A TRAGEDY OF THE PLAINS.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 10, 8 December 1877, Page 3

A TRAGEDY OF THE PLAINS.

Leavenworth, (Kan.), September 24, — From a private letter 1 extract the particulars of one of the boldest robberies recorded in the annuls of frontier life. and its tragic ending. I quote : " You have probably heard of the big steal of Texas cattle, and the fearful justice visited on the thieves. Seven thousand five hundred head of cattle were stolen, ami eight of the thieves were killed. To one not knowing the manner iji which cattle are handled in Colorado it will seem almost impossible that so many cattle could he stolen without immediate detection. Cattle are allowed to run over the range in one vast herd, and once a year a ground ' round up' is made, and each cattle owner cuts out his cattle. Sometimes they are not seen for months. Thus it was that twelve of the robbers with which this country is infested succeeded in getting 7,000 head together, and nearly got away with them. They were seen by a herder, however, who gave the alarm, and fifteen wellarmed rangera gathered in pursuit. After five days riding the thieves were overtaken in the extreme northwest corner of Kansas, on a fork of the Republican known as the Frenchman. The pursuers surrounded their camp, taking them by surprise, and opening a deadly fire, killing four at the first volley. Panic-stricken, the thieves attempted to escape by running, but, before they were out of range, three more bit the dust. One, a Mexican, threw up his hands, and begged for mercy, but a rope was thrown around his neck and he was dragged a quarter of a mile to a tree and hanged. On the 14th of September a party ran across the pile of dead men, and attempted toJmry them, but the horrible stench was too much, and they were obliged to leave them alone.—"Morning Call."