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.
Thousands Flock to see Black Rose
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead correspondent)
Following the capture of arguably the most wanted woman in the Five States, nearly the entire city of Saint-Denis has wanted to catch a glimpse of Myra Rose Hart. The so-called Black Rose has fascinated and reviled people from coast to coast, and many are eager to see her. The number is believed to be in the thousands, if not more. Most have only seen her wanted poster, the large painting that still hangs in the local gallery, or the grainy self-portraits found near campsites. Well, one reporter managed to beat the odds.
Douglas Wetherill of Blackwater is well known for being a quite daring journalist. He covered the war with Spain in places like Guarma directly in the field; his boldness has benefited him time and again. Just taking her photo was not something easily done. Saint-Denis police chief Benjamin Lambert has kept nearly half of his department close to the outlaw queen herself. Dozens of officers kept watch while she was in the hospital recovering from her wounds. Several doctors didn’t want to operate on her but relented if only because they considered women the weaker sex.
After being judged stable enough, Miss Hart was moved to a large cell in the police department proper, a cell with no privacy at all. Lambert himself stood on the front door, keeping most reporters and citizens at bay. Wetherill is believed to have snuck in while wearing a blue-tinged uniform very similar to the average Saint-Denis officer attire. He took out a camera from his pocket and took several photos of the red-haired former heiress. He then ran out of the station to a waiting carriage and escaped.
When pressed in Blackwater, he merely said she only briefly looked at him. He claims to have seen no soul behind those eyes. Her trial is expected to begin in a few week’s time. I would say the outcome hangs in the balance, but that would be a sweet little lie; we all know how this ends, with the shadow of the rope and the snap of the neck.
Competition for pricey egg leads to explosive fight
By Alois Burditt
The BHTNC hosted a special event that did not go quite as planned. The event was held and funded by a single member of the BHTNC who was looking to add a rare condor egg to their collection. He offered $1000 to the first cowpoke to find and bring an egg to him. Dozens of cowpokes attempted to find the egg. Many pulled out binoculars and scanned the Gaptooth Ridge region looking for a sign of a condor nest. Several rode their horses fast and hard to search the high cliffs around the Sea of Coronado. The egg was eventually spotted north of Solomon’s Folly, where several cowpokes collided. Part of the rules of the event prevented folks from direct attacks, so cowpokes got creative. One cowpoke trailing the pack fired an arrow with a stick of dynamite attached into the path of other cowpokes. The explosion spooked several horses, resulting in cowpokes being bucked right off. Those folks scrambled to not only get back up but get their horses back under control. The woman who emerged from the explosion as the leader dropped fire bottles behind her, creating a wall of fire most horses were afraid to cross over. Two cowpokes remained and they pushed and collided with each other until both ended up on the ground. The battered cowpokes went on, walking and limping toward the prize.
A few of the previously dismounted cowpokes who managed to get their horse back under control made a move toward the egg. However, at that point the remaining man pushed the woman over, where she landed hard and did not get back up. This allowed the man time to light a stick of dynamite and throw it toward the oncoming riders. He turned around only to find the woman had gotten up and was grabbing the egg. He cursed under his breath, but accepted the results. The BHTNC said it did not intend for this event to be so physical, but that cowpokes will always find ways to best each other to win if the prize is big enough.
Moonshiners arrested
By Jane Duran
Two men accused of moonshining were arrested while arguing with each other. The pair of alleged moonshiners were so caught up in their argument that they did not see the lone agent until he had his gun drawn on the two of them. “I was alone, so I had one cuff the other,” the arresting agent said, “wasn’t too difficult as they seemed all to willing to turn on each other.” With one cuffed, the agent was able to secure the second moonshiner. Having only one horse, the agent was forced to carry one of the moonshiners over his shoulder while the other was stored on his horse. When asked why he did not just store both hogtied men on the horse, the agent replied, “well, I just didn’t have the option to do so.”
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!
