New Austin

Love falls outside of sheriff’s jurisdiction
By Alois Burditt
A man named Terrence was seen in Sheriff Freeman’s office claiming that his wife had been kidnapped by bandits. However, Sheriff Freeman told him that Twin Rocks, where the man’s wife was allegedly taken, was out of his jurisdiction. I was able to speak with him while he had his lunch in saloon. He was quite eager for his story to be told.

“They took her and I want her back! I love her, she’s my wife!” he said a bit erratically, certainly playing the part of the distraught lover. However, when he thought nobody was watching I noticed a slight change in his demeanor. A moment of truth underneath deception. “It doesn’t matter how they got her, they got her and she’s my wife. MY wife, understand?”

I certainly did. Not long after I spoke with him he returned to Sheriff Freeman’s office just as a four silent travelers showed up. Wandering cowpokes often solicit Sheriff Freeman for work and they seemed to be have arrived at the perfect time. They rode off toward Twin Rocks but were not seen again.

Bound bodies wash up at Montana Ford
By Wylie Frey
A startling discovery was made by MacFarlane Ranch hands. While driving cattle up to Valentine by way of the Great Plains, they found two dead bodies as they crossed Montana Ford. At first the ranch hands assumed the the bodies were victims of the Lower Montana River, however, closer examination revealed something unexpected.

Both bodies had their wrists and ankles bound by rope. Their bodies were mangled and broken from the rough river ride, but this had been the act of a person, not nature. Someone bound them and threw these poor souls into the river. It was impossible for the ranch hands to be sure how long the men were dead for, but they could not tarry long.

Their final inspection revealed no identifying information, but did confirm that these men were murdered. Each man had a single bullet hole through their forward. Further, they reported rope burn marks on the wrists, indicating that the men were likely bound while still alive. Thus, they waited bound on the ground for their life to be taken. They waited for death, and it came. Is it even a mercy to have shot them first? What kind of heinous individual could do something like this? Hope that you never find out.

Rough start for the Central Union Railroad Co.
By Wylie Frey
The Southwestern Railroad Company built, but failed to maintain a railroad in New Austin. The cholera outbreak in Armadillo was costly, and so Southwestern abandoned New Austin.

Here was a man who scavenged dead bodies in the past, but now he was overwhelmed by the pungent stench of death. He knew nothing of the victims, nor of the killer. However, I did some digging and found out a group of O’Driscolls, a mostly Irish gang, were seen heading into Colter around the time the hermit claims to have seen this massacre. Moreover, there is talk of a missing O’Driscoll leader. Who is this red haired lass and how did she take out a gang of O’Driscolls? And more importantly, why?

West Elizabeth

Blackwater quieter post bounty hunter initiative
By Nick McCrary
The town of Blackwater is known for drawing an unruly crowd. Folks often get worked up on the hunt and come into town to celebrate after hunting. Other times a night of drinking leads to a duel, which leads to a town shootout. Whatever the cause, Blackwater has never been known to be a quiet town.

That may have changed recently, however. The bounty hunting initiative that was part of the Summer Bill and funded through the BHTC may already being paying for itself. It does appear that villains are on the run and avoiding towns like Blackwater, where they are likely to run into a bounty hunter who has seen their face on a poster. The BHTC is already calling this a success for the bounty hunter initiative, however critics warn that the reprieve could be temporary. “What happens when the bounty hunters got no more bounties to hunt?” a Blackwater resident said. It is indeed an astute observation, as many a bounty hunter turned to crime late in their career.

Conservation group attempts to block buffalo hunters
By Ela Q. Asken
The story of the buffalo is one popular among Natives but not well known to others. Indeed, I do not know the full story. What is important, however, is that the buffalo are sacred to the Natives of this land. While they hunted the buffalo for food and supplies, they did so in a respectful way. Western expansion however has decimated the buffalo population.

Once estimated to be in the tens of millions, the buffalo population is now estimated to be less than 1,000 wild specimens. As a result a conservation group made up of both Natives and non-natives have formed to prevent further buffalo hunting in the Great Plains. Instead of relying on Congress or the West Elizabeth state legislature to do something, this group actively gets in the way of hunters. There have already been fatalities, but the group says they are willing to sacrifice their lives if it means the buffalo can live.

It is difficult to determine if their efforts have been effective. The group is small and the hunters are many. “We can’t always protect the noble buffalo, but we do the best we can.”

