River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-08-26
DIR. Tanner and the Blenders

DR.. Tanner survives and is doing
well, but the Blenders are rapidly sink
ing away So long as they remained
in Nebraska under the monopoly of the
newspaper reporter, they flourshed.
rhey fairly competed with the great
faster in notoriety. Morning and even
ing they were deliberately reported
phe old man was particularly rich in
"reminiscences of the horrible times
when he lived under the Bender roof
and fairly raved ut bare mention OF
his being returned to his old Kansas
habitation. But once upon the blood
stained soil of that bleeding State, and
the luster pales A little more fading
and he will disappear forever Old
Bender has already fallen to the leye
of common tramp, and even Nancy
has lost her charms There is pathOs
in the very thought. Lucifer in all his
glory and fall was not more utterly
changed in condition.
The public will now settle down to
the belief that Judge Lynch sat injudg-
ment upon that family before its mem
bers had time to get beyond his juris-
diction, some seven years ago, and that
they were disposed of almost as sum
marty as their own victims hld been
However unlawful such pro reedingS
would be, they could hardly be called
unjust Ifanything, they would be toe
lenient Such crimes as they commit
ted would deserve torture, upon any
theory of really retributive justice.
Punishment is preventive, rather than
retaliatory, in its most accepted theory,
and, if only assured that those horrible
brutes are where they can do no more
harm, the public will be quite con-
tent.
1t is highly probable that by this time
the Bender prisoners have been dis
charged from custody, The people
who have known the Blenders as neigh
bors pronounce the prisoners a couple
of impostors. What could have in
duced them to tell such stories as they
did about the way victims were slaught-
cred is q mystery They were travel
ing northeastward and were taken
southwark. They lost ground by their
free ride. But it is idle to speculate on
the motive which actuated them. The
sensation has fulfilled its mission and
must die out. 1t is highly probable
that the last chapter in the Bender TO
nance has been written, and that even
if the genuine Blenders should appear
upon the scene of their exploits they
would be so changed by time and hard-
ship that their nearest neighbors would
fail to recognize them. Indeed, the
fact that this couple are pronounced
impostors does not prove it to demon
stratiOn. Like Jubal Cain, they may
have outgrown recognition
Or. Tanners light, on the contrary,
is not growing dim. 1t shines with adj
ditiOnal luster. He is certain of a WIDE
and somewhat permanent fame. Hh
phenomenal stomac is bound to dc
great things. Having shown its powers
OF endurance, it is now gradually devel
oping no less astonishing industry
especially in the way of assimilation
Even watermelons can be made flesh
and contribute to the substantial IN
crease of the body A few more days
of equal progress and DIR. Tanner will
be renewed in the inner man, and all
the theories of the medical profession
touching the effect of such protracted
abstinence will be refuted by absolut,
demonstration. If he should succeed
in shaking somewhat the almost sup
erstitious confidence of people in doc
tors he will prove great benetactor to
mankind. The physicians are very use
full and necessary in their place; but
the main reliance for sound healto
must be upon proper treatment OF
oneself especially in eating and drink,
ing, not upon Prescriptions Chicago
Journal