The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-05-19
PIC \ T. r. X LIFE
IN THE
NORTH-W EST.
BY JENNIE JoNBs.

Baxter either lacked the opportunity,
or scorned the idea Of hiding or escaping.
but instead barricaded himself in his own
house, and threatened to shoot the first
man who attempted to enter. This did
not deter them making the attempt, and
two brave but rash men laid down their
lives as q result Of their ~rashness, victims
Of gun in the hands Of Baxter.
No more attempts were made to enter
the building, but q parley was held, and
after much delay Baxter agreed to give
himself up TO an officer on pledge that he
should not be molested. This pledge was
finally given, and Baxter stepped out
alone and unarmed and gave himself up
He was conveyed peacefully for several
miles until near the county Jail. when
human nature, at least pioneer nature,
could endure it no longer, and he was
seized, a rope thrown over the limb Of a
tree, and one end placed around his neck.
and some sixty men Juggling at the other
end, held him suspended between heaven
and earth. until finally he was let down,
limp and lifeless-deadi dead! dead!
HOt O1t Oh tuc Intn COlCtIicN AL al
act was ever brought to trial. or even ar
rested.
A LITTLE
We read and hear much Of the over
crowded tenement houses in our cities,
but even in this a genuine pioneers dwell
ling can sometimes discount them. Here
is a specimen. and not q solitary one, by
any means:
The house was q low me-, with a roof
sloping from the front to the back. and
was without a chamber. There were two
rooms, 12x14 each. Now for the inmates.
There were three families living in this
house, and included in these three fami-
lies were seventeen children, nine OF
whom were under the age Of nine years.
There were three infants in cribs. II this
large family could not live in harmony in
the house there was plenty Of room out
Of doors.
These families wanted to buy q sewing
machine (which we would think would be
a very necessary a~rticle), and the agenA
who visited them thought the homo and
family remarkable enough to mention,
but we who have been conversant with
pioneer life can remember many similar
ones.
INJECTION FRAUDS.
New governments offer extraordinary
incentives to frauds in elections, and in
other public affairs. The desire to obtain
Owe at the commencement, to mold mat
tiers to the will Of o party, are great.
Settlements are 80 isolated, law holds 80
loose Q rein in these matters, and 20 many
opportunities for fraud oGer, that It u
scarcely any wonder that u~nprincipsed
politicians and ofice-seekers take advaut-
Q OF the situation to furthsr their WI
and their party's ends. In the history al
Chippewa valley, by T. Z. Randall. Ia
given . noted instance Of election frauds.
Were thedark historyof political matters
unearthed many other similar and as
giaring frauds might be givsu. There Il
sufficient trickery In political matters It
the present, and it is a. vol perhaps that
II rests in oblivion:
At the first election Of Stale officers In
Wisconsin, under ths present constitution.
held on the second Monday in May, B4o,
the democratic party carried the state,
and maintained As asesndancy, with .
working majority IN both branches Of ths
legislature, until Ne year 49,
In the incipient organization q any
government, the promotjon Of persons Il
positions Of trust and Official power,
whether by the suesutive or by the
choice OF the people, Is usually se1ended
By the appointment Of q large Per oent
Of corrupt, faithless add designing men u
carry on the governmsuG
The democratic party seens to have
been especially u~nirtunate in ths state,
ana many unscrupplsas dsaAgogusl
found favor with bo4A the enecutive and
The people. In . strong po,1tiosl party
lou9 In lower Il seems to be natural fs
such men TO obtain places Of trust and
power.
stsse is o. . matter Of history, and
nos . . partisan, when I say that a
pArties then in existsncs IN this statu
wers fearfully corruvt, and The leader
aad parasites Of each seemed dsAssminsd
no matter 1t what cost, 10 gain posses
sion Of the Offices, whether the peopl'
willed it or not.
The selection, management and dkpo
sitioo Of the school, university, and oGhe'
state lands, Afforded q pretext fbr The EN-
ployment Of . great number a agents
Who. being scattered all over The slats
even 70 the remotest quartsrA could 81
ways Be relied upon do any kindsf worl
Tor che party when occasion reqsirsd Y
TIE democrats Of this state he'd bsel
sompslled 10 70 back o. IT, early recort