New Austin

Wild family takes over west New Austin
By Alois Burditt
The Owlhoot Family was spotted operating in west New Austin this week. While not really a family, this gang takes on familial titles like uncle, momma, sister, etc. One can infer that these titles, which are also used as names, denote some kind of rank and perhaps time spent with the gang. Beyond conjecture, what is known is that this gang is as violent as they come.

Known to kill for the pleasure of it and to throw themselves into their killing with abandoned, the Owlhoots have terrorized every region they have come to. Their methods vary but are always brutal. It is easy to assume they wish to inflict pain on their victim before they die, but in truth it is simply madness. The Owlhoots have been known to continue to chop and dismember bodies long after the victim has died, taking no notice of the change of circumstance.

“The Owlhoot Family is large and loyal to each other,” the bounty hunter liaison from the BHTC said. “Their leadership is dispersed among several members and as a result, we must bring them all in at once. Failure to do so will allow the family to escape and replace lost members.” When asked if they were concerned that low ranked members would replace high ranking members, the liaison said, “That is unlikely. Without leadership we suspect they will disperse and maybe form separate gangs. But the Owlhoot family will be finished.”

Sheriff Freeman, who once again has a front row seat for the action, is not convinced. “I’ve seen these kinds of gangs before. United in cause, not around a person. They’ll rebound.” If Sheriff Freeman is right, the Owlhoot threat may never end. Either way, as of press time the Owlhoots are still at large. If you are inclined to bring them in, you will get paid whether the gang lives on or not.

Swimmers killed trying to cross border into Mexico
By Wylie Frey
Despite warnings to not attempt to cross the border, many daring folks attempt to do just that. While some are successful in finding unwatched paths to sneak into Mexico, most are less successful. The San Luis River has a powerful current and claims most would be border-crossers. However, this week a failed crossing ended much more violently.

A couple of cowpokes who figured themselves to be strong swimmers attempted to cross the San Luis from New Austin into Mexcio. A witness stated that the men swam underwater for great distances to go undetected. However, during a moment they surfaced for air a shot was fired. One man splashed violently before silently floating in the water. The second abandoned caution and tried swimming away only to be shot as well. In light of this event the U.S. government has reiterated warnings against border crossings and stated intentions to have troops stationed along the border.

West Elizabeth

Fisherman murdered, serial killer at large?
By Ela Q. Asken
The quiet area around Strawberry has been shaken by a second murder in as many weeks. Last week, I covered the death of a man thrown from the Owanjila dam bound and helpless. This week, just steps away from the dam, another man was found dead.

Winslow Kenison, a resident of Strawberry, was found floating in Owanjila. Initially believed to have been the result of too many drinks while fishing, upon having his body pulled out it became obvious he did not drown. There was a bullet hole in his forehead. Based on the size and burned area around the wound, it was a handgun and done from close range.

“I… I don’t know what to say. He.. he just went fishin’ and someone killed him. He never hurt nobody!” Said Rebecca Kenison, his wife. According to her, Winslow was “just a man trying to provide” for her. In fact, he was fishing for their dinner the night he was murdered. How she’ll make it in her own she is not sure, but will likely move in with family in Saint Denis.

I revisited the scene of the crime. I had to think alone. Poor Winslow Kenison did not know he would be dead when came out to Owanjila. Nor did he know he would catch his last muskie that night. But I wonder, when he looked into the eyes of his killer, did he know he was going to die? While pondering this I noticed something on the floor, several feet away from where Mr. Kenison would have been standing when he died. A cigarette filter just like the one I found at Owanjila dam. Coincidence?

Loyal readers, I must ask, could the killer of both of these men have been the same person? The similarities are few between the Owanjila deaths, but perhaps that was intentional. And the death at the dam is similar to two deaths reported in New Austin weeks ago on the southern border of West Elizabeth, where two men were found dead in the Lower Montana River. They were both bound like the man at the dam, but they also shot in the head like the man fishing. Then it hit me, I had seen a kill like this before. In Blackwater. Is West Elizabeth home to a serial killer? Perhaps I am simply reading too much into this.

The Five States is a wild place and it is just as likely these killings have been committed by different people. But, loyal readers, we must consider, what if they weren’t?

Conservationists head to Big Valley to study declining animal populations
By Nick McCrary
Reports out of Big Valley detail a surprising decline in wild animals. The expansion of trade in the Five States is believed to be the leading cause of the population decline. “There are more hunters than ever since the BHTC funded expansion,” said the president of the Five States Conservation League. “It is not good for the animals and the hunters are starting to find out, it isn’t good for them either.”

Big Valley is known for its abundance of white tail deer, pronghorn, elk, foxes, and the occasional moose or even bear. Additionally, all manner of small game are known call the fields of Big Valley home. That is all changing now. Many hunters have returned to Strawberry exhausted from the hunt, not because of the chase but from just looking for an animal. “What you do see out there is pretty poor quality, my trade partner hasn’t been happy with my hauls lately,” a hunter told me. The Five States Conservation League is hoping to identify ways to reverse this trend.

