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To endeavor to bring to all residents of the Five States the most current and important news from across the entire Five States region. Never yellow, the Five States Herald vows to serve only the people of the Five States, from New Austin to Lemoyne, free of charge now and forever.
Baker Brothers’ Botched Breakout
By Frederick Vannesse
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the silence over Sisika Penitentiary was shattered by the thunder of gunfire and the roar of engines. Authorities confirm a failed breakout attempt was launched from the east side of the island, spearheaded by the infamous Baker Brothers—Charlie, Eli, and Seth. Seth, the youngest of the three, had been captured just last week when he attempted to buy rifles in Lemoyne with counterfeit money. The Baker Brothers had recently been busted out of prison while being transferred to Sisika so authorities transferred Seth Baker quickly. But it seems his brothers were not content to let the law have him.
Under the cover of dense fog and a waning moon, Eli and Charlie, along with four hired guns, approached the island aboard a stolen tugboat out of Saint Denis. Disguised as supply contractors, they managed to dock at the maintenance pier in the early morning hours. Reports from surviving guards describe an explosive charge being detonated at a side entrance of the workhouse, followed by a brief but fierce firefight. The attackers never reached the main cell blocks. Within fifteen minutes, the guards had killed two of the thugs and wounded Charlie Baker. Eli and the remaining outlaw fled back to the vessel, but it was struck by rifle fire before it could pull away. The boat ran aground near the western rocks, where Eli was last seen disappearing into the marsh. His body has not yet been recovered.
Charlie was taken into custody, bleeding from a shoulder wound, and is now being treated in the prison infirmary—ironically, just a few cells away from his brother Seth. Officials say both surviving brothers will face federal charges. The warden praised the quick action of the guards but warned this wouldn’t be the last bold attempt on the isolated prison. “If they think Sisika is just another gate to bust down,” he said, “they’re in for a rude awakening.” Eli Baker is presumed dead, but authorities have not officially declared him as dead. “We will continue a search for Eli Baker,” said a federal agent, “and if he is still alive and shows his face, we’ll get him.”
Did the drought lead to madness provoked murder?
By Jose Chavez
A grim discovery was made by travelers heading west out of Tumbleweed, where a homestead was found abandoned, its well bone-dry, and its residents dead. The McReedy family, settlers from Pennsylvania, had been trying to live off the land despite this summer’s brutal drought. Authorities believe the patriarch, William McReedy, succumbed to dehydration and delirium before killing his wife and four children in a fit of madness. Scrawled in chalk on the side of the barn were the words, “the rain was a lie.” Sheriff Freeman said, “this is a reminder that this land is harsh and unforgiving, folk not sturdy enough should just stick to greener pastures.”
Man of the Bible vs a bear
By Jane Duran
A traveling preacher from Annesburg met a violent end this past week in the snow-covered hills west of Mount Hagen. Reverend Caleb Fry, aged 42, had reportedly set off on a personal mission to convert trappers and prospectors in the high country. His camp was discovered by a passing hunter, torn to shreds, with only his Bible and a bloodied sermon tucked under a rock nearby. Tracks and signs at the scene suggest he was mauled by a large grizzly bear. Locals note that Fry had recently boasted in Valentine about being “protected by the Lord from all manner of beast.” The bear, evidently, did not share the sentiment.
Murder in Blackwater
By Odell Clifton
Patrons of the Blackwater Hotel & Restaurant were shaken yesterday morning when a guest was found dead in his bathtub with his throat slit. The victim, identified as Mr. Gideon Hoyt of Chicago, had checked in under a false name and was reportedly in town to “invest in lumber.” Hotel staff say he kept to himself, except for frequent visits to the barber. Lawmen are investigating connections to a known swindling operation in Saint Denis. Most bizarrely, no weapon was found, but the bloodied message “Trust no reflection” was scrawled on the mirror. The barber, after giving his next customer a trim, stated plainly, “He wasn’t from around here, and maybe that was his mistake.”
Railway Fire Near Emerald Ranch Delays Freight
By Emery Cosberry
A suspicious fire broke out on the tracks east of Emerald Ranch late Tuesday evening, resulting in the derailment of a westbound freight train. Witnesses described seeing flames licking the trestle well before the train reached the bend, but no warnings were given in time. The engine collapsed into a shallow ravine, and two trainmen were injured in the wreck. Though no fatalities occurred, several crates were looted from the smoldering cars in the confusion, including tobacco shipments and liquor bound for Van Horn. Rail officials called the fire “likely deliberate” and offered a reward for information.
Suspicion quickly turned toward several ranch hands recently dismissed from nearby properties for refusing buyout offers from a Valentine-based land syndicate. The Emerald Ranch stationmaster described the scene as “mayhem with the smell of kerosene.” Lawmen from Valentine and Van Horn have joined the investigation, and rumors swirl of a broader campaign of sabotage aimed at slowing the syndicate’s grip on New Hanover’s farmland.
Midnight Shooting Rocks Rhodes
By Aloysius Levron
The quiet of Rhodes was shattered near midnight on Saturday when gunfire erupted outside the Parlor House Saloon, leaving a young man dead in the dust. The victim was identified as nineteen-year-old Everett Hill. Witnesses say the boy had been drinking and arguing with several older men over a poker game gone sour. One witness, who asked not to be named, claimed Everett pulled a pistol first but was outdrawn by a drifter wearing a gray hat and riding a white horse. The shooter fled town before deputies arrived.
Hill’s wealthy and well connected Uncle Heath R. Hill called the killing “an assassination,” demanding swift justice. Others in town quietly allege that Everett was known to provoke fights and had been ejected from the Parlor House before returning with his father’s revolver. Tensions are now high, with some townsfolk accusing the law of dragging its feet while the due to the well connected Mr. Hill and his allies. As one shopkeeper put it, “Ain’t no justice here—just a different kind of trouble depending on who your kin is.”
Investigation launched into “Harriet’s Brew”
By Adam Parvey
A growing number of complaints have prompted officials to quietly open an investigation into the conduct of Miss Harriet Davenport, a well-known naturalist operating across several regions. Miss Davenport, recognizable by her eccentric dress and impassioned views on wildlife preservation, is accused of spraying an unknown chemical substance in the faces of hunters and trappers she deems “killers of the natural world.”
Witnesses describe encounters where, after being accused of harming animals, they were doused with a strange vapor that left them dazed, nauseated, or momentarily incapacitated. One victim near Lagras claims he blacked out entirely after a confrontation with Miss Davenport, waking up in a shallow pond with no recollection of the prior hour. Another, a trapper from the Tall Trees region, alleges the substance caused temporary hallucinations and loss of balance. While none of the individuals have suffered lasting harm, the erratic behavior and lack of transparency about the ingredients have raised red flags. Moreover, there is concern that victims are left vulnerable after such a spraying, leaving them exposed to outlaws or wild animals.
A source within the Office of Local Investigations, requesting anonymity, confirmed that samples of the compound have been requested for testing. “We aren’t interested in impeding her work as a naturalist,” the source said, “but we are concerned about the legality and safety of what she’s spraying on people.” Miss Davenport has not responded to requests for comment, but associates claim the compound is “entirely natural and harmless to those with a clear conscience.”
The Five States Herald 