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.
Horrific Riot Engulfs Saint-Denis
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
For the past week, Saint-Denis was calm like the Lannahechee. Although tensions in Lemoyne rose sharply due to the Lemoyne Raiders, Saint-Denis seemed to be returning to normal following governor Murphy James’s untimely death. That was until the next governor was announced.
Five days ago, it was announced to the entire nation that Franklin Bufford would be the next governor. This decision was met with near-universal outrage. Bufford was a former Union general who occupied Saint-Denis in the years following the Civil War. He was considered cruel and corrupt, not to mention he was not a native of the state.
A mass protest was organized by everyone from local militia and former Confederates, to colored folk angry that a vocal supporter of Plessy v. Ferguson was now in charge. The demonstration marched all over the city, eventually stopping at the courthouse. There the new governor stood alongside mayor Henri Lemieux and local police, led by Sandra Walsh and company. The crowd was ordered to disperse, but everyone refused. Governor Bufford ordered Walsh to get rid of the mob. She personally fired several shots into the air, yelling at the top of her lungs to leave or face the consequences. Once again, none heeded the warning. Immediately after, the rough and tumble woman fired two shots into the crowd, striking George Lewis, a popular colored dock worker. Lewis died minutes later.
For a brief moment, all was silent, then it began. The crowd rapidly devolved into an angry riot, the likes of which haven’t been seen since the 1874 Battle of Canal Street. Local Saint-Denis officers rushed the crowd with clubs, beating countless people. Miss Walsh attempted to keep the crowd back with a shotgun, shooting even those begging for mercy. Most shop owners fled in terror; only a few stayed behind. Lemoyne Raiders joined the fray, looting stores, and attacking government buildings. Former killer Sándor Báthory Kardos reportedly saved a family of three from some of the raiders. The police station was set alight; some folks were even violently lynched. All the windows at the Théâtre Râleur were shattered. The law in Saint-Denis was quickly overwhelmed.
An all-out retreat was ordered, everyone fled to mayor Lemieux’s mansion, all while the city burned. Not everyone made it to the mansion. Former Bushranger Morgan Knight was tackled by a rioter and dragged into the crowd, where someone poured oil on him before lighting it. The mansion was heavily fortified, the grand piano now blocked the front door. Many inside feared the worst, so Lemieux made a hasty decision. He grabbed a Schofield and aimed it at Miss Walsh and her remaining companions. He believed the mob would disperse if she were offered up. All three bounty hunters were quickly thrown out a window into the maw of the mob. The crowd eagerly went after the former New York street rat. So many were ecstatic to finally kill the woman who had lynched, beaten, and shot countless possibly innocent people. Walsh took out a push dagger and tried to fight off the inevitable. She managed to stab three before an Irishman tackled her to the ground with a large rope. Life was slowly squeezed out of the woman, and just before it was over, the man’s head exploded. A small army of Pinkertons under orders from Leviticus Cornwall arrived on the scene, running through the crowds on horseback. One even brought in an old Gatling gun, which was used to deadly effect. Order was finally restored by early morning.
Casualty reports are still unknown. Estimates put the figure at as many as 200. Property damage costs number in the tens of thousands. Blame for the insurrection largely falls on the shoulders of Saint-Denis police, Governor Bufford, and especially Sandra Walsh. As of yesterday, she is no longer in charge of Saint-Denis law enforcement, once she recovers, it’s unlikely she will ever be seen in this city again. Governor Bufford has already distanced himself from the city, leaving most of his duty instead to Mayor Lemieux, who is already promising new reform to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. Police chief Lambert is also already changing some laws and training for his men. The many citizens of the city can only hope their voices were heard, and change finally comes to Saint-Denis.
Cholera, cowboys, hillbillies and bounty hunters
By Jose Chavez
One would be inclined to believe that except for the occasional bounty hunter or passing traveler, Armadillo would be a quiet place. However, this was proven wrong when a pair who called themselves the Hillbilly King and the Hillbilly Queen rode into town late at night, armed with carcano rifles. The pair started shooting locals and travelers who strayed too close to the dying town. Sadly, three of them lost their life. The pair was later confronted by two other gunfighters located in the hills nearby the town. The two gunfighters teamed up in that location and started a short fight with the hillbilly “royalty.” The gunfighteres parted ways after injuring the hillbilly woman and her horse, one of them rode toward Rio Bravo while the other, who was identified as former outlaw and now bounty hunter William Cormac, headed toward Hennigan’s Stead.