New Hanover

Doc’s Prescription;
Western Moose not as rare as reported
By Doc Deschain (Freelancer)
The Western Moose has become a by-word for the impossible to find. But is this elusive creature entirely deserving of the moniker? Not according to the far treading and mud-spattered hunters who work the Kamassa River in all seasons as reported in an earlier issue by this reporter (Issue III, Old King Kamassas). Western Moose are an abundant and common sight up high in the North West of New Hanover around the Brandywine Drop. Any and all frustrated and despondent Moose hunters should burn bootheels in that direction post-haste. Western Moose are so common in fact that one need only ride a short distance away to return later to find that another prime Moose may have descended from the woods for a drink in the river. This reporter has verified this claim and is happy to report this piece of outdoor wisdom here.

Record cattle sell in Valentine
By Emery Cosberry
A railroad tycoon has set a record in cattle buying and disappointed many in the process. The Scottish Angus has become quite popular for its tasty meat. Over a thousand were imported last decade and then bred here in the states. One Scottish farmer, however, says those are no longer true Angus cows. According to Mr. Logan Morgan, it is what they eat in Scotland that gives them their unique flavor.

Whether this is true or not I could not confirm, however it seems that the oil tycoon Leviticus Cornwall believed it because he purchased all of Mr. Morgan’s cattle at $25 a head, $10 over the asking price. That’s a Valentine record. What seems like certain folly is actually smart business. I have learned that out west cattle can fetch ten to twenty times that, with the Angus being on the higher end. Combine that fact with Mr. Cornwall’s railroad access to the west and his plan is quite obvious. It looks like nobody in Valentine will be getting tasty Angus beef anytime soon.

Butcher’s Table and Supplies for Sell!
If you are looking for a new venture to bring you some money, check your local Wilderness Outfitters for the perfect butcher’s table. The table comes with everything you need to drain carcasses, tan hides and preserve meat. Only 15 gold bars!

Lemoyne

Rhodes becomes hot spot for bounty hunters
By Mathilde Orry
Rhodes has found itself a hot spot for bounty hunters. While bounty boards are spread out across the Five States, it is the Rhodes sheriff who has been given authorization to give out bounty hunting licenses. This gives the BHTC more control over the issuance of licenses, opposed to letting any sheriff give out the licenses. “That would be the wild west that we are trying to leave behind, wouldn’t it?” a representative for the BHTC said when asked for comment.

The result is that Rhodes has become a bounty hunting hangout. Veterans come together here to share their stories and warn the new bounty hunters that this life is not the stuff of stories and legends. It is hard and it is unforgiving. Rhodes also has one of the liveliest saloons in the five states. Serving good food and good booze, the Rhodes Parlour House Restaurant and Saloon draws many bounty hunters looking to celebrate. Such a night if full of wild tales and drunken attempts to twirls pistols. As dangerous as it sounds, nobody is usually hurt.

One bounty hunter parked a prison wagon near the saloon while they ate a meal and had a few beers. I asked why not turn in the bounties first? “I had time to kill,” he said as he climbed onto the wagon and slowly road toward the sheriff’s office. Another twirled his pistols in front of the sheriff’s office, until the sheriff put up a poster with his picture on it and he was promptly hogtied and turned in, in pistols left on the ground.

The residents of Rhodes are okay with the bounty hunters coming through town regularly. “The sheriff, well he ain’t always so worried about doing his job,” a resident, who wanted their identity to remain a secret. Whether the sheriff indeed wants to do his job or not, he has no choice but to let the bounty hunters do theirs. And that’s good for all residents of the five states. Especially good for the local undertaker that many bounty hunters bring bounties in dead. “I got a nice contract to supplies cheaply made caskets, I’m living the good life.” Mr. Ballard, the undertaker, said proudly, proving it is not just the bounty hunters making a living of the Summer Bill.

Across the Nation

Disgraced politician seeks office again
By Adam Parvey
25 years ago the nation was rocked by the Crédit Mobilier scandal. Thomas Durant, then controller of the Union Pacific Railroad established Crédit Mobilier. The government gave grants to the UPR and Durant gave jobs to Crédit Mobilier, increasing Mr. Durant’s profits. The corruption of this era is well documented. UPR was paid per mile of track which led to winding routes when a straight route would have sufficed. Further, they were given the mineral rights to land surrounding the railroad which led to routes going farther out of their way than they should.

