New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-16

gone TO a lake in the woods, to take a bath. you
know. and that hen bathing three men mounted
ON horseback rode up and commanded them to
throw M their hands, surrender their horses and
yaluables, and be quick about it too, you know.
"Wbv didn't YOU fghtf" asks voice IN the
crowd"
Fight How could we with"
"And you let them take your horses !"
"Itell you they made us walk up to where we
had tied the horses. not stitch on us but our
shirts and they kept firing their beasty old revolt
vers at us all the time You wouldn't like it your
self to walk in your bare feet on that confouuded
hot ground and tumble every minute into pools OF
boiling water Talk of fighting in that condition,
why. you're"
al bet it's all beasty skittles." suggests one
Of the Victims sudden light dawning IN his ii''io
head. -,
"Isay, my man, it's all rum plant. you know"
cries another his face still ivid with fright and mis-
teeth all chattering, as he buttonhoes one OF the
bvstanders who compassionately remarks:
al euess we had better get the sheriff to follow
those"
"Wlsh l had had my pistol along-soon would
have shown those fellows that it's dangerous 10
trifie with an EnglshmaD," here exclaims one OF
the youngsters whose courage has suddenly re-
turned in sight of the hotel and after visit To the
bar. And there is really no telling what he would
have done for it is rumored that he lsa captaln-ln
the militia.
'Gentlemen Pm off to saddle the horses; who
will Join me 7" shouts an old guide. It's out
rageous, this whole thing; will bring the neigh
hood in bad repute, it"
Smiles are seen fitting about the lips of some
of the Gro wd others whisper mysterousy to their
neighbors, who can hardly suppress loud laughter.
The thing is plain It's only joke at the expense OF
the young men. The supposed footpads are guides
who have volunteered to perpetrate the joke on the
suggestion of certain persons DESTROYS OF teaching
the young men a lesson-and much needed lesson.
too IL must be confessed 1t not necessary to state
what the offence was of which the victims OF this
Joke had been guilty and the whole affair would
scarcely have been deemed worth recording III this
letter had 1T not found its way to the outer world
as a real highway robbery. Even the Presidents
marty, encamped Mt distance of eighty miles, had
heard of it, not as joke but as a genuine deed OF
violence, through some of the couriers VINO had
passed through the place before matters had peen
explained and friendly footing established De-
tween all parties concerned.
Talking of deeds of violence. II may pc rrnlarheu
here that this region considering its distance from
thckly tied districts remarkable torthe absence
of lawess characters such as one Is accustomed 10
meet on the frontiers. The men go about armed as
If they expected TO be attacked at any moment }
yicous looking belts full of cartridges are strapped
around their waists rifles are sung across their
shoulders, Tevolyers peep from their trousers PocA
cts and yet they as peaceful as Quakers
at any rate so long as they DO not touch Wnlskey
Here as everywhere this is the cause CT nne-tentns
Tnefts and other petty offences are almost I'M
known.