River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-06-04
and most vigorousl demonstrated with

and most vigorousl y demonstrated with
them.
"Whom do you take me for?" I ex-
claimed with great heat. what are
YOU hanging me for?" etc.
Forward the leader ordered; and
in the midst of my remonstrant out
cries, / was forced along, out through
the willows to the trail and thence on
ward to crag beside it, where two ce-
dars grew, overhanging the path below.
Ny shouts, my frantic denials of hav-
ing been guilty of any crime, and my
vehement assertions that my name was
not Fairbanks, made not the least i'm
preston on my captors, and were re-
ceived with nothing more than an in
credulous laugh.
The leader now spoke again. "Al
Fairbanks, alias Henry Dothan, alias
Charles Campbell" he said slowly, i'm
placably, eve know all about you. Mon
tana's no further use for We. We gave
you fair chance; and if you had been
disposed to be decent man, none of
your old record would have been dug up,
though you were double-dyed criminal
when you came here. You robbed
sluices at Deadwood and Silver Gulch.
We knew all about We when ye first
came here. But we gave you chance
for yourself. You would go on the old
road though. Last week you broke in
to camp at Bannock; and not month
ago, you shot and robbed miner not
two miles from here. Fact, we've let
you run altogether too long. If you've
any remarks to make, we'll listen-two
minutes"
Again / protested that / was not the
man, that my name was Stuart, that
had but Just arrived at Fairbanks cabin !;
and for a moment or two / hoped that
my frantic asseverations had produced
some effect. The leader took lantern
which one of the party carried and held
it close to my face. They looked at me
searchingly.
"Thls is Fairbanks fast enoughi" one
said; the others agreed with him.
Don't waste your breath in use
less lies about yourself" said the leader
of the committee.
1 thought of home, and of my sister,
the only living relative whom | now
had eff you will murder me, ex-
claimed, send my watch and my peck
et-book to my sister. Miss 7. r. s.,
Pennsylvania.
Give that address again, please"
said the leader, taking out a notebook
and pencil. repeated it and he wrote
it down, saying, "All right; they shall
go as you direct"
While he spoke two others of the
party seized my arms. Suddenly they
stopped and spoke to the leader, who
stood in front of me. He went round;
L felt that they were examining my
wrists. But why?
"W. S. on both of them" one said.
Then | recollected the initials on my
wrists, in Indian ink, with which, when
boy at school, / had been pricked on
each arm, and along with them an
anchor.
"Those are my initials-for William
Stuarti" Exclaimed. "They were put
there years ago. That is my name"
at is just possible" the leader said
to the others. eve will keep him till
tomorrow"
Forthwith was hurried back to the
shanty, mounted on horse and thence
taken. closely guarded, across the COM
try, by moonlight. to Bannock City.
Here l was thrust into a cellar, and
left in darkness till the following even
ing, when three men appeared at the
door and babe me come up.
With some natural anxiety Irespond-
ed to the call, when brief apology was
made me for the inconvenience" to
to which had been subjected / was,
moreover, advised to keep a close
mouth as to what hal occurred, and al
so to be more cautious in whose COM
pany l was found in future.
Fairbanks, alias CAMPBELL never
saw nor heard of afterwards. 1t is
quite apparent that having received
"permit to travel" from the vigilants, be
had seen fit to do so and leave me to ex.
plain to these summary gentlemen a:
best l could
l found the law of keeping ones sell
among good associations was the way
of safety even in new country, and
was glad enough afterwards to follow
the advice of my new friends, and "to
be more cautious in whose company ]
was found"