Cougar Population Explodes Across New Austin
By Sofia Kathleen Fairfax (Lead Correspondent)
The number of reported sightings and attacks by cougars has rapidly escalated in the past few weeks. The vast desert in between Armadillo and Tumbleweed is now brimming with those fearsome cats. Nobody knows quite why the population has increased exponentially, but its possibly connected to the lack of paying jobs combined with hunters moving eastward. Traders used to enjoy the massive amounts of wildlife in the desert, but now prefer areas such as the Great Plains or Big Valley. Without job seekers or hunters, it was only a matter of time until the predators got out of hand.
If you are going to be spending any extended period of time in New Austin, it is strongly advised you travel in a group, or at the very least, come heavily armed. Cougars have been known to survive shots from large-caliber revolvers, so come armed with rifles or shotguns in case one of those monstrous felines attack.
Man killed on Bacchus Bridge when he attempts to grab item on the tracks
By Jane Duran
Two cowpokes were riding in the Grizzlies when one noticed something shiny on Bacchus Bridge. “He said there was something he could collect. I told him he was crazy to go out on that bridge,” his friend said. However, he could not be deterred. “I convinced him to leave his horse, thank God,” his friend expressed in relief. After dismounting his horse, the man ran across the tracks, grabbed the item and then shouted, “I’ll be right back!” “I didn’t know what he meant, ’cause he never left, just stood there.” Moments later the collector’s friend said, “I felt the ground start to shake and could hear the train’s horn in the distance.” He shouted out to the collector as loud as he could, but they did not respond. The train grew louder as it got closer, its horn blaring in warning.
According to the friend, the collector never responded and never moved. The train’s breaks screeched but it was too late, the collector stood there as the train ran him over. “I’ll give his horse a good home, but there ain’t nothin’ left of my friend to take home to bury. Worse part is, when my friend came back for his horse, I couldn’t figure out how to tell him he died.” The friend seemed a bit confused, then shrugged and walked away.
Are you awakened by strange noises in the middle of the night? Do you experience dread when criminals hide in your basement or attic? Have you or your family ever seen a criminal or crime? If the answer is yes, don’t wait another minute. Get to your nearest telegraph to contact the professionals at the Herald today! Our courteous and efficient staff is ready receive your telegram 24 hours a day! No matter how unbelievable the story, we’re ready to believe you!
Sniper sends Blackwater residents into hiding
By Nick McCrary
Blackwater residents were forced to hide for their lives this week. In the middle of the day a gunshot rang out loudly and a man who just walked out of the tailor shop was shot and killed. Witnesses say that residents pulled out their own guns and started to look around for the shooter. Many aimed their guns at each other until another loud shot rang out and another resident fell dead. It was then that many realized the shooter was not in the town at all, but sniping them from far away. Residents panicked and ran for cover as additional shots ran out. Some witnesses say that every shot was followed by someone, “screamin’ and hollerin’ in pain, sometimes not for very long.” The Blackwater Police figured out that the shooter was out on an island not far from Blackwater.
Using their own Carcano sniper rifle, the Blackwater Police fought back. However, none of the policemen proved to be a good shot and were each injured or killed before they could even take a shot. “Every time our sniper aimed, they got shot at. Eventually we ran out of folks trained in sniper rifles,” said the Chief of the Blackwater Police Department. Two policeman were killed, however several were wounded. Additionally, three Blackwater residents were reported dead. After hunkering down in town, the shooting stopped. By the time the Blackwater Police made it out to the island the sniper was gone. They were unable to find any information at the scene to identify the shooter. While some have speculated that the Great Plains Sniper may be responsible, authorities and locals dismiss that accusation. “The Great Plains Sniper shoots taxmen, not local police and residents,” said one resident of Blackwater confidently. Whoever the sniper is, the Blackwater Police have promised it will not happen again. They have hired a former military sniper to ensure the town is protected from long distance shooters.
Hogan Graves kills two pursuing bounty hunters in Valentine
By Donna Deschner
The outlaw Hogan Graves arrived in Valentine this week and was spotted in Smithfield’s Saloon. The barkeep was unaware of who Graves was and was prepared to rent him a room. “He had money, who am I to turn him away?” the barkeep said. However, Graves was followed into the saloon by two bounty hunters. Witnesses reported that Graves seemed unaware of the bounty hunters as they walked in and took seats at a table behind him. Valentine is no stranger to sudden tension, the regulars of Smithfield’s Saloon even expect it. Some folks started to exit through the back and front doors of the saloon. The piano player continued to play, however, offering some levity to the tense situation.