What President Grant sold as a uniting of the Union turned out to be a mere facade to cover up what has always been true in this country; the powerful play games with the lives of those they are supposed to represent. We are but pawns in their grand schemes. Uncovered in 1872 by the New York Sun (as is appropriate of the press!), this scandal sent many politicians scurrying for cover. Some implicated were not brought to justice and one went on to become President, though Mr. Garfield certainly did not get away with his life. Others hid behind those of too little repute to be noticed and so they slid their way through the daily grind and remain Congressmen to this day. Some, however did pay the price.

Senator Frank Cross was deeply involved, having introduced Mr. Durant to other senators. During the investigation it was revealed the Cross used his position on the Finance Committee to pressure other senators into joining the scheme. Cross claimed to be the scapegoat but was nevertheless pushed out of the Senate leadership in disgrace. His poll numbers tanked and so he resigned from office. Now he is back, seeking a seat in the House of Representatives representing the state of California, where he now resides.

He claims to be reformed man who has, “reflected on his mistakes and is ready to make up for them.” This reporter strongly urges the voters in California to read about Cross’ history and soundly reject him at the ballot box.

Subway disaster in Boston
By Frederick Vanness
Last year “America’s first subway” was opened in Boston. The subway was needed as a result of congestion on the streets. Carriages, street cars, and walkers were all competing for scarce street area. The solution was to build an underground train, or subway. The innovation helped relieve congestion, however tragedy has struck. A portion of the subway collapsed. Half a dozen men died, more were injured.

While the area is being cleared out, engineers are looking for an alternate route, concerned this area may collapse again. Others are looking for solutions to strengthen the tunnel to prevent collapse altogether. Whatever the solution, the road of progress is paved by forgotten names who sacrificed it all so that society could move forward.

Around the Globe

American Anti-Imperalist League formed to protest American imperialism in the Philippines
By Ivy Seager
The birth of America is often told as a story of escaping England’s imperial yoke. Some may be surprised then that American is now being accused of being an imperialist. Just last week this paper covered the related story of the annexation of Hawaii. For weeks now the U.S. has been at a tense stand off with Spain over influence in Cuba. If that were not enough, the U.S. government has considered annexing the Philippines into the U.S.

“At what point is it enough? We conquered the massive land that is the United States of America, need we annex more lands? Is this going to be the legacy of the U.S. to come in as helpers but ultimately take that which we want?” a representative from the league said. It is difficult to argue with the League when the U.S. has refused to commit to an independent Philippine nation. Further, all signs point to U.S. forces being unwanted. Certainly we would not want a foreign power on our land, should we then expect others to think differently?

Forgotten hero of the transcontinental railroad passes away in a foreign land
By Humphrey Harker
It is said that the transcontinental railroad united a fractured nation. While Charles Crocker, Leland Stanford, Collis Huntington and Mark Hopkins (and Thomas Durant post hostile takeover of the Union Pacific) are the names most people think of when they consider this great project, Mr. Anson Bohannon was the true American Railroad man. Starting at the Union Pacific on the cut as a walking boss, Mr. Bohannon was a former Confederate soldier looking to start fresh after the Civil War. His work on the railroad put him directly in charge of freedmen and by reports, the freedmen earned Mr. Bohannon’s respect and he earned theirs. Mr. Bohannon at one point took up residence with in the freedmen section of the Hells on Wheels camp, something that astonished most in 1867.

After putting in years at UPR, Mr. Bohannon left the railroad industry altogether. Those close to him said he was racked with grief over losing his best friend, a freedman named Elam, as well as over news that his wife had become sick. What happen with Mr. Bohannon’s family is unknown, but he did appear with Collis Huntington later on working for the Central Pacific Railroad. While his name has been forgotten by most, eyewitnesses have confirmed it was in fact Mr. Bohannon who hammered the final spike into the transcontinental railroad united East and West. Somehow appropriate for a man who fought in the war between the North and the South.

How Mr. Bohannon ended up in China nobody knows. Those close to him during his railroad days were shocked to learn of both Mr. Bohannon’s passing and his residence in China. It was reported anonymously that Mr. Bohannon passed away while asleep at the age of 72 earlier this year. News has only reached stateside this week.

Previous Issue

Next Issue