Mission Statement:
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.
Virginia Doctor Stirs Controversy!
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
What is to be done with those who are sick of mind? It’s not an easy question; such issues are difficult to resolve via normal means. A man in Virginia claims to have the answer, and it’s stirring trouble as we speak.
Joseph DeJarnette is a doctor, the child of a Confederate captain, and nephew to a former Confederate senator. He has worked all his life to, in his own words, help those who are lesser humans. He believes the most merciful thing a person can do, is to make sure the disease of the mind does not spread further.
He is among the most vocal supporters of the eugenics movement in this nation. The movement believes that the forced sterilization of certain members of the population will help both the individual, and society. DeJarnette is lobbying the state of Virginia to make the practice legal and compulsory.
The movement has a good number of supporters, but an equally large number of detractors. People who are from Union veteran backgrounds in particular loathe the idea. The soldiers feel they’ll likely be targeted if they are disabled from a war wound, and colored men are vocally claiming they will be singled out for racial reasons. DeJarnette does little to hide the biases of his family, but feels he is correct regardless.
This is not a debate happening out in the West; it is mainly an east coast question. I don’t know truly what the right answer is, but I find it hard to listen to a man so in love with the past yet so confident he knows the future. The science behind it all makes my skin crawl, and I don’t understand how such techniques help anyone. Men like DeJarnette have always been around claiming they know best; it’s always those who come after who must live and deal with the consequences they leave.
Tumbleweed resident arrested after killing a man in a fist fight
By Jose Chavez
A fight broke out that ended with one man dead. Witnesses said that Jon Creed, Tumbleweed resident, began stalking a traveler who came into the town. Mr. Creed then attacked the traveler, connecting with several punches before the traveler fled up a flight of stairs. Mr. Creed did not relent and followed the man to resume the fight. The victim fought back, as one witness said they saw Mr. Creed get knocked into the door. However, Mr. Creed got back up and resumed the fight. Moments later, Mr. Creed walked out alone.
The witness then walked up the stairs and into the room, finding the traveler dead. A local deputy was notified and Mr. Creed was arrested. Mr. Creed did not comment on the fight but his hands were bruised and bloody. He also had a few scrapes and a bruise on his face, evidence of the fight. There remains only a single witness. Mr. Creed will be held in jail until he can be tried for his alleged crime.
Dead bodies found at bottom of Donner Falls part of a suicide pact
By Jane Duran
An explorer named Lily Dougless was shocked when she came across nearly two dozen dead bodies in the water below Donner Falls. She had just taken a moment to rest when she saw one body floating near the shoreline, caught in some rocks. “I was shocked and at first thought I could help, but quickly realized she was dead,” the explorer said, “that’s when I noticed the rest.” She looked up and saw a couple of other floating bodies and some sinking below the surface.
Miss Dougless rode for Valentine at once and reported what she found. The report was then relayed to the Ambarino Rangers, who investigated the scene. As of press time they did not release a confirmed number of deceased individuals. They did announce the finding of several suicide notes. In some cases, such notes were found on the bodies, but the wear from being in water made them difficult to read. In other cases, the deceased was identified and their loved ones confirmed finding suicide notes found for them. From what was said in the notes, it appears the group of people joined in a suicide pact. They believed, for unstated reasons, that their group sacrifice would avert a future crisis. The names of those who have been identified are being withheld until first of kin is notified for everyone in the group.
City slicker teased over hunting mishap
By Odell Clifton
A man faced the judgement of his peers after an embarrassing hunting failure. According to two witnesses who happened to be riding together to survey a piece of property in the Great Plains, the man not only failed to kill his prey but was made a fool by a wily beast. “This fella, dressed like a fancy man in a singing group, lasso’d him a pronghorn,” said one of the witnesses, “but soon as he gets off his horse, the pronghorn takes off and drags that fella by his own rope!” The man let go of the rope after being dragged several feet. “That pronghorn was long gone when he stood up,” said the other witness, “he saw us and just looked down, knew he couldn’t just pretend it didn’t happen!” Word spread quickly.
By the time the man rode into Blackwater for a drink the townsfolk had already been told the tale of the fancy man hunter. He endured the jokes and even took part, making light of his bruises and scrapes. By the end of the night the Blackwater Saloon was lively and in full swing. The town went from laughing at the man to celebrating his courage. He did not pay for a single drink that night.
