The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-11-01


was before on the increase, and improve
ments went on Is usual.
The circulars of the company sent to
other portions of the State had the do
sired effect, and very soon other fami-
lies began to come in in considerable
numbers. all taking up claims and re-
lying upon the printed pledges Of the
company that in no case should the land
cost more than the price asked by Gov
eminent for wild lands.
SO time sped on.
And now those who came first to the
Slough began to reap abundantly Of the
fruit of their labor and perseverance.
The work of turning 4 veri;able desert
into . garden had been accomplished
1t had been done, too, without capital,
and by men who were forced to support
themselves and their families while the
transformation was being made.
Orchards aud vineyards were loaded
with fruit Olives and apples, peaches,
plums. apricots, pears, pine-apples, lem
Ons, pomcgranates. nectarines the
semi-tropical fruits, and some which
grow nowh re else outside Of the tropics
themselves, were to be found in full
bearing upon the irrigated lands of the
settlers at Mussel Slough.
Green fields grew broader and green
er. Little tlocks and herds of cattle
and sheep were to be seen feeding on
the rich vegetation which came with
the water that oyerspread the land
from the system of irrigating bitches;
and as the result OF all this, new and
pretty cottages were taking the place OF
the wretchea huts in which nearly all
had been forced to live during the first
years Of their residence: and it was in
the midst of this prosperity, when want
had been banished by years of patient.
persevering toll, and they were rejo c.
ing over troubles past. aud the thought
that for the rest of their days they
could take life easy, that the stroke
came which turned all their ioy into
mourning, and changed the current Of
their blood from the peaceful flow Of
quiet, happy hearts to \ seething flood
in hearts made hot with fear and
hatred.
This was no rumor from AIN unknown
source that reached their ears, awaking
doubt in some and r.dicule in others.
| 1t was not the faint murmnring of
distant storm that might never reach
them, but the sudden rush of the whirl-
| wind; the flash of the lightning. the
! falling Of the thunderbolt from sunny
\ sky. II came q a notice from the rail-
road company to each settler. inform
ing him that he was trespasser on the
lands OF the company. ana must imme-
diately vacate unless he was prepared
to pay the value of the lands occupied
by him. which hal been carefully APP
praised. So the notice read, by COM
petent judges, whose estimate of the
value of each quarter-sec,ion accom-
panied the notice.
This appraisement ranged from ten
to thirty-iivc dollars per acre: that of
Erastus Hemingway being thirty dol
lars per acre. or a total Of four thousand
eight hundred dollars, which he was
asked to pay to the railroad company
desert; or falling therein was ordered
to at once yacate the premises.
The excitement which the receipt of
these notices caused can be imagined.
Threats of vengeance upon the officers
Of the company were both loud and fire.
1 queni. and had they been present, there
/ is no question a to what their fate
| would have been. Death in some form
would unqnestionably have been meted
/ out to them.
! But they were careful not to be- pres
/ ent.
They had deliberately laid. aud were
now executing. plan to rob these peo-
pie of their homes, and they were too
cunning to come within reach of their
victims while the first hot flush of right
eons anger was upon them.
With the power which their immense
wealth, the gift Of Congress. gave them,
they did not fear the courts or the State
authorities.
They already controlled these, and
were prepared to bride or threaten, as
they deemed most likely to accomplish
their ends. any official who stood in the
way of their plans for wholesale rob.
berry.
The leaders in the plot stood high in
social and political circles
The settlers had small means of max
ing the outrage upon their rights
known, and their cause was, indeed,
desperate. and it is small wonder. when
in every dwelling at the Slough were
women whose eyes were red with weep
ing, that there should be men whose
lips uttered curses, and whose muscles
twitched with eagerness to lay hand
upon the authors of their woe.
Only few days before the notices to
pay or vacate reached the settlers,
Erastus and Lucy had received letter
from Mrs. Parsons saving that they had
at last found probable purchaser for
their place.
They would know in few days, she
wrote, and if they sold they should pack
up and start for the Slough at once. a
they did not wish, even ii the purchaser
OF the property would permit, 70 re-
main on the mountain through the win.
ter. 1t would seem more lonely than
ever when the place was no longer theil
own.
The only thing that would delay
their coming, if they sold, was John.
ny's health.
The boy had not been az well a.
common the past summer, and haj
been quite sick recently, but was get
ting better now, and she thought would
be able to be moved, and if they sold
she would take him and start at once
by boat, leaving MI. Parsons to drive
across with their household goods, =:
Erastns and Lucy had done.
The reception OF this news hai
caused much pleasure to the young
couple, who were both DESTROYS of hav.
ing their parents near them.
Lucy was especially anxious for the
presence of her mother at this time,
and fastened to reply, urging that they
sell if they could get anything like a
fair price, and that they come at once.
But when the determination of the
railroad corporation to rob them Of
their own home became known te
them, they felt it would be better fol
their parents not to sell, at least for the
present; and Lucy again wrote, telling
her parents Of the difficulty they were
in, and that if they had not sold. i
might be better not to do SO.
1t was hard thing to do, and tn.
! moor vtunr wife haa often tn nanSa n n.