Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-11-11
FRONTIER LIFE.

a young man-and gray is now silver
ing my hair-I had occasion to visit the
far West in government employ, with
a party Of surveyors. The nature OF
bur errand, our numbers, and the elab-
Orate preparations we had made
against any hostile demonstrations, in
sured us from any molestation, save
in a 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 be
sure, we were not beyond the pale c1
law-that is, there were certain officers.
widely scattered, who occasionally shot
down some drunken desperate, IL MS
friends were not too numerous; pu'
beyond such heroic acts they seldom
exercised the powers they were sup
posed to possess. Generally, each sep
arate community had a recognized
leader, some man more muscular and
reckless than his fellows, and VINO Dy
virtue of his qualities had a certain
number of followers. who were ready
to see that his will was the ruling
power in that vicinity. Of course, such
men were the real lawmakers, anu
they were very seldom opposed or mo-
Tested.
Such a one was Jack Dunlaw. Jacks
Headquarters were at the station on
the Overland Mail route, where we
CHANGED to be located for few weeks,
while surveying in that vicinity, ana
we had a good opportunity to witness
a most interesting incident in his ex-
perience, which transpired while we
were there. In appearance ne was lot
midable enough, as we saw him on
the morning after our arrival. Fully
six feet six inches in height, with long
arms and legs, slightly STOPPING, with
a ponderous frame, immense masses
of hair, and beard, clothing in keeping
with his general appearance, and Meth
er over-cleanly nor attractive, bowie
knife and revolver thrust into his belt
as he walked about the station, Jack
was certainly the man to intimidate
any person of moderate nerves.
For many years he had been recog-
nized as the leading spirit in that Vi
cinity, 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 villainous under
taking. We we're not long kept IN
waiting before some of his pecullarltleS
were brought to our notice.
The keeper of the station, Frank
forty years of age, who had recently
some to the place, bringing with him
a family, consisting of one daughter,
his wife, and 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, very quiet, gen.
tlemanly-appearing young man, some
five feet nine inches high, and weigh
ing at a moderate estimate, hundred
and fifty pounds. He seldom spoke I'M
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 ser
vice, disposed ourselves about the sta
ton to smoke and wait for orders.
While wreathing ourselves in vapor.
and longing for day or two of rest,
in strobe Jack Dunlaw, and demanded
a dram of whiskey. The barkeeper
produced the beverage, and Jack,
who was already more than excited by
the rotations of vile liquor which he
had swallowed, turned it down with
gurgle Just as he lowered the tin cup
which served instead of a tumbler,
Cora Russell entered the room, look
ing for her father.
Here, gal, give us kiss!" Jack ex-
claimed, as he caught sight Of her.
Alarmed at his brutal manner, the
girl turned to leave the room, but be-
fore she could do so the bully had
caught and kissed her repeatedly, with
his liquor-fumed and tobacco-stained
lips.
AS she broke from his grasp and as
capped at length. he turned to the bar
again, and with some beastly remarks,
threw down a coin and sauntered out,
those of his admirers present laughing
heartily as he left the place.
AS the scene progressed / sprang
from my seat and took a step toward
the ruffian, but a surveyor pulled me
back, and with a diffidence and cow
ardice of which ever since have been
ashamed, did not make a second
movement
l saw the father turn slightly pale.
but he made no protest. only following
his daughter from the room, and 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 would have been
permitted to go unpublished; and in
day or two we almost ceased to think
of it, as other brutal acts on the part
CT Dunlaw came under our notice.
The third day after the above incl
dents took place we were off duty 1t
had threatened rain during the morn
ing, and the day proved dark and
cloudy. Shortly after noon one of our
party, anxious to see some specimens
of the famed rifle shooting of the west,
took from his baggage a finely mount
ed powder flask, which he offered as
prize to the best shot.
There we're half-a-dozen volunteers,
and the details were speedily arranged.
Three shots each were to be allowed.
at one hundred and fifty PAGES, and the
man whose shots made the shortest
string, measuring from the centre Of
the bulls eye, was to receive the flask.
Jack Dunlaw and Stephen Ranney
were among the contestants. | had
been quite curious to see how these
two persons would meet, but I noticed
no change in the young mans deport-
ment. He spoke but little. and when