Opportunist earns rare pelt when cowpoke “disappeared”
By Jose Chavez
A man called “Shivy” reported a bizarre story: a disappearing cowpoke and horse. According to Shivy, he heard the cowpoke and rode toward him. “As I got closer, the fella just disappeared!” Shivy said. Before he could react to the shock of what he saw, the horse disappeared. “I was stunned, the horse just disappeared before my very eyes!” Shivy explained. Shivy admitted that he would have thought it was all a trick of the light, or a result of eating spoiled food, however a pelt was left behind. “I kept moving toward where the fella and horse were and found a rare pelt,” Shivy said. Left behind was an Ozula Elk pelt, which Shivy claimed as his own. “I don’t know where that fella disappeared to, and I didn’t think they’d come back, so figured it was better to put it to use, right?” Shivy explained. Though I was unable to verify the story, it true it is another strange story in a string of unexplainable events. Quite fitting for the season.

Nathaniel Cross returns to New Austin
By Wylie Frey
Bounty hunter Nathaniel Cross, who is also accused of being the Grey Cowboy, was spotted in the Tumbleweed Saloon eating a meal and drinking a beer. Cross appeared relaxed. The sighting comes after federal law enforcement agents exited the state. In New Austin, Cross has been pardoned of all crimes he is accused of as the Grey Cowboy. Though it appears that Cross has not accepted his deputizing, as he was not seen wearing a badge. He was, however, actively bounty hunting in New Austin. He was seen as far as Thieves’ Landing. One witness said a man fled north, crossing the Lower Montana River. “Cross didn’t follow,” the man said, “he just pulled a long rifle out and shot him from a great distance.” The wanted man reportedly died from the shot and Cross merely left the body to be scavenger food. I was unable to catch up to Cross for an interview, but it appears he is enjoying his new found freedom in New Austin while avoiding states where he is still wanted.

Man claims to have been abducted by “spacemen”
By Caylen V. Hornby
Valentine residents were stunned by the story of an old man, who they described as, “frantic, with wild eyes.” According to the old man, “spacemen” came upon while he was riding a trail near Barrow Lagoon. “I saw lights in the sky, real bright, far brighter than the stars in the night sky,” the old man said. He explained the he lights stunned him, frightened him in place. “I couldn’t move, I told myself to run but I just couldn’t move!” he said. What he remembers after that is, “bits and pieces.” “There were men, but not like us, larger eyes and greyish skin,” the old man said with a palpable fear in his eyes, “more lights, very bright, I was strapped to a bed, I couldn’t see much else.” He described flashes of memories, of being cut open and prodded.

His next clear memory was waking up on a cliff above the Dakota River. The cool air, “sober’d me up quick, but my horse was gone so I had to walk to Valentine to get help,” the man said. After checking into the town hotel, he noticed his hair was a little more grey than he remembered. “I… I don’t know how long I was gone, but I looked older, almost didn’t recognize myself,” he said. He shared his story with authorities, who had the town doctor inspect him. “I don’t know what to make of the man’s story, but he had no scars on his body indicating any kind of surgery,” said Dr. Ben Calloway. The old man had no friends or family in the area to contact, thus his whereabouts or expected age could not be determined independently.

WANTED!

Investigators: Travel the Five States and report on what is going on.
Writers: Write the stories investigators find!
Photographers:
To take photographs to be used in the Herald.
Can also do all three!

Apply today!

Man held up by outlaw is saved by stranger
By Odell Clifton
A man was nearly killed in Big Valley this week when he attempted to help a woman in need. However, the woman in need was anything but in need. “The woman pulled a gun out and struck me to the ground before I could react,” the man said. A stranger rode up, which the man did not realize was the savior he needed. “I, well, I thought he was a friend of the woman and I was doomed,” the victim said. However, the stranger drew his weapon and fired on the woman. Other outlaws rode out of the words and attacked, however the victim recovered and with the stranger, fought the attackers off. Before the would be victim could thank his hero, however, the stranger rode off before he could thank him. “Saved my life, so I’ll always be grateful!” the rescued man said.

Man survives knife in head; arrested when he is identified as a wanted gang member
By Nick McCrary
A man later identified as Felton Honeywell stumbled into Blackwater disheveled and bloody, causing quite the shock among townsfolk. It was fortunate for Mr. Honeywell that a man staying at one of the city’s hotels was a doctor who saw to his wounds. Mr. Honeywell said he and his friends were attacked. “Something hit me in the back of my head and I blacked out for a moment,” Mr. Honeywell said, “when I came to I saw a fella with a knife and yelled out to my friends.” Mr. Honeywell said he could not properly aim his gun at the attacker, “he, he, he was, was like a, a, ghost,” he said. Mr. Honeywell said he felt a pain in his chest and then collapsed.. When he awoke, his friends were all dead. A local lawman recognized Mr. Honeywell as a wanted outlaw and realized his friends were a gang recently broken up by a gunslinger. “I cannot give you information about the gunslinger of course,” said the lawman, “but he is well known to us but not so known to outlaws, on account of his thoroughness when dealing with them.” Mr. Honeywell was promptly arrested. A surgeon will attempt to remove the knife from the back of his head early this week.

