Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-11-06
CAPTAIN ISAIAH RYNDERS.
He and ThurlOW Weed are Telling Big
Stories NOW-a-Days--Here is One from

Stories HOW-a-DayS--Here is One from
Rynders.
New York Letter TO Indianapolis Journal.
81 ID | eyer tell you about the robber
[ helped catch in Mississippi"
"No, you never did," 1 replied. "I
would like to hear about 1t first rate"
"Well," said he, ''its a good many
years ago, when 7 was young man.
A fellow in Memphis insuited NE, and
| slapped his face and knocked him
down. Then he challenged me, and
they said I must fight him. l wanted
to conform to the customs of the coun-
try, but didn't want to be killed.
However, had to fight him. | forget
low many PAGES it was, but [ was
lucky enough to bring down my man.
| didn't kill HIM, but laid him up for
some months. About a week after the
afair-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 500. / 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
ward! Isn't thai romance?"
[ conceded the point and the captain
went on.
about the pbbery? Yes. 1t was
down there on another occasion. A
| robbery occurred, and they wanted me
to hel p 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 go on the SANE boat. In the night
this robber senta man to me to say
that the man wfD caught him was also
robber, who vas afraid he would
| peach on him for other crimes, and
who was taking nim up the river not
to try, but to lylch. He said his cap
tors would take Inn off the boat at a
certain place, AID hang him in the
woods. | wen to his captors and
pumped them. | found out that they
were going to tale the man off at the
place the robberhad mentioned on the
.rivcr-Where thee was no chance to
try him, and thre they expected to
lose him. Iwet back to the robber
not knowing whit to do, but finally |
told him if he would take solemn oath
to reform and lad 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 romise not to kill his
captor, and wantd to except that, 80 I
went away. II, sent for me after
awhile, and said lie would promise. I
then told him I ried to be guided by
my mothers prcepts, and would not
dare release hin if [ thought it was
wrong, and I male him swear by the
memory of Lis santed mother to live q
better life and no harm hair of his
prosecutors heal. He swore. I let
him CO."
"What do yol suppose became of
himf" he inquired, after an impressive
pause.
Saved" I ask,d.
1t was ten vars after that, pur-
sued Captain Ruders, "when [ got in
an awful fight With a gang of men on
a Pittsburg steamboat They were
heavily armed, aud two of the strongest
of them had NJ, down. They would
have killed me, know, but suddenly a
large man cane among 'em with
club, and in minute they were sub
dued, and l ecaped. Who do you
suppose it was?
'The same rbber whose chains l had
broken!" exclaimed the captain. 1t
seems incredible, but it's SO. Saved.
Mate of the boat Getting good wages.
Married and hfppy, with family of
children about Inn. 1t paid"
81 should think so, indeed" I said.
By this tins cur lunch was over; we
complacently wiped our lips on nap
kins, returned 10 our desks and plunged
again into the prosy grind of daily toll.