Friends fight across Blackwater, one arrested
By Nick McCrary
A posse of at least three but up to seven cowpokes depending on the witness account, started quite the ruckus in Blackwater. “The fellers started fighting after a few drinks,” the bartender said. The bartender pulled out a shotgun, forcing the brawlers to take the fight outside. Local police watched the fight, but did nothing initially. “It isn’t not a problem when friends fight each other, so long as they fight only each other,” one of the policeman said. It did not take long for the right to eventually involved others, though it occurred by accident. “He ran at his friend, but his friend leapt to the side,” a witness stated, “and he just kept going and tackled some lady who just came out of the general store.” The police then decided to act firing a gun in the air to stop the fight and then arresting the man who tackled an innocent bystander. No serious injuries occurred and so the man was released the next day after volunteering to pay restitution to the victim.
Little bird knocks Cowpoke Off Horse
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead correspondent)
The simple hummingbird. Often taken for granted as a gentle creature of nature. Well, not today, a cowpoke and his wife were traveling to Strawberry, when the man was suddenly knocked off his horse. His wife, who was also riding a horse, feared a bandit had shot him. But the truth was far more humorous.
This regular old cowpoke was instead struck by a hummingbird. For reasons only God above knows, the ordinarily docile bird flew right into this poor man’s neck. The bird dropped to the ground, stunned but alive, it later got up and flew away. The cowpoke had it worse off. He struggled to breathe for a few minutes but quickly recovered shortly afterward.
The cowpoke latter said when they got to Strawberry; perhaps this incident was caused by carrying many seeds in his pocket. He intended to sell them to a trader, but it might have attracted a hungry bird instead. This cowpoke’s greatest punishment won’t be difficulty breathing; however, it will be a wounded pride from all the mockery he is sure to get. For who can take a man seriously after being thrown from his horse due to a bird running into you?
Bounty target complains of mistreatment
By Emery Cosberry
Just as the BHTNC rides a momentum of positive public perspective, new allegations have been made against bounty hunters using cruel and inhumane tactics. A man brought into the Valentine sheriff station complained about being shot in the ass with an arrow. “Some bounty hunters have taken to using tracking arrows,” said Sheriff Curtis Malloy, “homemade arrows that stink something fierce and allow targets to be tracked longer.” While the arrows work in giving the target a distinctive smell, they also leave lasting injuries. This bounty target, though admitting to being guilty of the crimes he was accused of, said the arrow pierced his backside “very deeply.” He further alleged that the long ride to the sheriff station became increasingly uncomfortable as the “jostling made the arrow move around and get deeper.” Dr. Ben Calloway took a look at the injury and did state that he was concerned that whatever gave the arrows their stench could cause an infection. The wound was cleaned out but the man is still being observed by Dr. Calloway.
“I don’t see why we need to give such care to an outlaw,” Sheriff Malloy said, however he did not interfere with Dr. Calloway’s work. The man is expected to survive. “He isn’t the first man brought in with such injuries,” Dr. Calloway told me, “sometimes it’s in the arm, often the leg, even in the back, but such arrows are fairly common.” Despite the concern over the danger of such arrows, no bounty targets are reported to have died from infection. Every target that reported being shot with such an arrow has either served their sentence, are still in custody, or have been executed. The BHTNC issued a statement, proclaiming that, “tracking arrows are completely safe, though we will investigate claims that they cause unnecessary harm. Though we are not in the business of telling bounty hunters hot to do their job.” A few bounty hunters have admitted to using them, even stating that the BHTNC often encourages their use by offering gold bonuses for targets tracked with such an arrow.
Local law enforcement receives boost in bounty hunter assistance
By Aloysius Levron
Both the Saint Denis Police Department and the Rhodes Sheriff’s Office have announced a significant increase in bounty hunters this past week. This boost comes as state authorities have expressed difficulty maintaining order in the state. The Lemoyne Raiders have managed seize control of Saint Denis, hold legitimate policemen hostage, and terrorize folks all over Lemoyne. The Raider claim to be against federal authority, fighting for “states’ rights.” Further, their claim to be the legitimate authority of Lemoyne leads the gang to only conflict with federal authorities but also challenge local law enforcement. State authorities promised assistance and say they have delivered by negotiating with the BHTNC to provide increased incentives to bounty hunters in Lemoyne.
