The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-25
FRONTIER STRATEGY.

Two young men, Jacob and Jared
StebbinS, who lived in the region be-
tween the 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 16 and II. they
had taken 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
vate 100 acres of land on their fathers
patent" in Mound Creek valley, and
now it was high time to begin for
themselves
Up to this period the broad Wiscon-
sin, unfordable except in the driest
seasons, had acted as a check to the
tide of northern an1 western settle
ment 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
claims for themselves-two quarter"
upon one 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 jealousy for any move
ment toward a settlement on the
''other 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, one of the most
fertile prairies of the state The boys
now determined to move over finally
SO 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. 1t was not until May, after
corn planting, that they moved across
the river They swan over two yoke
of steers, their breaking team and raft
ed across their wagon, plows and
some other effects. 1t 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
Of the valley timber, and they had
cleared space around it. AS they
drove out into this open space, they
were surprised by the yelping of a
dog, which came rushing toward them.
and few at the faces of the steers, so
that they halted and lowered their
horns to fight off the brute. Jared ran
forward and drove the animal away
with his whip, giving it cut which
sent it back to the cabin.
Somebody's herel" said he.
Jared went forward The dog
snarled at b IN from under the covered
wagon as b approached. AS he came
up to the cabin, he saw that the boards
had been ripped from the door, and
that light was shining through a
crack.
Halo, tharl" he called, standing
close to the door,
There was a moment of waiting, a
murmur of voices inside; then the
door swung inward, and the tall,
quaint figure of a middle aged woman
stood in the open space.
Who be ye2" she inquired, gruff1y.
tl'r IN IF thu nf this
claim, said Jared, San we'd like ter
shar' the cabin with We till we en- get
some supper"
wal, We CANT come in hyerl" said
the woman, coolly. This hyer claim
n this hyer cabin b'longs ter us!" and
she stepped back to shut the door in
his face.
Jared was hot blooded, and was nat
urally angry at this turn CT events.
He sprang toward the closing door, and
threw all his weight against it. The
woman was large and strong enough
to have offered stout resistance, but she
was taken by surprise; the door few
out OF her grasp, back upon its hinges,
and Jared was propelled against her
with force that made her stagger
half way across the room.
Jared had gained admission, but
. found himself facing two big, bony
men, who had arisen from their stools
before the fireplace as he burst the
door in.
They spreng ct him, knocked him
over, set on him-one on his shoulders
and the other on his legs-and then,
with buckskin straps, proceeded to
Bind him hand and foot.
Jared struggled for a moment, and
then finding it useless, gave it up. Eo
was soon relieved of the weight of his
captors, but lay helplsssly bound upon
the floor.
All this had happened SO quickly
mat when Jake, who had heard the
scuff1e, had tied the steers and come
cautiously up to the door, gun In hand,
he found himself confronted by the
muzzles of two rifles, which protruded
through a crack which had been made
by removing board from the nearest
window.
Drop that gunl" came from within
the cabin.
But instead of dropping the weapon,
the quick witted young settler sprang
70 one side, and ran behind the wagon,
under which the belligerent dog was
SUI barking. Then he called to his
brother.
Say, Jerd, have they hurt yer
Jared shouted back that they hadn't