Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02
Tbe Story eff Hang Tewn


pie, Sandwich Islanders, old Califor-
mans, and such as could get there be
fore the tide of 40 set in. Miners
from the forks Of the American rivers
had made their winter quarters there.
and there was, no doubt, a pile of
gold dust big enough to tempt the
cupidity of enterprislng highwaymen.
The log cabins of the men lay along
both sides of the main ravine and its
branches, and these We're usually di-
vided into two rooms, the berths or
sleeping cribs being built up, one
above another, on both sides of this
partition, which was usually covered
with white muslin; but the logs did
not come close together, and they who
lay in bed Oh the one side might hear
much of that which was spoken. even
In low tone of voice on the other
side
1t so fell out that one night an
American, lying awake upon one side,
became interested in what was tran
spring in the house Of his neighbors,
who were Frenchmen. 1t seems that
there Was visiting party of three
countrymen there, and the entire COM
pany had passed the evening playing,
somebody losing heavily. The occu-
pants of the house had retired to their
berths, and one OF the visiting party
proceeded to rifle the chest, while the
other two stood with drawn dirks by
the beds, threatening instant death if
either Of the sleepers moved. All of
this was overheard by our friend Nut
ter, who understood French. The
end of the cabin occupied by his COM
panY was next below, and only q few
yards distant from the hall In which
he lived, and for which we paid the
modest littel sum of $500-$100 each
the other half of our house beng
owned by q Martin, who with his wife
and two children lived there.
Now it SO happened that IN the long
evenings and balmy days our little
room was made to subserve the inter-
est5 Of a spelling circle, debating,
court of jndicature for the trial of i'm
aginary offenses, and a court of equity
for the settlement of differences be-
tween friends. 1t had fallen to my
lot to preside, and to this date matters
had been arranged so as that all felt
that even-handed justice had been
dealt out
Very naturally Nutter, the Ameri-
can, made his appearance early next
morning seeking advice. There was
no Justice of the peace there, for the
laws of the United States had not been
extended over this region. There was
40 alcalde except in the old settle
ments and missions. It was case re-
curing prompt dispatch. The vii
lains might already be moving off
W ith their stolen gold dust, or what
was even worse, perhaps domiciled in
our very midst, like a lion in his lair,
ready to pounce upon some other un-
wary one The result Of conference
was that Nutter was appointed sheriff,
to give these neighbors call, and ask
for information concerning those Wis
itOrs who came and went In the pitchy
darkness. The Frenchman refused
from fear of vengeance, until, upon
second visit they were notified they
themselves would be arrested as con
federates, unless they revealed what
they knew. There was 3 cabin sta-.d-
ing at distance of, say a quarter Of
mile from all others, out ia lonely
ravine, past which men from the forks
usually came with their treasure.
How it came there, when it came, who
lived there, what they dtd, was all
mystery. One old man was some
times seen, but he was busy, appear
ing to notice nothing but his work.
Nevertheless, suspicion had often
pointed her finger at that babitation,
when some robbery had been commit
ted, or some murdered man found by
the wayside, and when Nutter return
ed with his report that seven men
lived there; that the three robb ers
were part of that band, it required
no long speeches to bring the company
TO a decisive stand.
Locked In for the season by wretch
ed roads impossible for teams, ten
miles from the nearest settlement
Suffers mili-the discovery Of nest
of vipers at work IN our very midst
caused each one to feel it to be I'M
pnrJant that 20 time be lost. The two
F'renchmen were warned not TO move
out of their house, not to communicate
by sight or otherwise with any one
during the day. Meanwhile word
was quietly given TO such as could be
relied upon to act. Egyptian darkness
reigned that evening when Nutter
opened the door where the seven
armed men sat around the supper
table, and charged tkem with the
theft IL an instant hands moved to
the revolvcrs by tie sides, shrill
whistle by the Sheriff checked them,
and when twenty brave men armed
like themselves came through that
door and stood around them they sur
rendered. The excitement was in
tense.
Ex-Judge Russell, of Oregon, was
there at the time, and as I declined to
take the responsibility in the presence
of one skilled in law, he took the
bench. A court was organized, jury
ilnpaneled, prosecuting attorney and
prisoners counsel appointed, In order
that everything should be done fair