The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-13
GOOD STORIES OF THE PRESENT DAr.
How the Outlaws OF the south~est wero
Disposed Ot.

by the time the Government had esta oished
its departments and military posts hundreds
of the late rebel soldiery were little better than
outlaws. The strong hand OF the military au-
thorties soon downed the majority. but there
were others who preferred to die in the woods
or swamps rather than return to ways OF
reace When they had been given n reasona-
bic time to come in and wien 1t WINS seen that
they openly defed the power Of the Govern
ment. they were outlawed aud price set upon
the heads OF the leaders. Moreover. small de-
tachments Of soldiers hunted them down, and
army scouts went out in pairs and had many
n stirring adventure. While these outlaws
we're ex-rebes, most Of them had been i:ucr-
rillas In the war. robhinE both friend and foo,
and the regular rebel soldier who had made
regular surrender had no sympathy with them.
In September. 1866. word came into Helena
that an outlaw named Bill Traver had taken
up his retreat In the woods few miles below
and on the Mississippi shore OF tho river. In
deed, the word came to us direct from him,
and was brought by a colored man Not being
able to WRITE he had TO send a verbal message,
and II was 10 tho effect that he hated the Gov
eminent, had killed fifty Yankees during the
war, and now deied the military force to cap
tufe him. william Bastrop and myself both
being on duty us scouts were detailed TO in
vestigate. The order detailing Us meant this.
You are hereby granted ten days leave of
absence to kill Bill Traver. outlaw. or 10 he
killed yourselves"
The negro disappeared after delivering his
message. and wo waited two days before max
Ing move. We wero then set across the river
in skiff at night and left to pursue our plans
1raver would be expecting us to approach his
retreat in front and by boat. while We proposed
to so In by the back door, If at all. He might
be in the woods and he might not, although
the negro was honest in telling his story. We
doubted If any human being could i've in The
ment of the in Q Is. We had in mind an old
CABIN In clearing TWO miles back OF the
river A SQUAD OF liIteen, OF us had
and In the fight two more had been killed.
Tor this reason No one would occupy the
Iraver would be affected by Ike superstitinu
WE did not know, but proposed 10 iln'i out We
each had Winchester and a revolver, with u
light we wero in hiding close TO the cabin.
When day bl oke We saw that the door-there
was hut one-was shut, and that an old coffee
sack had been nailed over the only window.
These we're evidences that the house was oc-
cuped hy some one and from our ambush be-
hi4d log and only pistol-shot away we kept
u closer watch.
colored man came out of the cabin aud built
fire on the ground and began to cook break fast.
We could smell the frying bacon and catch the
odor Of the coffee and we felt sure that Traver
o. some other white man was inside. 1t took
the man about half an hour to prepare tho
meal aud during this interval We made w our
minds that we had never seen him before.
When he had everything ready he went TO tho
door and called. and five minutes later Ttaver
appeared. There was no installing him, aS ha
given us. lie was a ragged, dirty, despsSato;
humor. He kicked the negro aside aud sat
down to his break asst and for ten minutes he
negro retired TO a log ten feet away. and while
he made no reply 10 the abuse heaped upon
him, he did not seem much disIur ed ~ it.
There was no doubt that Traver was well
armed. Had he not considered himself per-
fectly safe he would not have stirred out doors
without a weapon. While he had been out
lawed, and while we knew him to DO II rohber
ana murderer. we could not kill him of hand.
Etfer one , oi us could nave sent ia bnet into hd4
he would shoot us down like dogs If he had the
chance We finally, decided to flank him
right and left and hope to get so near the
cabin rs 70 cut of his rereatto il when we call
ed upon him TO surrender passed TO the right
When had accomplished halt the distance the
negro suddenly rose up alarmed by the break
inG OF a twig' saw me and uttered whonp.
while fired on the OUTLAW In an instant both
men were in the CABIN with the door shut ana
ground. and five minutes later one passing by
could not have told that there was human
being within twenty miles OF the pot.
After a quarter OF an hour of The deepeSt
silence we moved back until wa came together.
We lad Gagged our man. and the negro wa; evil
taSc OF being alb 20 10 command the only exit
from the house. but there was no telling what
offset. We decided t. guard the door and W
dow for the day at least. feeling certain that
III" outlaws had no supply fwater In the cabin.
That day seemed long enough TO max" II iull
week We were tormented by mosQuitoe-. had
only bareback 10 satisfy our hunger. and our
an On to drink We were constantly expecting
TO see the men open the door and suing
for cover, only a few feet away, and tho stua-
ton Was constant tax on the nerves. Noon
came. mid-aitern on came.the sun went down.
ana not the slightest move had been made ~
the cabin and shut the door we should nave
said that the place was untenanted. Iravcr
though desperate man. had too much serse
10 expose himself to our fire by daylight. He
knew that there were at least TWO OF Us, and
perhaps he feared that We numbered five or
sin. He had only TO wait until night came 10
get q more even show.
As tie sun went down and darkness settled
ugon the wood We crept nearer the house. and
when We finally got settled 1t was at tho roofs
Q a tree rot over twenty , teet from the door
inirly dark one. the door could not be opened
without our hearing and seeing. II was our
idea that along about midnight it would lie
suddenly flung open and the men would leap
oui 10 the right ami lett and therefore neither
o. us Sent.nGTe1 nieen wIth Ie nyri1s 90
been impossible. There were times when it
seemed as If we would be eaten alive and when
we had to lay down our guns and make a Hight
for It. At about ono o'clock there wa lound-
ing on the door Of the, cabin. and the thick
NOI y 81 mo negro ChiSu
q Hey. you white men out dar"
We did not answer until no had called SOW
era times. aud he then announced.
Narse Irayer ar dead an want TO sur |
render."
When did he de?" asked "Jes' bout an
hour ago; one o'ypu shot him dis mawnin' !
an lie S beer beedin ali day"
had ired upol him aud | feit quite GER
tn Il that had hit him and SO this statement |
s"emed very reasonable. After Consulting for |
II ~: we called to HIM 10 throw open the door !
aud come out, but ne anewered:
Ia, ttin IA r,.I 4 III a
But We promise not to lire If You do not |
, eek 10 escape
What's do time O. night"
"AbOuI one o clock"
Den I'll wait tin daylight RfOre | cum ont. |
Ion you kin all SEQ dat want to surrender an |
go up 10 H"long and line my vile. | ddn |
uuu want 10 be heah but Marse Trayer made |
II - cum.
This Ilan suited ns Just as we'll and every. !
I ing went along quietly until day Was Just .
breaking, when Bastrop suddenly reused W /
q al Whispered
What in.erHal fools We are! Don't you
ST. ell the rat ~
'Ho.'
I'll bet hundred to ono that the niger
WAS giving u tatv. They have dug out under |
III oEs % the back side while we were wait !
ing here.