Attack thwarted by a good Samaritan
By Donna Deshner
A cowpoke was attacked in Valentine this week. The victim fought the attacker back, literally fighting for their life, by striking them with their rifle. The attacker did not go down easy, however, and continued to press their attack. Before either could gain an advantage over the other a passerby ended the fight. “Just as I was preparing to go on the offensive, I heard a gunshot,” the victim said, “then I saw the attacker fall dead and another fella holding a smoking gun.” The good Samaritan was only identified as a masked woman. The savior and the would be victim shared a moment together before parting for their separate ways. The attacker’s body was take to a potter’s field for burial.
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Unwanted Guest Still Haunts Home!
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
The history of Saint-Denis is, of course, strongly connected with the sea and its harbor. For centuries ships and sailors have come and gone, occasionally never to be seen again. Unless they never leave, even after leaving this plain of existence. This is a claim a local man is telling people near and far.
Andrew Brown is his name; he bought a decent-sized house in Saint-Denis last year. He was told it used to be a tavern decades ago, but it closed. Almost immediately after purchasing the property, he reported strange goings on. Sounds of clanking glasses, the stomping of feet late into the night. Shouts and occasional arguments when nobody else is around.
It came to a head this week when he heard someone singing the old sea shanty Running Down to Cuba. He looked into the property’s history and discovered that a frequent guest at the tavern was a rugged sailor called Stormalong John. This sailor vanished one day, likely kidnapped and sold to an outgoing ship. But according to Brown, he’s come back from beyond.
Brown intends to sell the house; he can no longer live with this spectral sailor. When asked if anyone else has seen or heard the spirit, he admits nobody else has. I suppose the most diplomatic response, is to wait for what the next occupant claims to see and hear. Do they see an empty old home? Or a wayward ghost from another era?
Arrowheads allegedly found in the Five States may be frauds
By Adam Parvey
Collectors have have recently turned their focus to arrowheads, artifacts of the Indian tribes that once roamed the Five States. Though collectors have found value in arrowheads for years now, the recent focus on them has revealed that many may in fact be fraudulent. Madam Nazar, who collects the arrows and pays top dollar for a complete set of them, said that many arrows she purchases have been identified as fakes. The arrows in question are made from the same materials as authentic Indian arrows, however, they are not as old. To make them appear as authentic, fraudsters use advanced techniques to make the arrow look older. “They start with a pristine arrow, then will chip it, leave it underwater, bury it, otherwise try to make it look like it has been used and lost for years,” said one investigator.
Madam Nazar said she will continue to offer cowpokes the benefit of the doubt, claiming that purchasing fraudulent pieces once in awhile is part of the job. Unfortunately, one cannot identify a fake from an authentic piece with the naked eye and Madam Nazar is loathe to carry anymore equipment than she already does as she travels across the Five States.
Space rock enters atmosphere over West Virginia
By Frederick Vannesse
The good folk of New Martinsville, West Virginia were shocked by a loud explosion this week. Those looking to the sky saw something unique: a fireball. The fireball, explained to be a rock from space, broke into small fireballs in the sky. Witnesses said it was a spectacular event, though it was also very frightening. The explosion was also like nothing most witnesses heard before. Even old Civil War veterans said it was louder than any cannon they fired. Debris fell from the sky and caused a fair amount of damage. Thankfully, nobody was hurt.
International story right here at home: British boxer beats American champion!
By Ivy Seager
Bob Fitzsimmons went the distance with the American champion ‘Gentleman’ Jim Corbett. For 14 rounds the two boxers gave fans their money’s worth. They traded blows, countered, dodged, and near falls, Fitzsimmons pulled off the unthinkable and knocked Corbett out. Fitzsimmons had already won a disputed World Heavyweight Championship last year and facing off against Corbett, recognized as the legitimate World Heavyweight Champion, was meant to end the dispute. Corbett weighed 17 lbs. more than Fitzsimmons and dominated most of the match. Despite taking a beat, Fitzsimmons toughed it out until Corbett began to tire. In the 14th round Fitzsimmons connected with his signature ‘solar plexus punch,’ which put Corbett down. Corbett, clearly in pain, never got back up. We may not like it, but he British get this victory, one hard fought and well earned.
The Five States Herald 