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.
Myra Rose Hart Captured!!!
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
This Saturday was… eventful, to put it mildly. It all began with President Alfred Macalister giving a speech in the town square. It was long and ponderous as one expects from him, preaching about the American destiny and being united sea to sea. The crowd was simply happy he bothered to show up. Afterward, he got in his carriage and went to the Théâtre Râleu; nothing could stop him from seeing Our American Cousin.
It was halfway through the play when a well-dressed woman in white walked up to the president’s booth. She politely talked to the guard and asked for a handkerchief. When the guard turned around to get one, he was violently stabbed in the back. The woman kicked down the door and pulled out a shotgun from under her dress, and shot everyone in the booth. She then kicked over the bodies, looking for President Macalister. He wasn’t there. At that moment, another gunshot went off, striking the woman in the foot.
The shot was fired by Sandra Walsh, the target was Myra Rose Hart, and the entire theater trip had been a trap. She had coordinated the president’s full security detail and felt the Black Rose couldn’t resist the greatest of all targets. She was right; she had used local civilians as decoys, people willing to die for the greater good. Macalister was sitting in the cheap seats during the play.
Instead of surrendering, the Black Rose did what she always does, fight. She reportedly rushed miss Walsh, knocking her to the ground. The fight eventually spilled out into the road in front of the theater. Walsh’s comrade James Frazer left his security post near the president’s carriage and joined in the scuffle. Dozens of witnesses watched the three viciously fight, but none did anything to help. No guns were reported used during the struggle.
During the fight, the president’s carriage was stolen by Miss Hart, both Walsh and Frazier jumped onboard. At some point, the carriage was driven into the harbor. Mr. Frazier was thrown onto the edge of a dock just as Myra pulled out a lasso. She pushed Walsh to the side, threw the rope around the poor man’s neck, tied it to a post, and pushed him into the water. His body was recovered later that day; it’s unknown if his neck broke or if he was drowned.
By now, local police surrounded the two women but couldn’t get a clear shot without hitting both of them. They were clearly exhausted; Walsh kept shouting a word that we will not publish here. Myra used some type of knuckle duster during the fight; Walsh used the bronze claws that made her so infamous in New York. Both women were bruised and bloodied; it looked more like a savage animal had attacked them rather than humans. At one point, Walsh thrust a knife into Myra’s torso, but the murderess kept on fighting. Towards the end, Walsh managed to bury one of those claws into Myra’s thigh. Walsh had troubling pulled it out though, she struggled for a second or two. Myra saw Walsh was stuck and grabbed Walsh’s other claw. With both hands, she shoved the claw right into her neck.
Both women fell to the ground; one was violently throwing up blood, the other screamed in pain as she pulled out the claw and knife. She looked up to see the entire Saint-Denis police force, armed and watching. She merely spat some blood onto the road, smiled, and fell forward, exhausted but alive. As of this writing, her condition is starting to stabilize. Sandra Walsh, however, was pronounced dead minutes later. Few mourn the loss of the Hangman’s Bureau; many celebrated today’s capture, however. It seems the Five States will soon get itself a trial of the century.
Gang leader found dead among underlings, Grey Cowboy believed to be the killer
By Alois Burditt
A man reported being robbed just outside of Armadillo, having just completed the long ride from Tumbleweed. The local law, which most folks know is understaffed as a result of the ongoing cholera epidemic, was unable to respond. However, shortly after the report was made, a gunfight was heard in the distance where the robbery was alleged to have occurred. A few able bodied men not stricken with cholera rode out and found a massacre. The man who reported being robbed rode with the posse and verified this was the gang that robbed him. He found his possessions among the dead. While no witnesses survived, one of the miscreants was still breathing when the posse arrived. He described a man in grey wielding two repeating pistols who moved through the camp “like a spirit of vengeance,” according to the dying outlaw. The outlaw died before he could elaborate on what he had seen. However, what was said is consistent with the masked vigilante known as the Grey Cowboy. The New Austin Rangers commented on reports of the Grey Cowboy in New Austin, saying, “as long as outlaws are dying, we’re okay with him.”
