and continued: Snow, men, il you hav,
decided to kill me for what l am limo
cent of, send these home, and send Al
much as you can from the cattle wher
I'm dead. Can't you send half the val
uep My family will need it," i!
"Hold on, now stop right thar! sait
a rough ranger SNOW, / say, bovs,' he
continued, II say let him go. Give u
your hand, old boy; that picture ant
/ them letters did the business. You Cal
go free; but you're lucky, mind ye."
"We'll do more than that" said ma
witha big heart, in Texan garb and car
rying the customary brace Of pistols i
bis belt; alet's buy bis cattle here an(
lie. him CO."
1 They did, and when the none
was paid over and the man abou
to start he was too weak to stand. Tn
long strain of hopes and fears, bein
away from home under such trying cir
cumstances, the sudden deliverance fror
death, had combined to render him help
less as child. He sank to the groun'
4 completely overcome. An hour later
however, he left on horseback for tn
i nearest stage route, and as they shoe
hands and babe him good-by, they look
i ed the happiest band of men | ever saw