Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-05-09
FRONTIER STRATEGY.

Two young men, Jacob and Jared
Stebbins, who lived in the region be-
tween She Blue Mounds and the Wis
consin very early in the history of
that country, belonged to the pioneer
class. Their father had moved up
there from Galena some time before
the Black Hawk troubles and, though
they were but lads of Is and IL, they
hsdtaken part in the defense of Mound
Fort and in the battle of Wisconsin
Heights.
As they grew up and Jake came of
age. they became ambitious TO have
Land of their own. They had helped
clear, grub, break up, fence and cult
vste 100 acres of land on their fathers
''paient' il. Mound Creek valley, and
now il was high time TO begin for
themselves.
Up to this period the broad Wiscon-
sin, unfordable except in the driest
Seasons, had acted as q check 10 the
tide of northern and western settle
nnnt in their district. There was
much choice land upon the other side,
and some two years before Jake was
81 the boys had been across the river
hunting. and had staked and blazed
cnims for themselves-two quarters"
upon n of which they had subse-
quently erected a snug log cabin,
which they had covered with boards
of their own make,
They spent the greater part of two
winters in this cabin, hunting or split
ting rails during the short days, and
in the spring, summer and autumn,
while working on their fathers place,
they watched jealously for any move
uent toward q settlement on the
'1Uther side"
The winter before Jake came of age
several other claims were taken, above
their own, on the west side of the
river, on Sac Prairie, n of the most
fertile prairies of the state. The boys
now determined to move over finally
% soon as they should gather the
spring crops upon their fathers place.
In March, upon going home from
their claim, they left their cooking
Utensils and other belongings inside
the cabin, and closed the door and
window by mailing heavy strips across
them. II was not until May, after
corn planting, that they moved across
the river. They swan over two yoke
ofsteers, their breaking team and raft
ed across their wagon, plows and
some other effects. II took them
nearly all day to cross, and it was late
in the evening when they reached
their cabin.
The cabin had been built in the edge
Il the valley timber, and they had
cleared q space around il. As they
drove out into this open space, they
were surprised by the yelping Of q
dog, which came rushing toward them,
and few at the faces OF the steers, SO
that they halted and lowered their
horns 10 fight off the brute. Jared ran
forward and drove the animal away
with his whip, giving it a cut which
sent it back 10 the cabin.
Somebody's herel" said he.
Jared went forward. The dog
snarled at him from under the covered
wagon as he approached. As he came
up TO the cabin, he saw that the boards
had been ripped from the door, and
that a light was shining through a
crack.
"Hallo, tharl' he called, standing
close 10 the door.
There was a moment of waiting, a
murmur of voices inside; then the
door swung inward, and the tall,
guant figure Of a middle aged woman
Stood in the open space.
"Nho be yer she inquired, grufly.
"I'm one OF the owners of this
claim" said Jared, 'an' we'd like ter
shar' the cabin with ye till we en- get
some supper"
''Wal, We CANT come in hyerI" said
the woman, coolly. This hyer claim
n this hyercabin b'longs ter u.s. and
she stepped back to shut the door in
his face.
Jared was hot blooded, and was nat
urally angry at this turn OF events.
He prang toward the closing door, and
threw all bis weight against it. The
woman was large and strong enough
10 have offered stout resistance, but she
was taken by surprise; the door flew
out Of her grasp, back upon its hinges,
and Jared was propelled against her
with a force that made her stagger
half way across the room.
Jared had gained admission, bull
found himself facing two big, bony
Deu, who had arisen from their stools
lore the fireplace az he burst the
ADor In.
They sprang at him, knocked him
0vgr, sat on him-oneon his shoulders
I'D the other on his legs-and then,
With bucksdn straps, proceeded 10
Ind him hand and foot.
Jared struggled for q moment, and
then finding II useless, gave il up. He
wns soon relieved Of the weight OF bis
Wptors, but lay helplessly bound upon
no floor.
Al this had happened 90 quickly