The Brunswick daily news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-13
FRONTIER LIFE.
-.

Seven years since, when I was quite
a young man-and gray is now silver
ing my hair--f had occasion to yifit the
far West in government employ, with
a party Of surveyors. The nature Of
our errand, our numbers and the elab-
crate preparations we had made
against any hostile demonstrations, in
sured us from any molestation save
In few rare instances; yet in that
wild country it was impossible that we
should remain long without witness
Ing many scenes not familiar In law
abiding and cultivated districts. To lie
sure, we were not beyond the pale of
aaw-that is, there were certain officers,
widely scattered, who occasionally shot
down some drunken desperado Il his
friends were not too numerous; but
beyond such heroic acts they seldom
exercised the powers they were sup
posed to possess. Generally, each sep
afate community had recognized
leader, some man more muscular and
reckless than his fellows. and who by
virtue of his qualities had certain
number of followers, who we're ready
20 see that his will was the ruling
power In that vicinity or course, such
men were the real lawmakers, and
they were very seldom opposed or mo-
Tested
Such one was Jack Dunlaw. Jacks
headquarters were at the station on
the Overland Mail route, where wa
CHANGED 70 be located for fow weeks,
while surveying In that vicinity. and
we had good opportunity to witness
most interesting incident In his OK
: perience. which transpired while we
were there In appearance he Vas for.
midAble enough, as we saw aim on
ghe morning after cur arrival Fully
six feet six inches In height, with long
arms and legs, slightly stooping, with
a pouderous frame, immense masses
of hair, and beard. clothing In keeping
with his general appearance, and neith-
or oyer-cleanly nor attractive, bowie
knife and revolver thrust into his belt
as he walked about the station, Jack
was certainly tho man to intimldate
any person Of moderate nerves.
For many years he had been reco9.
s ., 40 tho ivadiiis spirit Ia thai vi
cip.ty, and from that position he had
grown independent Of all restraint
save his own will. He had chosen
band of followers, who were ready TO
support him In any yillainous under
taking. We were not long kept IN
waiting before some Of his peculiarities
were brought to our notice.
The keeper Of the station. Frank
Russell was medium-aized man. some
forty years Of age. who had recently
some to the place. bringing with him
a family. consisting Of one daughter,
his vito, and a young man who had
been in his employ several years, and
who was said to be the accepted lover
of the daughter Cora. Stephen Ran
ney Was his name, a very quiet, gen
Misunderstanding young man, some
five feet nine inches high, and weigh
ing at a moderate estimate. hundred
and fifty pounds. He seldom spoke IN
less addressed, when his words were
brief and to the point
On the morning following our ar
rival, while the chief engineer Of our
corps was preparing the work for the
day. the remainder Of the party, after
examining their instruments and put
ting everything in readiness for SCR
vice, disposed ourselves about, The sta-
alon to smoke and wait for orders
While wreathng ourselves In vapor
and longing for day or two Of rest,
in strobe Jack Dunlaw, and demanded
dram Of whislley, The barkeeper
produced the beverage. and Jack,
who was already more than excited by
the potations of vile liquor which he
had swallowed. turned it down with u
gurgle. Just as he lowered the Tin cup
which served instead Of tlmbler,
Cora Russell entered the room, look
Ing for her father.
Here, gal, give Us kiss" Jack OK
claimed, as he caught sight Of her.
Alarmed at his brutal manner. the
girl turned to leave the room, but he
fore she could do so the bully had
caught and kissed her repeatedly. with
his liquorfumed and tobacco stained
lips.
AS she broke from his graep and as
capped at length, he turned 70 the bar
again, and with some heastly remarks,
threw down coin and sauntered out
those Of his admirers present laughing
heartily as he left the place
AS the scene progressed | sprans
from my seat and took a sten toward
the rufiian, but a surveyor pulled mo
back, and with q diffdence and cow
ardice of which ever since have been
ashamed, | did not make a second
movement.
saw the father turn Slightly pole,
but he made no protest, only following
his daughter from the room, ard re.
turning several minutes afterwards as
calm as ever
No one seemed TO resent this fearful
insult, which. perhaps. nowhere else in
the civilized world woald have been
permitted to so unpenished and in a
day or two we almost ceased to think
Of II. as other brutal acts on the par,
OF Dunlaw came under orr notice