“We are working with the West Elizabeth legislature. We are thinking of hunting licenses. Or perhaps limiting certain animals to certain times of the year. Nothing is off the table right now.” said their spokesperson. Hunters are worried that too much conservation means they will not be able to hunt very much, which will slow down their businesses. However, most seem aware that if nothing is done then there will be nothing left to hunt at all.

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Ambarino

Where have the Wapiti gone?
By Jane Duran
The story of American progress is not a one sided affair. For all the prosperity it has brought to many, others have not been so fortunate. The American Indians who are native to this land have been forced to evacuate their ancestral lands more than once. After every deal with the U.S. government, U.S. officials find reasons to change the deal. And each time it is the Indian people who suffer.

The Wapiti once roamed the entirety of the Heartlands, a fertile land ideal for farming as well as hunting. Here the Wapiti prospered until they were forced to evacuated from their homeland under threat of muskets. Forced into the East Grizzlies, the Wapiti have had to get used to the harsh land. With rumors spreading that another Indian removal is coming, the Wapiti have disappeared.

An old civil war veteran and hunter who lives in the area spoken with me about the Wapiti. The old man, named Hamish, had this to say, “The Wapiti never gave me any trouble and I’ve not given them any. Hell, when I haul in more than I can eat from a hunt I try to take some their way. I ain’t seen ’em in awhile but what I leave is always gone.” Hamish implied that if the Wapiti cannot be found, it is because they do not want to be found. If you are traveling through the Grizzlies, be respectful and cautious. If you are going into the Grizzlies on behalf of the U.S. government, good luck.

New Hanover

Roanoke Ridge overtaken by Del Lobos
By Van R. Seldon
Roanoke Ridge is a hilly area with a thick forest, which keeps most folks away. However, it also makes Roanoke Ridge an excellent hiding place for those looking to not be found. Striking out boldly and holing up as far north as Van Horn and the forests of Roanoke Ridge, the Del Lobos gang was far from their southern home but well hidden until they pushed too far. Van Horn resident Josie Dawson spoke of “Mexican ruffians bullying the peaceful folk of Van Horn and taking over my bar!” She enlisted help from U.S. Marshal Tom Davies. According to Miss Dawson, four hardened cowpokes joined him.

The posse split up to deal with the the larger force in the forest and the gang in Van Horn at once. Miss Dawson said Davies believed Alfredo Montez was among one of the groups. While Montez was not found at either location, they did learn of his location and raced off together.

I later found the official report that confirmed that Marshall Davis and a posse of four cowpokes brought in Alfredo Montez. Last week Montez’ brother Jorge was killed by Davis’ and his associates, now Alfredo himself is brought to justice. Is this the end of the Del Lobos? Alfredo Montez is currently sitting in the Valentine jail, where the sheriff there has hired extra guards.

Explosions at Fort Wallace rock Cumberland Forest
By Emery Cosberry
Explosions and gunshots sent wildlife and people alike fleeing Cumberland Forest. Details are scarce but one brave hunter watched it all through his binoculars. He described a group of cowpokes assaulting Fort Wallace by blowing the door up with dynamite.

A gunfight followed for the next several minutes. Reinforcements arrived but by then the assaulting posse had taken up defensive positions within the fort, presumably after taking down the previous defenders. The reinforcements spread out, likely hoping to pin down the attackers. However an explosion stunned the horses the reinforcements rode in on, which offered a distraction. Two men came out of the fort shooting and several more explosions shook the resolve of the reinforcements.

The posse met up with another man before splitting up. There are no official reports about what happened and nobody who knows anything about why the fort was attacked is speaking on or off the record. We’ll continue to follow this story for updates.

“Wolf Man” brought into Custody
By Doc Deschain (Freelancer)
Word from the Valentine Sherriff’s Office is that the infamous “Wolf Man” has been apprehended and brought to justice. The vicious murderer of homesteaders in the southern Ambarino and Heartlands of New Hanover areas has finally been brought to heel “like the dog he is”, says Valentine Sherriff. The Wolf Man is the most recent victory of the governments well placed initiative to arm and license civilian bounty hunters. The program seems to be paying dividends as news out of New Austin last week was that the Mexican Bandit Queen Barbarella Alcazar was brought in in the same manner although by different operators under the new Bounty Hunter license. The “Wolf Man” was hung the next morning at dawn after a brief internment in the Valentine stock yards. He was badly bruised and lacerated after throwing himself against the bars of his prison wagon that brought him down from Colter, high up in the Grizzlies. It must be noted that his spirit was in no way dulled and he attempted to bite and claw both the hangman and the serving lady in his cell block. The tales of his struggle to the end are fact, but the tales of a wolf pack heard howling all day in Cumberland Forest may just be an exaggeration.

