The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1889-05-04
CONQUERED BY SNAKES.
a Gang OF Outlaws Hemned In
by an Army OF Serpenta

by an Army OF Serpenta
The close of the civil war left some por-
tons Of the South in the hands of desper-
ately wicked men. Particularly was this
true Of parts Of Missouri, Mississippi, Ar
kansas, Louisiana and Texas. While the
Confederate troops had disbanded, and be-
fore the Federal could occupy the country,
the guerrilla and bushwhacker were there
had district assigned to me along the
St Francis river, Arkansas, and the total
strength Of my command was twenty-eight
men.
In my territory, says a writer In the New
York Sun, as soon ascertained, were some
OF the worst desperadoes in the West. All
had belonged to guerrilla bands, and all had
refused to come in and surrender at the close
OF the war The meanest, If not the worst,
man in my district was Captain Dade. He
was in command Of dozen outlaws. Isent
the desperate word to come in and surren.
der. He sent me word to 20 to thunder I
notified him in writing that II he did not
come in by certain date should declare
him an outlaw in the district, and proceed
to hunt him down and kill him. He replied
by word of mouth that il did not surren.
SSA w NIL III VI uCAOIC tilt Stult Qdt6 he
would proceed to exterminate my com.
mand gave him ten days, having not the
slightest hope that he would come in. On
the morning Of the eleventh day l had a
call from native, about twenty-five years
old, who announced himself as s'Dan,n and
who said he had called on little business
matter. supposed it to be about permit,
or to make complaint, but after bit he OBJ.
served:
Captain, them ten days ar up, au' 1
reckon Bill Dade haiD't shown hisself"
'No, he hasn't come in"
"An' he won't, nuther"
II don't expect he will"
wal, ar you gwine ter let him an his
gang keep up thar whoppin' an shottin' an
killin'r
mo. Bill Dade and his gang are now out
lawed by proclamation. am going to hunt
them down and wipe them out"
Fright of, Captain."
"As soon as can arrange for it," ="
you kin arrange right now, Captain.
That's what I'm yere fur. How much a
head II wipe out the Dade gangp
"How many are there!"
'Just five, an every one of 'em has com.
mitted murder an wuss . dozen times
over"
'Ican't offer a reward for their heads. |
have outlawed them, and the military au
tnorities have the right to shoot them on
Aght."
At that moment word was brought me
that Dades gang had come within two miles
OF headquarters and murdered two of the
command who were stationed at freed.
mans rendezvous to preserve order. Half
an hour later the man called Dan departed
on his man hunt, and he had my agreement
in writing that neither the law nor the mill.
tary should trouble him for shooting down
any Of the gang.
This daring man-hunter stepped into his
canoe and padded up the river about five
mileA Then he entered . bayou to tho
right and carefully made his way to q bit of
high ground about two miles from the
river. All the low lands were then un.
der overflow for ten miles back and he
knew Of but one spot where the outlaws
could rendezvous. This was larger island,
about half mile away, and bearing . log.
house and some farm improvements. At
this time the place could be approached only
BY water, and Dade was not blutfing when
he defed me. It is doubtful il any offer of
reward could have induced Federal SOL
der to follow Dan. The overflow had driven
the reptiles to take refuge in the bushes
and trees, and as his canoe moved in and out
the hiss Of the cotton-mouth and the warn
ing OF the RATHER came to his ears almost
continuously. Half dozen times in the
course OF half an hour hideous serpents let
20 OF the branches and fell into the water
with loud splash and swan for tho canoe.
perhaps hoping to be carried to the high
ground, and at such tlmes the man had to
lay down his paddle and beat them of with
apole. There was danger with every rod
OF the journey, and the semi-darkness and
the utter stiffness would have taken the
courage from an average man.
Dan did not land upon tho island, but
made the circuit of it in his canoe, and
satisfied himself that no sentinel was es-
tablished here, as he suspected might be the
case. II Zone had been posted there he had
been forced to abandon his position by the
thousands Of reptiles which had been driven
In for shelter. Any craft seeking the other
Island must pass here, and any craft max
ing for the river from the other island must
use this channel. Satisfied that he had left
no danger behind him, and that his way of
retreat was open il he were forced to fall
back, Dan cautiously proceeded on his
way. 1t was not yet mid-afternoon It
was hot summers day, and there was
absolute silence in the great swamp. The
outlaws, returned from their raid, would
expect pursuit, and, therefore, be watchful.
Dan was known to all Of them, and the in.
slant he was discovered he would be shot
down. He knew every foot Of the island,
and - he neared it he had his plans ali
laid. Making wide sweep by forcing his