River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-08-14
THE BULLY OF GILROY.
BY THE MAJOR.


There is not a community in the length
and breadth of the land that has not its
bully. A very sweeping statement, to be
sure, but every person who reads these
words can, after moments reflection,
put his finger on staggering, buster
ing bully, who is forever Dragging of his
strength and displaying his brutality,
by his disposition to impose on some per-
son weaker than himself.
In the more abiding districts, these
fellows lean towards pugilism, an de
light IN dog-fights. They are the terror
of the timid and the heroes of the de-
PRAYED, and usually snend their declin-
ing years as guests of the State, or die
with their boots on.
As the bully is invariably coward, he
never blazes out in all his overbearing
brass till he feels secure in the knowledge
of pistol or knife concealed on his per
son, where there is a law, or ostentatious
" displaying them where there is none.
Hence he is prominent figure in from
tier villages, VI here tie daring pioneer
has gone on, and law has not yet come,
with the security its presence gives.
GIlroy is thriving, beautlfully-located.
well-to-do place nov. Twenty years ago
its location was Just as attractive, but in
every other respect il was not flourish
ing place for business, nor desirable
place for quiet, religious families to set
tie down. The worst aracters of the
coast-range made it their headquarters,
and the horse-thieves of Tulare Valley
| looked upon it as their base of supplies,
| Yet even twenty years ago the advance
guard of industry and responsibility Sc
cured some of the hest positions ON the
park-like lands around Gilroy.
| Prominent among these early settlers
were the families OF Ernest Roberts and
Hector Mason. They had come from the
| Eastern States together, and the heads Of
| the families had been friends and the
children playfeilows all their lives. As
they brought considerable means with
| them, they were enabled at once 10 stock
and open up their farms in way that
secured immediate comfort and promises
prosperity.
They were Just the people TO settle L
new country, for, III addition to their
great probity and eminent responsibility,
| their homes swarmed NTH healthy chill
dren, some of whom had not even learned
to hop, while Others had learned to love.
| Jennie Roberts, nineteen, was the old
est of her father many children, and
young Frank Mason thought her, by all
odds, not only the prettiest and best ct
her own family, but of all her sex, so fat
as his experience extended. To be SURF
he could not see well--not that he had
any defect of vision, but Love plays
strange pranks . it'll the best of eyes, and
Frank Mason was one of his victims In
this case. however, Love could scarcely
have exaggerated the merits of its obiect,
There was many dark-browned senor1.
tas near Gilroy, and at certain seasons
Digger Indian squaws, in the scanties'
OF calico iig-leaves, came to the settle
ment to trade; but the attractions al
aboriginc and native-born paled in this
eyes of Gilroy army OF bachelors the
moment Jennie Roberts made her APP
pearance.
1t did not take long for the better in
clined to see for themselves that Jennie 5
heart was another's, so they prudently
withdrew from the contest, though they
could not cease to admire and respect
one who was as good and modest as shl,
was bright and beautiful.
At is time G1lroy had bully. TO be
sure it had dozen fellows with similar
ruffianly tendencies, but Jack Culp was
prominently the master in his way. He
was stout, thick-set man OF thirty-tive,
with long red hair, florid face, and al
ways appeared in an attire that might be
described as loose and loud.
Jack CuIp was ostensibly a horse
trader, and undisguisedly a gambler. He
put on the belt containing his knife and
pistol with as much punctuality as his
boots or wlde-brimmed SLOUGH hat, III"
was a fierce swearer, loud talker, and
as such men are invariably braggarts,
Jack Culp proved no exception TO the
rule.
There was a general impression among
| the people of Gllroy that he had killed
scores OF men In fights and duels; but as
this belief had its origin in Jack Culp $
statements, there were not few rash
enough openly TO assert that they thcs;ght
Jack Culp could lie without feeling any
subsequent pangs of consc -ence.
! The protection and exclusivcness that
society throws around the home ia the
older States are unknown in new settle
ment. Every body knows every body,
and there is a free-and-easy way of get
ting acquainted that is often pleasant,
| but as often the reverse, for there is not d
frontier cut-throat who would not get
murderously indignant if any one intim-
ated he was not gentleman and fit assc
ciate for the best.
| Under these circumstances, it is not to
| be wondered at that Jack CUP soon got
acquainted with the Roberts and Mason
families, nor that such man should,
from the first, attempt to render himself
attractive in the eyes of Miss Jennie.
He soon learned the relations that
| Frank Mason sustained to the young Ia
| DIV; but what cared he for thatl He would
put Frank Mason out of the way, or scare
him away. if he dared to cross his path.
He was frequent visitor at Mr.. Rob
erts' house, ard at last became so repul-
sive to Jennie that she refused to see him
VIXEN aware of his coming. He way!aid
and watched for her; he sent her ribbons
and jewelry, which she returned. And
which, in bad English and worse sped
ing. he made her an offer of his 'leort
and hand.
Mr.. Roberts sent the note back, with
the endorsement that such negotiations
could 90 ON only through him.
Frank Mason knew all of this, but 50
long as no indignIty was offered to his
betrothed he saw no reason for comi5g
into collision with the Bully of Giloy.
? ne first harvest was in, and the :emi-
lies in the settlement decided 10 COM
lcmorate the event by harvest-home
\ cnlc, one Of the best and most poetic
ideas We have retained from our mother
England. Every body WITHIN twenty
miles of GilrOy was at this festival, and
men who heretofore had looked upon
Sunday as the only time to renew their
SHIRTS, turned out on Thursday, with the
novel sensation OF men wlao approach
godliness unexpectedly by being clean at
an unusual time.
This day Jack Culp was out in all his
glory. with the reddest of kerchiefs at
his throat, and a cataract of chain tumb-