The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-01-19
Iho Pitched Into Them in Her Pap'T,
The Prairie Eagle, But, Instead, Chip-
pod In and Gave Her Helping Hazd.
Which was Nee ded.

rights and were not SpafInS III lHtii ce
nunciation of him and his order.
Near Ryan's ranch there was little
| town known as Prairie City. 1t was an
insignificant place. with less than 200
population. but it gave promise Of great
things in the future. Its inhabitants
md the settlers on the prairie about 1t
believed that in time Prairie City would
become one of the leading towns OF
Kansas. Unfortunately. however. the
hopes Of those people were never TO be
| realized. 4 railroad was soon after
built through that part Of the coun-
try. and it missed Prairie City BY jrSt
two miles. The result was new town
on the railroad and the death of the old
one. Prairie City went the way OF hun
dreds of other Kansas towns. Its popu-
lation took up their possessions, includ-
ing their houses. and moved across the
prairie TO the railroad.
In Prairie City's halcyon days, how
ever. it boasted Of newspaper, the
Prairie City Eagle. 1t was not much OF
paper. being small and poorly printed,
but il was quite as good as its patron
age justified. Its subscription list was
extremely limited and its advertising
business was dwarfed to one column of
display matter and few lines Of pay
locals
The Eagle. as matter Of course,
stood by the town people and the set
tiers. and when Ryan set his men to
fencing in the public lands for grazing
purposes it came out with strong
editorial denouncing him in. the sever
est terms. 1t pronounced his action dis
honest. as he was stealing the peoples
rights. 1t went further and said that
it was the lowest and most contempti-
bic species Of dishonesty, since by it he
was stealing homes from poor, strug-
Cling men and their wives and children.
thereby robbing them of chance 10
earn an honest living.
1t is the duty Of the homeseekers,
it went on. 'to protect themselves
against the encroachments of this
greedy cormorant. who. for the sake OF
adding to his ill-sotten wealth. would
starve even the innocent. unconscious,
helpless babe in its mothers arms 1t
is the duty of the settlers to band to-
gether. to take the law in their own
hands and cut the wire that shuts them
ont Of their own. Tear down the fence.
drive off or kill the usurper's cattle and
give him to understand that if the gov
ernment won't protect YOU you can and
will protect yourselves
\ copy OF the paper containing this
editorial fell into Ryan's hands. He
read ii and boiled over with wrath and
Indignation. He was forced to admit
that there was much truth in the arti-
Gle. but it was none the more palatable
to him for that. He swore vengeance
against the Eagle and its editor and
vowed that not another issue Of the
paper should be published.
At dinner time he read the article 10
his employees as they sat at the table.
They were six in number. recently emf
grated from ranch down in Texas. and
had reputation for being the hardest
and most reckless daredeyils that ever
rode the range. When Ryan had fin
ished reading he said:
What do YOU think of that?"
Il think it's blamed big growing
from mighty little rooster" one OF
the cowboys replied.
If the settlers want to take that edi-
tors advice and try it on about cutting
the wires" another said, Just let them.
They'll find before they get through
with it that they've got into the hottest
and most unhealthy job they ever
tackled
Then you boys viii stand by me?"
Ryan questioned.
"Of course we will" one OF them an
swered. We're paid 70 work for you.
and we've not got any love for settlers.
Well see that your fence is not cut and
that your cattle are not bothered
That's all right" Ryan said. 'but
there is someta:Yg else want you to
do
What is it?''
Il want this paper squelched."
We'll squelch it"
Il want you to ride over to Prairie
City tonight and clean the thing out
root and branch. Burn the Office, smash
up the old press and chase the editor
out of the country
Wen co it."
Just after supper that night the cow
boys loaded their pistols carefully and
buckled them about their waists. Then
they brought out their horses, saddIed
and mounted them, and rode away in
the direction. of Prairie City at mad
gallop. Just before they reached the
town they came to halt. One of them
said:
"Now, boys, We don't want to take
any reckless chances in this business.
so we had better be little cautious. !
guess that editor is a Spindle-shanked
gogcle-eyed old rooster from the east.
who'd drop dead at the sight of a pistol.
but still he may be a raiment Of q differ
ent color. For all we know he may turn
loose and go to pumping lead into US at
the rate Of about 60 bullets minute.
1t will be safest to kind Of slip up on
him and take him unawarcs'
The others agreed to this proposition
and accordingly they rode quietly into
town, diSmounted and tied their horses.
and noiselessly approached the Eagle
Office. \ light was shining through q
window Of the little, one-Story box
building. and by one common impulse
the cowboys stole cautiously forward
to this window with view TO peepng
into the room TO see how the land lay.
On one side OF the room they saw q.
ricllety old typestand containing a half
dozen cases Of type. On the other side
stood an old army press. while in the
center there was 4 Zinc-covered goods
box which answered in the place OF an