The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-10-24
ESCAPED THE ROPE.
The Thrilling Appeal Which Saved a
IFEa

Life.
One hot day in July, in 1860, n herds
men was moving his cattle to n new
ranch further north, near Helena, Tex
rs, and passing down the banks of II
stream, his herd became mixed with 9th
er cattle that were grazing in the valley,
and some of them failed To be separated.
The next day about noon band of about
IA dozen mounted Texas rangers overlook
the herdsman and demanded their cattle
which they said were stolen.
1t was before the days of law and
court houses i'm Texas, and one had better
kill five men than Ia steal IL mule worth
50, and the herdsman knew il. lie 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
this proposition, and limited that they
usually contiscated the whole herd and
left the thief hanging ON u tree as II warn
in. 1" all others in like eases.
The poor fellow was completely over
come. Thy consulted apart Il few mo-
mcnIs, ami then told him IL lac had any
explanation la make or business to do
they would allow him ten minutes to dc
so, and defend himself.
He turned to the rough faces and com
menced, allow many of you have wives p
Two or three nodded "How many oil
you have children?' They nodded
again.
Then know who I'm talking to, and
you'll hear me-" And he continued: 81
never stole any cattle; have lived il
these parts over three years. / came
from New Hampshire; failed there il
the fall of 81, during the panic; i hav,
been saving; l lived on hard fare;
have slept out on the ground; l haye NJ
home here; my family remain east, fO
go from place to place; these clothes
wear are rough, and l am hard look
ing customer, but this is a hard country
DAYS seem like months to me, and month";
like years married men, you know tina
but for the letters from hOme"-here h,
pulled out handful of well-wOrn envel
i opes and letters from his wife-"I shoulC
get discouraged. / have paid part o
INV debts. Here are the receipts" ant
he unfultled the letters of acknowledge
ment. Il expected to sell out and 9,
home in November. Here is the tesla
lmcnt my good old mother gave me
here is my little girls picture" An,
lie kissed it tenderly, and continued
Now, men, il you have decided to Kill
me for what am innocent of, send thes
, home, and send as much as you can iron
the cattle when I'm dead. Can't yo
send half the value my family will nee
: it."
Hold on, now; stop right tharI" sal
rough ranger. Now, say, boys,
he continued, "let him go. GIVE US you
hand, old boy; that picture and theI
5 letters did the business. You can 6
G free, but you're lucky. mind ye."
"We'Il do more than that" said q ma
with big heart, in Texan garb, an
carrying the customary brace of pistol
, in his belt; "let's buy his cattle here, an
E let him go.'
They did; and when the none
was paid over, and the man about to star
|, he was too weak to stand. The Ion
E strain of hopes and fears, being ava
\ from home under such trying circun
stances, the sudden deliverancc frOl
death, had combined to render him ;
: helpless as a child. He sank to Il
e ground completely overcome. An hoI
s later, however, he left on horseback Il
the nearest stage route; and rs the
> shook hands and babe him g0od-by
u they looked the happiest band of men
r ever saw.