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Rise in wounded animals causes some to seek out bad hunter
By Caylen V. Hornby
Reports of wounded animals being found near the side of the road have increased recently, to the concern of both conservationists and hunters alike. “Hunting is a skill and requires responsibility,” said Juana Marcy, an experienced hunter. She elaborated, “the goal for hunting is to provide, to survive, not to bring harm.” She explained that it is always her goal to minimize suffering when she hunts. Marcy said she has seen several wounded animals, often with an arrow still in them. “Bow hunting isn’t easy and this is what happens when amateurs play bow hunter,” Miss Marcy said. Other hunters and travelers have noted an increase in wounded animals. Wounded animals often suffer a longer prolonged death. Marcy has begun organizing hunters and even hiring bounty hunters and trackers to find who is behind these irresponsible hunting practices and bring their terror to an end.
Gunshots and explosions rock Painted Sky Ranch
By Daisy Fairman
A posse rode out of Valentine to investigate the sound of explosions and gunshots that broke the night’s silence. The lawmen in the posse were forced to stay behind at the Dakota River when it was realized the ruckus was coming from a property in West Elizabeth. “We didn’t want to stay behind, but crossing state lines can cause problems when it comes to charging the outlaw,” said one of the lawmen. The rest of the posse followed a rising trail of smoke to the Painted Sky Ranch. When they arrived they found several dead outlaws associated with Harland Minter, a man wanted for horse theft and murder.
Minter was not there, however, we found out later that he had in fact been turned in to the Strawberry Sheriff’s Office by a bounty hunter. The family who lived at the ranch were found alive, being held hostage by Minter and his henchmen. Though they were unhappy with the damage done to their property, they are pleased to have Minter and his outlaws removed from their land.
Federal agents sweep across West Elizabeth, face uncooperative residents
By Nick McCrary
Following promises of action, agents of the federal government have descended upon West Elizabeth. With their main focus on Southern West Elizabeth and the Great Plains specifically, many residents in the area have complained of being harassed by federal agents. Many residents have refused to allow the agents into their homes. Several reports were made of agents ignoring the refusals and making their way into the home anyway. In Blackwater, the local police have come to residents’ aid and forcibly stopped the federal against from illegally entering private homes. Those who live further from the growing city have had less success keeping the agents out.
No spokesman for any of the federal agencies involved in the sweep have responded to questions about these allegations. Agents have refused to speak with reporters, thus making it difficult to get their perspective of the situation. Though, admittedly, it is difficult to see how their perspective could justify the explicit violations of private property. The West Elizabeth state government has promised to intervene and has already reached to the federal government. No arrests have been made as a result of the unprecedented sweeps.
BHTNC thanks residents, promises new employment opportunities coming to the Five States
By Adam Parvey
The BHTNC released a statement of thanks to Five States residents. They claim the recent improvements made in the Five States to access and jobs has brought in more residents. In the statement the BHTNC thanked both long term residents and those who recently moved into the region. The increased revenue a larger tax base brings will greatly help bring more improvements to the Five States. Along with the thanks, the BHTNC has promised that new employment opportunities are coming. Specifically, they noted that many Five States residents are lone cowpokes, facing the dangers of the Five States alone. Those solo cowpokes will soon have new opportunities for making money.
Beyond the vague promise of new opportunities and who would benefit from them, nothing was said about what form those opportunities will come in. Some have speculated that we may see a push for more lawmen across the Five States, which fits the recent overall goal of making the Five States a safer place. Some have hoped for more defined property rights in the region, hoping to retire from gunslinging and start ranching. Speculation is all we have right now. When more information is available, the Five Stats Herald will bring it to you.
Investigation into “The Boy” ends without a indictment
By Emery Cosberry
A long time resident of New Hanover known as “The Boy” has been cleared of allegations made against him. The Boy has been implicated in several crimes including boat theft, destruction of property, paying to have people murdered, and orchestrating a jailbreak in Valentine. However, the evidence against him has been thin and witness testimony unconvincing. One cowpoke testified in front of a grand jury claiming to have been given the job to steal a horse. The defense’s argument that the cowpoke was likely lying to avoid the gallows was convincing enough to weaken the only evidence the prosecution had. The Boy nonchalantly walked out of the court room, claiming his innocence was never in doubt. While he did not testify during the grand jury trial itself, The Boy did say before the trial that he never works with those who are wanted by the law and keeps only wholesome companionship.