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Lemoyne

Train gunfight from crosses over two states
By Mathilde Orry
Three cowpokes were seen boarding the train in Saint Denis after a long conversation with the engineer. “I noticed them ‘cuz they just looked odd. A black feller, an Indian woman and an American. Just odd,” an old man wearing an old grey coat told me. As the train began to pull out of the Saint Denis train station it was beset upon by a group firing wildly. The three cowpokes who previously boarded the train reemerged and fought the attackers off.

However, the attackers’ reinforcements showed up and followed the train out of Saint Denis. Witnesses watched the attackers follow the train into the bayou. “I lost sight of it, but weren’t looking good for them fellers on horses,” said a local fisherman. Witnesses in Annesburg saw the train go by but there were no more attackers. Three people that matched the description of the train’s defenders did exit the station. They road off in a stagecoach, each carrying a large bag.

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Wanted: Condor Eggs
Madam Nazar has put out a request for condor eggs. She is offering $1000 per egg. Must first find egg, then find her.

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Local band Willy and the Poor Boys brings excitement to Saint Denis
By Aloysius Levron
Local folk band Willy and the Poor Boys set up in front of the Court House on Friday evening and brought joy to many. While you could watch the band play completely free, they encouraged donations of a nickel. Willy primarily sings, dances and plays the kazoo, while Poorboy gets down on his guitar, Rooster takes percussion duties with a washboard, and Blinky twangs along the “gut bass.” Saint Denis is truly a city with two sides, one where elites reign and another hidden side where the downtrodden make their way. Willy and the Poor Boys represent that other side of Saint Denis that people often forget but cannot deny, is the best part of the city.

Doc’s Prescriptions
Varmint Hunting
By Doc Deschain (Freelancer)
A certain class of hunter prefers to skip the wide-open spaces of the Heartlands and the Great Plains, don a tattered hat with a rat head sown to the front and head out hunting for the small game of the Five States. By small game we mean, squirrels, jack rabbits, badgers, racoons and the like. Why might one ask? Easy to carry, cheap to kill and a surprising market for the soft furs which generally line the cuffs and collars of the Saint Denis upper class. A rustic man out on the plain by the name of Cripps is also willing to pay a fine sum for any and all pristine carcasses. Much of these critters are considered vermin and so are generally scorned, but any “Varmint Hunter” should make trails for Ringneck Creek, just north-east of Mattock pond and the town of Rhodes. The quaint brook bursts with varmint as the sun goes down and is a quick stop to fill up the saddle bags. Be sure to pack no caliber weapon greater than a .22, else be satisfied scraping your prey of the trunk of a nearby tree.

Across the Nation

The future is under water
By Adam Parvey
What lies beneath the ocean has long fascinated the human mind. Many have conjured tales of monsters and devils in place of what is truly frightening: the unknown. What is the human quest but a quest to drive the unknown back into the depths from which it came? In 1898, it seems it is time to push the unknown back into the depths of the ocean.

For some time now there have been such vessels that could travel under water in limited fashion. From such a vessel, Mr. Simon River has made a phone call. This marks the first time someone under water spoke to someone above water through the telephone technology. If such an advancement was not enough, Mr. Philip Holland has set a new record with his “modern submersible” of 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Mr. Holland believes that in time, his new underwater vehicle will make travel under water practical. The U.S. government greatly interested in Mr. Holland’s work and has been a major investor. A spokesman said, “Mr. Holland would like one day to create vehicles as large as boats so everyone can travel underwater, but for now he must take funding from where he can.” Having seen the display myself, I was quite stunned. When the submersible came back to the surface I thought surely the man inside to be dead, but no, he was alive!

Consider this marvel with the previously mentioned underwater telephone call. Could one day humans not only travel freely underwater but also speak to those above the water? Could this make a completely underwater city possible? PWhat a marvelous time to be alive.

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The World Abroad

Story
By Ivy Seager
Construction on the Grand Palais continues in preparation for the Exposition Universelle in 1900. The trend of World’s Fairs began in Paris in 1855. In 1889 Paris hosted the World’s Fair for a second time and introduced the Eiffel Tower to the world. For the new fair, the Grand Palais is one structure being built.

The plan is for the building to be used as a hall of sculptures in addition to a a track for horse shows and a motor show, thus the building will both be an exhibit and house exhibits. In addition, there are plans being developed for a massive ferris wheel over 328 feet tall. The French people are pulling out all the stops to impress the world and live up to their tradition of wowing world leaders.

There is also word that the French plan to display artifacts from their colonies, as well as an ethnological exposition featuring tribal peoples from France’s colonies. Though it is said this display will be done to show Africans in their primitive environment, there are some who still criticize the “Negro Village” featured in France’s 1889 Fair. This is not just a trend in France. Last year in 1897, Brussels also featured an ethnological display. It would appear that World’s Fairs have one foot in the future and one foot in the past.

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