The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-01-29
Tho Yigilantcs.

Ever since tho town of Deatlwood wo,
started, and long before it was laid out. II
has been the rendezvous of murderers. road
agents. thieves and cut-throats, who gen.
erally lntcst frontier river town, and tho
nrst murder dates back to the 'days of TO
when one out OF party Of pilgrims con-.
ing to Pierre was killed by rutilan while
camped at that place. Tho murderer made
his escape. The number of mcn killed at
that town Is not less tha twelve or fifteen.
| ana IN every case the Lii |orers have gone
unpunishcd, and been allowed to walk the
streets as free as any man. The city has
| not yet any government; the country is not
| organized, and law and order arc things
| that are not known therc-or have not been
known heretofore. But, however, there is
| an end to all things. and the time has come
when tho outlaw will have to observe the
laws OF the vlgilantes or take the conse
quences-cold buck shot. A little over a
week ago character named "Arkansaw," {"
and the man who killed the 'Kid" last
summer, with gang of followers, went
over to East Pierre and began making
themselves q little too numerous with their
pistols. Arkansaw would occasionally
pull sut his pistol, cock 1t and request some
peaceaDle citizen to come to him, and if
the least hesitancy was observed in CON-
plying with this request, tho result would
be q volley of pistol shots, after which
Arkansaw wonld put his revolver back IN
this holster and resume his search for
another tender foot. Sometimes shot or
two would take etfect but that didn't mat
ter; 1t only gave little spice to his per-
formances. His entire gang was composed
OF Just such mon as HIMSELF and on one
afternoon they succeeded in creating terror
wherever they made their appearance. After
creating all the disturbance they
could, and taking prisoner awayfroma Uni
TED States deputy marshal, they went to West
Plerrc. Tor the ayowed purpose Of returning
and cleaning out the town. Thoy did roturn,
but were met by two hundred vigiantes.
and two hundred shotguns staring them
III the face, and were requested to turn
immediately and never again show them
selves in East Pierre. The request was COM
piled with, but Arkansaw aud gang rot
ON the warpath, and, each one strapping
On three or four revolvers, tho entire out
tit, about one hundred and fifty outlaws,
cowboys and bullwhackers, went over to
thy thy tR19fEre :elesA oa5" MN sthe .towp ga
when they got In, and went directly to the
dance house, now and then shooting out u
light In some store or house as they passed
by. They shot everything-windows,
lights, men, horses, and all had to take it.
Every minute would bo heard the sound
chang, bang" Of the shotgun and heard
the tramp of two hundred vIgilantes
marching III line, bearing >wn upon the
roughs. In moment it seemed rs if a
terrible cannonading was going on, and
old soldiers said it sounded worry much like
q pitched battle. The gang was driven
down to the river, flying IN every direction
before determined tire of the vigilantes.
Arkansaw, little Drawer than his men,
hesitated, then made IN attempt
ut resistance. But in hcsitating he
sealed his own doom, for almost in
moment full fifty shot we're fired,
and the cut-throat brigand Arkansaw fell
10 the ground riddlcd with bullots. a re-
view OF the grounds showed three or tour
wounded, but mono others were killed. This
is the only method by which the commune
Ly can safely rid themselves of these out.
laws, who set fire to their buildings, break
III and rob stores and garroLe men on pnb-
hc streets, even in broad daylight.