Several bounty hunters arrived in Lemoyne to take advantage of the gold incentive. The results were immediate. “Bounty hunters just lined up with bad guys,” said Saint Denis Chief of Police Benjamin Lambert, “it was like a never ending parade of justice.” The increase in bounty hunters, however, was not without consequences. With so many folks ready for a fight and competing to catch the same villains, tensions have been high in saloons. One group of bounty hunters even accused the BHTNC and the Saint Denis police of shenanigans. “We brought a target in, but the damn police said someone already turned the bounty in was paid for it,” a bounty hunter said, “who could have turned them in if we got the dead body right here?” The police could not explain the situation, other that admitting that they may have been fooled earlier. “All the same, the bounty has been paid and we can’t pay it twice,” said the policeman.
Horse racing popularity on the rise
Cowpokes across the Five States have taken to horse racing as a result of a BHTNC program to increase interest. The BHTNC has offered a series of bonuses to racers and according to many, successfully increased the popularity of the sport. “I race a lot, there’s a few of us who do, but recently I’ve noticed a lot of new folks racing,” one cowpoke said. The competition was fairly stiff, as one of the rewards offered was for making it into the top three racers at the finish. Horse racing fans said there was a significant increase in racers punching and kicking other racers on their way to the front of the pack. “As a true racer, I ain’t a fan of punchers and kickers,” a racer said, “but the competition was still great.” In some cases, racers were said to open fire during the race, injuring and even killing other racers. “Despite the chaos, the worse ones were those that didn’t do anything at all,” a fan said. Many racers joined the race but as soon as the race started, they just stared at the starting line.
In some cases, half of the racers literally did nothing but sit on their horses as others rode by. “When that many racers ain’t doing anything, the entire race is trained,” the a racer said. She questioned her own victory when so half of the racers were not participating. Even fans complained that such races were, “entirely boring and not worth watching.” Race hosts have said that all rules were followed, even when weapons were used. Fans, however, think a new rule needs to be introduced. “Did you know if enough folks don’t finish the race, the race can go on forever and ever? Do you know how boring that gets?” a fan said. The fan suggested that racers who do not participate should be removed from the race, by force if necessary. Race organizers are hesitant to introduce any new rules, even ones that could improve the race experience.
Child killed by smothering, mother claims burglars are to blame
By Frederick Vannesse
Police are investigating a shocking story this week. A young child was killed. An autopsy revealed evidence that the child was smothered and confirmed that no drugs were used in the murder. Mrs. De Witt, the boy’s mother, says one or two burglars broke into the home and killed the boy. Investigators have said the evidence collected so far is inconsistent with those claims. “We cannot say for certain who did it, but we have not found any evidence of a break in or that the home was burgled in any way,” an investigator said. Authorities have kept watch over both the child’s mother and father, who are currently staying in separate houses. Neighbors of the De Witts claim to see strange things at the now deserted home and a few have recalled that Mrs. De Witt and other guests once heard footsteps in the home. Some have suggested a supernatural explanation, though police investigators have declined to comment on such notions.
Despite end of war, Spain maintains they did not blow up the USS Lewiston
By Ivy Seager
From the moment the war started, Spain was never eager to participate. Representatives of the Spanish government have maintained that they did not sabotage the USS Lewiston in Cuba. Though they were not allowed to investigate the explosion themselves, they have suggested that a malfunction could have led to the explosion. Though an anonymous source from the U.S. Army refutes such a claim, stating that, “the Spanish are trying to save face because they lost so badly. They started a war they could not finish and now try to backpedal.” However, this claim seems to contrast with Spain’s reluctance to go to war. Critics of the U.S. Army’s investigation claim that army leadership was eager to test the mettle and the explosion was a convenient excuse to do so. Though the war is now over, the tension remains.
The Five States Herald 