River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-07-05
AN ADVENTURE IN TEXAS.
liz TEXAS JACK.


liz TEXAS JAcR.
AT the period when the following in
cident occurred, California and Texas
were Infested by taIds of desperadoes,
Vino held the rights Of property and life
in the highest possible estimation.
acted as sheriff in California durlnR
her most Iawless period, ahd had occa-
sion to bring some bad characters to
justice. A number Of them were hung
and others escaped unhung, swearing
vengeance, eventually resigned my
commission, and then went into Texas.
] had some pretty hard knocks there,
and ouce came near my death at the
hands OF some horse stealers AS it was,
| did not get of my bed for six weeks.
In the conflict was shot in the thigh,
the bullet leaving tearing wound, and
| was stabbed in the right breast. At
one time was given over, but my tenn
perate hahits told favorable for me. We
broke zip he band and that was some
satisfaction.
had scarcely regained my, wonted
vigor when | met with an adventure
that Is worth relating,
| had bsen off to the western part Of
the state )h business, and was returning
home ophorseback, Theh / teached &
stream tfSt tgss, crossed by means of q
Jerry. Tie boat was on the opposite
side, and ~ the faint light distinguished
the signal trumpet hanging on an
old post. This / blew, and hearing the
answer ofthe ferrymap, waited with inn
patience tie moment when ! Should SEQ
The ferry BOAT move from the opposite
shore
| shouted at last: "Come, make haste,
Pm behind time nowl'
"Hang your time" was the response,
in a deer end powerful Voice.
| saw that Impotence would make
matters worse, so / held my tongue. At
last the boat moved out into the stream
sDd cnuld hear tbs tnuttefiiigs OF ti1
feftgindh Ere long the barge grated
on the sand, and after getting my horse
in as hest / could, followed.
AS seen in the dina light, the counten-
ance ofthe ferryman was not very pre-
possessing, The hose appaared TO be
Broken, and one eye gone. Then the
jaws we've heavy, and grizzly mus
tache, which he was consta ntly biting,
lent most determined expression to
and eeeibed hard Customer.
When.I stepped into the barge | no.
ticed that he eyed me rather sharply,
and if the moonlight had been clearer.
might have seen something in that eye
different from friendship. | ventured
one or two off hand remarks, but re-
ceived only gfnnts in answer; so | gave
up the idea of being spciable; = q.
Once Hrtwice ! tutnad toward ny
salier companion, and each time caught
the one deep and penetrating eye fixed
on me. The first time | paid no atten-
ton to it; but the second time | was
startled by an expression as If all the
evil mortal was capable of was concen-
trated in that single orb. ! sat gazing
into his sinister eye, as if undet the IN
qehee q serPPsR}tiRe s fa3ggihato T. The
moon broke from the clouds and poured
light down upon the ferryman's face.
II was the face CT acertain Dick Thur
der whom had arrested in California,
aud whose father was hung for murder
committed under such a2gravating cir
Gums tances that We strung 4ltn up be"
fore there could De any possibility 5f sa-
cape Dick broke out of Jail mot diff
ficult performance in those days-and
swore to shootme whenever and where
ever lie might chance to meet me.
] was not expecting TO meet this des-
perado in Just such place, and under
lust such circumstances, and was taken
entirely off my guard. My opinion was
that he failed to recognize me st first,
thinking, perhaps, that | was still act
| ing as sheriff in California; but now he
knew WHOM lie had on board, and tllst
he would attempt 10 carry otit Ills threat
had no doiibt..
My revolver was in my breast coat
pocket. K moment under such cifculn-
stances is an hour. and / sow that any
p~ecipitate motion on my part would
draw his fire before | could even I'M
button my coat, for well knew that he
had n revolver ready at hand. either to
shoot victim or resist an arrest.
thought it best to show no feeling,
but appear to be perfectly uncOncerned.
So | turned my eyes down the river,
anc remarked carelesslyi
"a fine sight 'Spose you've been IN
these parts long enough to know ell the
hooks and corners?"
"Yes-and all the contemplate
scoundrels that cross here, tool"
This WAS hitting pretty close, but |
remained imperturable.
"Ahi SO you nab few Of 'em now
and thenW
turned sharply on BIN when / s,tid
this, and rs | did SO, managed to uii-
button my cost with the left hand,
which was on tile off side"
"You Internal neck ppller, dye think
to fool me again? Eve got vel You
know me, and you'll know something
more befor you can say yer prayersp
looked hlm calmly in the eye. |
quickly resolved to distract him from his
present purpose by engaging him on
other grounds till / could operate.
"You were a coward to kill a womaD,"
said [ with voice of sarcasm.
You should have seen his eye, then!
1t seemed fairly bursting from his head,
and he was now growing blind with fury.
"You cursed scoundrelp he yelled;
"I'll show YOU that ] can kill two peO-
pIew
He glared at me with one orb charged
with the spirit of murder, and, drop
ping he rope which was stretched from
shore to shore, and by which he was
pulling the barge. he thrust his hand
within his flannel shirt.
Now seize him" cried !, as if ad
dressing some one behind him.
Lost in his passion, he fell into the
trap, and turned his head for an instant,
as if to defend himself from one of my
men, He saw the trick at once, but 1t
was too late My pistol threw off the
gleam of the moonlight-a flash and re-
port; and the body of the ferryman
pitched headlong into the river. The
current carried it out of sight, and l
pulled the barge ashore and continued