Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-24
COWBOY VENGEANCE.
Ihree Men Steal Three Mustangs, Are
Pursued and One is Captured
and Hanged.

w. ". Alexander, who for many wears
lived at Bryan, Texas, told at the Palace
hotel the other night, says the San
Francisco Chronicle, of the fate of three
horse thieves.
"a horse" said he, ''was considered of
mere value In the Lone Star state than q
man. The Desperate who killed a COM
panion or who put out the light of a
tenderfoot took high place In society.
but II he stole horse-well, he was Jerk
ed higher. Sometimes in the speedy ad-
ministration of justice, the wrong man
was strung up: sometimes man was
hoisted for taking his own horse, but as
the victims of the mistake never com
planned, little was said abont the errors.
You know, the cowboys in Texas had a
saying that it was better for 100 innocent
men to be hanged than for ore horse
thief to go UNPUBLISHED. Among the
more cultivated and reverend that was
believed TO be culled from the 10 COM
mandments, and the cowboys pinned it
TO the pummels of their saddles.
ION one occasion we were driving a
herd through New Mexico and had not a
horse tosspare. Every animal was in use,
and we were very careful of them, as we
had long ride. The trail was dotted
with 'strass,' fellows who had no head
quarters and whose business was that of
horse stealing. One morning we awoke
to find thrse of our best mustangs gone,
with saddle, bride lariat clean run off.
Half dozen started in pursuit of the
thieves, who were not more than five
hours ahead. We knew they daren't
leave the trail, and it was only question
OF endurance on the part of the horses.
All day we rode, but never got sight o
them. 1t was agreed that we should ride
for couple of hours after dark, and saw
ing the time of cooking, make so much
On the thieves. The chase began again
early In the morning, and the riding was
hard and fatlgulng. In the afternoon we
saw hOrseman leave the trail and strike
away for the hills. We gave YELL One
of the thieves had 'petered' out and had
been left behind. We spurred on and
saw that he intended making the chase a
long one. To intercept him We had to
make wide detour, and we knew dark
ness must be on US before we captured
him. Our mustangs showed signs of
fatigue, but cowboy would rather lose
half dozen animals legitimateIy than
see one carried off by pirate. So we
piled rope and spur and in a couple OF
hours got IN bullet range of one man.
We began popping at him, more to draw
his fire than anything else, we cared
neither to kill him nor to cripple the
horse. He couldn't hit a barn and his gun
was soon useless. Then we dashed nm
and one of the Boys dragged him from
the saddle. We asked him no questions
you've lost the Others" be said
vegetation was soant there, but we
took the highest we could find and drag
ged him up until his head was within two
inches of the limb and his toes criss-
crossed the ground as he swayed. He
struggled frightfully and wriggled one of
his boots off. The buttons on his clothes
gave way, and when We left him he was
almost as naked as when he was born.
ave struck the trail again and halted
for rest. The horse we hal recovered
was almost played out, and the others
were in very bad condition. The pur-
suit was over for good many hours and
we needed the thought of one man
caught and hanged TO buoy us up. All
the next day we followed, and when we
took supper we began to think we had
done the best We could. Some were for
giving up the chase, but it was decided
to spend another day on the trail.
"In the morning the air was loaded
the carrion-eaters like specks against the
clouds.
"'They're going to pay their respects
TO the man behind u.s. said one of the
party.
"'He's finished long ago. was the re-
ply. Boys, there's something dead in
'front.'
eve mounted again, and as we rode
the vultures became thicker. We fol-
lowed their flight, and by midday we saw
hundreds of the heajstone-like birds of
prey on the plains. The trail of the horse
thieves was at an end. The vultures
arose and hung over Us as we rode up to
the place of the feast. By the side of
the brown skinned man lay a pile of
bones,.we yet, but feshless. The bones
of the horse thief were as clean as if he
had been boiled.
"They haven't started on this one"
said one of the boys, kicking the body
that had not been devoured.
Nor they WON'T" said the man who
told us there was something dead in front
Hes a Spaniard, an so full of red pep
per that vulture won't touch him. /
had heard the boys say that before, and
did not believe it. But there the man
lay, perfect as when he dropped from his
horse through fatigue, and by his side lay
the ,ean bones OF man who had fallen
with him. And there he would lie for
months and at the end of that time
would give no signs of decom position,
but every day the elements would steal
from him something of his humanity and
at last he would become as the dust OF
the plains. We took up the trail very
leisurely, and got to the herd without
trouble"