Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-05-28
blind SteraCker."

Three miles or so above keighley, in
Airedale, Yorkshire, England, stood the
Fallow House. 1t was small dwelling,
standing on the left bank of the river,
and was originally used as a shooting
box by the Sugdens of Castleford. In
the rear stretched moor land, and seven
miles across which lay the town of Otley.
Beyond that were Headingly and Kirk
stall and then the growing and important
town of Leeds,
In June, 1888, John Steracker and his
daughter rented the Fallow House from
Mr.. Sugdent's agent in Otley. 1t con-
tanned some old-fashioned furniture, and
was in fair condition, an old woman
having long been in charge of it. Ster-
acker appeared to be man of about if
ty, of middle size, strongly built, and
ark-featured, with black hair and clean
shsven face. He was blind and greatly
dependent upon his daughter, who
seemed to be very affectionate. She was
about twenty-five years of age, finely
formed, with the complexion of milk
maid, and full of life. Steracker paid
three months rent in advance and took
possession of the house. In a few days
an elderly woman arrived to act as gen.
eral servant, and the old woman hither-
to in charge was dismissed.
Though Mr.. Steracker was blind, he
was soon able to find his way alone to
the river side, where he would sit for
an hour at a time, talking to the chill
dren and asking them questions about
the scenery. He would sit in the cot
tage of his humble neighbors and con-
verse, and soon became general favor
lite. He seemed to live well, and labor
ers passing the house late of night had
often heard the sound of festivity within,
as though the blind man was entertain
ing friends. On one occasion, as vii
lager was coming over the moor by way
of the Fallow House, he saw horse and
q tax cart standing near the garden gate,
and two men removing things from it.
On another occasion the same man was
overtaken on the moor by a person
whom he thought was Mr.. Steracker,
and whom he addressed as such.
you're mistaken, friend" the person
answered, and passed on rapidly.
Stevens, who kept "The Travel
er's Rest" near Locken Bridge,
told his customers one even
ing how early that morning he had
seen man come down the river In q
boat and land just below the Fallow
House, and that the man was either
blind Steracker or the devil. Stevens
was in swimming and the boat passed
within three feet of him. From the way
in which the man started when he saw
him come up close to the boat, Stevens
thought that was the first knowledge he
had that anyone was in the water.
While Stevens was telling this story
the cheerful voice of Blind Steracker was
heard in the outside room, and the next
moment he entered the bar parlor where
the favored few were permitted to sit.
His daughter was with him, and was
kindly welcomed by the landlady. Ster-
acker explained they had walked over
Locken Bridge, and as the evening was
fine, thought they would come on as far
As the inn, and trust to getting some one
to row them over.
Though never rowed boat in my
life" said Steracker, ''yet am not afraid
to 60 in one"
This circumstance and the general
bearing of the blind man removed from
the mind of Stevens and his guests the
impression that the man seen by the
landlord on the river in the early morn.
ing was Steracker.
At eleven O'Clock that night Stevens
and his son went down and got the boat
ready. Presently Steracker came, led by
his daughter, and both were rowed across
the river. Early next morning
news came that the residence
of Squire Kirby, two miles above Locken
BRIDGE. ON the right bank of the river,