Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-03-31
TALES OF PLUCK
And ADVENTURE.
sassSsaasss..S.S.cEs::r.

Face to Pace with the Dalton Gang.
Rev. Il. Il. Foster had long been
known as champion Of Law and TEN
perance when the little incident hap
pened which is told below. lie en-
tered Kansas in the early days with
John Brown.
Soon after the war he moved into
Western Kansas with his family. and
for twenty years stood for righteous
ness and temperance, taking an active
part in the battles for prohibition in
that State.
When Oklahoma was thrown open
for settlement, he saw a chance TO
throw his fighting weight against
wrong, so he entered the Territory "A
a Congregational minister and stood
for prohibition.
About twenty miles from where he
was preaching the notorious gang Of
bandits, known as the Dalton gang,
had their rendezvous. For four
years Mr. Foster had poured forth
volley after volley of facts and figures
into the camp Of the enemy OF all good
-intemperance. About this time IA
desperate deed was committed by one
OF the Dalton gang IN saloon near
by, and Mr.. Foster used the occasion
to express himself publicly upon the
relation between the liquor business
and lawlesSness and crime Not many
days afterward he received an invita-
ton from the leading men of the vii
lage, where Dalton was king to come
aud deliver Fourth of July Grafton
To the utter surprise and discomfort
Of the entire gang, he accepted.
The Da.tons were there IN full
number. Dinner was eaten rather
quietly. At p, N. the leader called
the assembly to order. and announced
Rev. DR.. Foster as the speaker Of the
day. Intense excitement prevailed.
What would he the subject Of his ora
ton? What would he say? Would
he dare beard the lion in his den, the
Dalton in his lair? Almost deathlike
stiffness prevailed when he announced
his subject -"intemperanc tn, Child
OF Satan, and LawlessneSs the Child
Of mtcmperauce. lhe Two Great
Evils That Menace Oar Free Iusti.
tViiyns"
The writer was IN the audience, aud
he saw bands, as thuugh iuvoluutariIv
grasp their revolyers The speaker
said: Ladies' aud Gentlemen. Eel
low Citizens. II am very glad of an
opportunity to address this audience
upon the subject of law and order,
because my words shall be appropriate
to this assembly, and probably new to
the most of you
4 red-haired, fery-tempered young
man, sitting just in front of me, turned
his head to a man Of some fifty years
of age and said, How dare he?' In
very calm and dignifed manner the
speaker went on to show how the very
gang before him had its headquarters
in a saloon, and many, if not most, OF
their lawless schemes were Matched
ont from brains excited by liquor.
He showed how the very success OF
that band OF men acted to stimulate
lawessness in the land. And az Il
republic was possible only among
lGwahIding and intelligent people,
these men were traitors to their coun-
try As the speaker proceeded in
this direct manner, he grew more and
more fearless, but never careless of
his language. In the midst of the
Grafton the speaker irritated the sandy
youth. He grasped his revolver and
started to draw it from its scabbard
When the old man sitting by saw the
motion Of the youth. he placed his
hand upon his friend and said
Jack, be careful. Look at that old
mans eye. He knows where he is.
and what he is doing, and my word
for it he is prepared Tor anything We
called the doctor, and We must take
our medicine with as much grace as
the men do when we have the drop on
them" During the course of twenty
minutes, which was the length of the
address, | saw three or four revOlvers
drawn But their owners thought
better of the act, and replaced them
i'll the scabbards. After the address,
We drove home home Immediately. but
we were followed for three miles by
party of bandits, probably acting as
an escort. Guy Foster i'll The New
Voice.