At some point, Graves offered a cruel smile and turned around. As he did so, he pulled out his gun and fired on the two bounty hunters before they could even pull out their own guns. Those still in the saloon quickly ran while the barkeep ducked. “Last thing I saw was the shooter, that Graves fella, run out the back with several other patrons,” the barkeep said. Valentine deputies arrived quickly, however they all came in through the front door. Graves had already escaped the saloon. He was not spotted again and it is believed that he fled Valentine but nobody knows where too.
Saloon shutdown as unsanitary
By Aloysius Levron
Doyle’s Tavern is a smaller saloon that many in Saint Denis are not aware of. Located in the working class district of Saint Denis, Doyle’s is preferred by working folk and scoffed at by fancy folks. Unfortunately, the owner of the tavern has had a difficult time with rodents. He stopped serving food, hoping that the rats would go away on their own. However, that proved to be an unsuccessful tactic. “The rats never stopped,” said one patron. “Folks started bringing their own food,” said another, which meant more crumbs to keep attracting the rats. Officials in Lemoyne have been desperate to show they are working for the safety of Lemoyne residents and have increased inspections of known unsanitary locations. Doyle’s is one such place where unsanitary conditions are accepted as a way of life. That makes it a prime location for inspectors to come in and make big changes in an attempt to look like they are doing something.
Doyle’s Tavern was shut down by order of the state of Lemoyne until the rat condition was taken care of. However, the riots in Saint Denis started just after this closure. Working class folks needed a place to drink and rumor has it, Doyle’s Tavern was that place despite being shutdown. “Ain’t nobody gonna come through the riot to shut down a bar,” said one dockworker enjoying their beer. “If they do, we won’t let them.”
In defense of myself; the truth about my family
By Ela Q. Asken
Loyal readers of this paper may have missed it, but just recently, I was accused by other papers of supporting the institution of slavery. I must say emphatically that I have never supported slavery or the Jim Crow laws that have replaced it. I have been following a murderer we have called the Smoking Gun and his most recent victim brought attention to some horrors of my past. It is true that my family owned a plantation and had several slaves. I, however, was born after the prohibition of slavery. Though I recognized that everything that my family had was because of the exploitation of slave labor. Outlawing slavery did not cleanse the immorality from their money. I began to abhor my family and so I left my home as soon as I could and set off on my own.
I rejected all the help they offered, seeing it as immoral money made off the literal backs of slaves. When I came across the Smoking Gun’s last kill, I was both pleased to see a dead former slaver but undeterred in my goal to catch the Smoking Gun. It is clear that he chose this contract to send a message to me: he knows about me and the most humiliating parts of my past. What he may not realize, however, is that I know him too. I know what he looks like. I know how he thinks. And I know where he will strike next.
I have been following the Smoking Gun for nearly a year now and I am closer than ever. He hoped to highlight my family’s past to shake my readers’ faith in my ability. He hoped to get me fired. He hoped to get me off his trail. All of this because he knows that I am close, closer than anybody has been before. Do not be shaken, dear readers, for I am not the monster some have attempted to make me out to be. I am, however, the one who will be responsible for bringing a murderous monster to justice.
Duly elected government overthrown in North Carolina
By Frederick Vannesse
Racial tensions in Wilmington, North Carolina have led to a violent overthrow of the city’s government. However, the official story is the violence was the result of a race riot and the new government merely forming when the old government supported the rioters. Despite many publications accepting this story that blames black residents for the violence, I have learned this was actually a coup d’état by white supremacists. For the last several years a coalition of black Republicans and Populists have led the city as the Fusion Party. Southern white supremacists have recently started stoking the flames of racial tensions and the evidence is clear. Those behind the coup have placed propaganda all around the city for everyone to see. President MacAlister has said he can only intervene if the Governor of North Carolina requests help, and at this point he has not. If such a coup is allowed to stand, what does it say of this nation and its commitment to rule by the people?
Manila surrendered to the United States
By Ivy Seager
Though the Philippines was declared an independent nation by General Emilio Aguinaldo weeks ago, Spanish forces were not completely dispelled from the island nation. The beleaguered Spanish military has been fighting Filipino rebels in addition to U.S. forces and chose to surrender the capital city Manila to the U.S.. It seems likely that surrendering to a country already winning a war in devastating fashion is less embarrassing than surrendering to rebels. The city of Manila is now officially in the hands of U.S. forces. Many suspect that the formal, though unnecessary, surrender of Manila is a sign that Spain has grown wary of war and may soon seek peace.
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