Collector murdered by fellow collector
By Donna Deshner
A collector was killed by another collector at Flatneck Station this week. The victim climbed the tower there, having spotted something. “I heard him say something about a tarot,” said a witness. The man then climbed the tower. A second man known as Mr. James according to a witness followed the first man up. At the highest platform, the two men exchanged words. “They were too far from me to hear them,” the witness said, “but they didn’t look terribly friendly.” The first man moved to the side and let Mr. James recover whatever it is they were looking for. Then, unexpectedly, Mr. James pushed the other man off the tower. Witnesses gasped as the man fell from the tower, screaming until he hit the ground. A man who had been playing cards saw the entire thing and mounted his horse and rode to Valentine to bring lawmen. By the time the lawmen arrived, Mr. James was gone. The witness who knew the killer’s name did not know anything else about him or where to find him. Without questioning Mr. James, it is impossible to know the motive behind the killing. However, it is likely that this was both a professional rivalry and a crime of opportunity. “Suppose you have a rival in a vulnerable position, a single push and it’s one less fella to compete again,” said a Valentine deputy, “what would you do?”

Assault on New Hanover!
By
Valentine residents were awoken late in the night by a posse of masked outlaws attacking the town. In the chaos it was impossible to tell how many outlaws made up the posse, but one witness claimed to have seen at least three people, others said five to six and still others claimed two dozen or more. Sheriff Curtis Malloy and several deputies were locked down in the Sheriff’s Office. “Every time we tried to make a move we were fired on,” said Sheriff Malloy, “every exit was covered.” The masked outlaws threw firebombs at buildings but were unsuccessful at causing any lasting damage. Just as quickly as the attack started, it ended. “We heard some quiet but were pinned down for awhile after the shooting ended,” said Sheriff Malloy, “but eventually we were able to exit.” With the outlaws gone, the lawmen assessed the town for damage. An hour later there was another attack at Emerald Ranch. The masked outlaws burned cattle, shot farmhands, and robbed the nearby train station. The outlaws were gone by the time lawmen arrived.

The lawmen followed the outlaws’ trail, which led them to Van Horn, where the outlaws attacked but were pushed back. “In Van Horn, there was some shooting and at least one killed,” said a pursuing lawman, “but the residents fought them back.” The outlaws reported to have headed north. The posse of lawmen found Annesburg in disarray. “They had been there and killed several,” said a lawman, “they used dynamite found in the mines to really terrorize folks.” With Annesburg lawmen overwhelmed, the town suffered the attack until the outlaws grew board and fled into Ambarino. In Ambarino the trail went cold. In the masked outlaws’ wake was thousands of dollars in destruction, dozens of injured people, and nine people dead. With no leads, authorities cannot follow up on the attack and are urging folks to stay armed and ready at all times.

Increased sell of tobacco products reported at Rhodes general store
By Mathilde Orry
Rhodes resident A.J. Banks said he nearly ran out of tobacco products on Thursday of this week. “Real strange, like there was a run on tobacco all of a sudden,” Mr. Banks said. He reported that all day Thursday cowpokes would visit his shop, with some just walking in and immediately walking out and others buying cigarettes and cigars. “Chewing tobacco just sat there most of the morning ’til one feller said to another feller, ‘it says OR chew,’ whatever that meant,” Mr. Banks said. Most visitors purchased tobacco products five at a time, though smaller and larger quantities were purchased as well. Sheriff Leigh Gray said the increased commerce came with law enforcement challenges. “Lots of folks lingering and such, smoking, chewing, twirling their guns and mustaches,” Sheriff Gray said, “there were more than a few fist fights, but thankfully no shoot outs.” By Friday morning business was back to normal. “I only had a few cigars left, and just a single pack of cigarettes,” said Mr. Banks, “already got some coming on the train later today on the usual trade route.”

16 year old Daisy Smith murdered in Pennsylvania, neighbor arrested
By Frederick Vannesse
Mr. Henry Smith had no idea the fate his daughter would find when he sent her out to collect sweet fern to treat a horse that had taken ill. Some time later Mr. Smith heard three gunshots, but assuming they came from farmhands shooting at crows, he thought nothing of it. When she did not return for several hours he went looking for her and found her dead. She was shot and her neck was cut deep enough to expose her backbone. A neighbor, Edward Cressinger, was spotted covered in blood and accused of the being the murderer. Evidence was gathered that suggested this and Cressinger was arrested. Cressinger allegedlty confessed to the crime. In addition, Daisy Smith was shot at by number four shot, which had recently been purchased by the Cressinger family. A trial will be held in the coming weeks.

“Ghost story” published by Henry James
By
The Turn of the Screw follows a young governess who takes a job at a remote estate to oversee two children. However, it is not long before the governess notices something is not quite right at the estate, coming to believe it is haunted. Critics are praising the story but also warning readers that the story is a, “most puzzling and controversial,” work. Readers who can handled the “psychological horrors” of The Turn of the Screw are rewarded with a deep and meaningful tale that is sure to keep generations guessing as to its true meaning. Critics are also in a fuss over whether The Turn of the Screw is better as a Christmas story, as it begins on Christmas Eve, or as a Halloween story owing to its horror nature. Read it for yourself and decide!

Previous Issue

Next Issue