Two cowpokes pick the wrong tracker to mess with, become alligator food
By Aloysius Levron
Two cowpokes new to the Five States came across noted Chickasaw tracker Akanowa and attempted to interrupt her work. They paid the ultimate price: their lives. A witness who had been on a boat in the Lagras region watched it happen. The first attacker fired a shot but missed. Akanowa turned around and sent a tomahawk flying through the air. “The fella was struck in the chest hard and never got back up,” the witness said. As Akanowa retrieved the tomahawk, another cowpoke who the witness assumed was a friend tackled her to the ground. “The two wrestled around before standing up and fist fighting for awhile until the man just disappeared in the water,” the witness said. It is assumed the man was taken under by an alligator. Akanowa left the bodies in the swamp when she rode off on her horse.
Two naturalists killed in pursuit of rare panther
By Mathilde Orry
Several naturalists attempting to get a sample of the rare nightwalker panther wound up killed by the beast they sought. The posse of three managed to spot the panther first and lined up their sedative dart loaded rifles. All three got a dart into the creature, but it darted into the brush before any of them were able to get another shot off. One of the naturalist’s scream broke the still silence. His posse mates arrived to find him mauled and already dead. The panther attacked again at that point, leaping on one of the naturalists and clawing at their head. The third gave up on the sample and aimed their shotgun and pumped the creature full of buckshot. Their effort was not enough to save their friend, however, as they bled out before the pair arrived in Rhodes seeking help. The sole survivor has promised turning over a new leaf and giving up on the naturalist game to become a full time hunter.
Hat Maker Receives Much Love from Buyer
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
Recently, Europe and the Americas have gone crazy for a style of hat made by an enigmatic Romanian woman only known as Lady D. The hats completely sold out, and there is much talk of the quality. Well, now the obsession has turned to the woman herself, and it’s just as frantic.
Some intrepid buyers tried to find out more about the mysterious woman. They could find no portrait, only a silhouette of someone suspected to be her was found. Her real name is still unknown, but her home was located. It’s a castle, making some believe she must be royalty of some sort.
Because people know where this lady lives, many have been sending mail, telegrams, and lord knows what else to the address. A decent amount is just questions about the hat, but a lot is poetry, ballads, and lonely-hearts letters asking for marriage. It runs the gauntlet between endearing and creepy.
Miraculously, the lady herself sent in a note in an English newspaper. She didn’t seem offended at all at the questions and unrequited love, although she did state it’s all for not. She did give a few tantalizing details about her, mentioning a family history of selling winery and being nearly as old as the Carpathian Mountains themselves. She presumably meant the family, but perhaps it’s a jab at the accusation of being a vampire.
I suppose it shows that being mysterious sometimes makes people obsess so much more. Also that those who lust rarely think logically.
Disease responsible for most U.S. soldiers’ deaths?
By Frederick Vannesse
As many soldiers who fought in the Spanish-American war have now returned, we are starting to learn more about the horrors they truly faced. Much has been said of the U.S. Military’s dominance of the war. However, U.S. soldiers were harmed and many died. It is still unknown how many U.S. soldiers died, but those who survived have said conditions were bad. “I only knew of one man killed in battle, most of those I knew who died were sick,” a soldier said, asking to remain anonymous. Several reports indicate that malaria and dysentery spread among the military camps unchecked. The U.S. Military neither confirmed nor denied the allegations.
Owen Smith named new U.S. Ambassador to Liberia
By Ivy Seager
The country of Liberia has a checkered past with the United States. Formed by free slaves from the U.S. as part of the American Colonization Society (ACS), a group that believed it was improving the lives of former slaves by helping them move back to Africa. Many abolitionists and freed slaves have criticized the ACS as inherently segregationist. Furhter, the ACS has been criticized for dominating and displaying the local Africans there. Declaring its independence in 1847, the United States began recognizing Liberia as a sovereign nation in 1862. Owen Smith becomes the 13th ambassador to the young nation.
The Five States Herald 