**EXTRA** EXTRA** Once again news of terrible doings has reached this reporter. “Loco” Lyndsey Hobson is back in the country with her usual compadres “Rowdy” Russ and “Anything Goes” Andrea. It seems all the stashed loot they were looking for a few months ago was not located and they are back at it again. She has gathered up a new bunch of scurvy ridden vermin to assist her. They are reported to included “Mean Mark” Godzowski and his wife “Rocking Rochelle” These two were long ago run out from the Buckeye state by the good citizenry there for being known thieves of everything which was not bolted down. The fact that they were suspected of a few cold-blooded murders only hastened their invitation to leave the state. Then there are a couple Florida Crackers the names of whom are know to all in that fair region the country, “Mad” Mike Hatmaker and “Deadly” Dave McTique. These two are known buccaneers and rumrunners, purveyors of every illicit commodity a ruined soul could want. Since losing their ship several months ago they have been lured west by “Loco’s” temptation of found gold. These four along with “Loco”, “Rowdy” and “Anything Goes” and the reputation we all know too well they carry can only mean big trouble in the mountains. So be warned good people out there on the scattered ranches and homesteads, flee to town, band with your neighbors and lock your doors!
But also take heart! Our illustrious local Ranger Capt. Bates arrived late last night by rail with a new contingent of Rangers to help deal with this scourge, which has descended on our sweet land. This new company of Rangers on roster are as follows: Sgt. John Cloyed who assisted the Captain a few months ago and gained a well deserved reputation for himself by his outstanding service. Another familiar face in the company is that of Corporal Lew Trumble. He has served with the Captain several times over the years. His fine service was recognized and he has since been doing his duties in Pennsylvania . The Corporal brought along his young protégée Private Lia Nagel whom we are sure will learn a variety of new skills, possibly many that a young woman would best be unfamiliar. Other new troopers are Private Dianna Smith, hailing from our northern neighbor Colorado . She arrives with a fine reputation, which we pray will remain intact. Private Janet Cadena another from the buckeye state is said to also hold a good reputation as well as some backwoods savvy which surely could be useful up there in the wilds. Private Amy Kritzer, a long time law officer from the gold coast of California . She arrives highly recommended by her fellow officers and we hope will be the one to make the difference between jubilation or humiliation when this fine posse returns from the dreadful mission at hand. Rounding out the roster of new Rangers is Private Nathan Romero, a local man who many are surprised to see riding with the law as most suspected over the years that he would end up riding from the law.
It is with well wishes we watch this posse take the trail and hope to see them return soon with the whole lot of outlaws getting a good view of the soil of our fair country. **EXTRA** EXTRA** Today saw the return of the Rangers from the high country and the report they had was cause for jubilation through out the country. The details of the week’s action are disclosed in Capt. Bates official report. On Tuesday we received word that the outlaw gang was located near the N Bar Ranch along Negrito Creek. We proceeded to the ranch arriving in the midmorning only to find out the outlaws had just headed east. We took up the trail spotting them an hour later a mile ahead of us. We took to pursuit. The trail led directly to the posse camp, which was being searched by the nefarious outlaws for valuables. A loot bag was recovered by the Floridians. As the posse approached, the outlaws fled the camp, taking to the prairie. The outlaws were lost in the rolling hills, so the posse split their forces. Sgt. Cloyed took all the rangers but Cpl. Trumbull. They went to the known outlaw camp in search of stolen loot, recovering none after several hours long hours of searching. Cpl. Trumbull and Capt. Bates picked up the outlaw trail and followed them to Ten Dead Canyon. We spotted the outlaw Loco guarding horses on the other side of the canyon, while the rest of the outlaw gang was deep in the canyon searching for hidden loot. While Loco and Capt. Bates engaged in an uneasy staredown across the canyon, Cpl. Trumbull kept an eye on the outlaws, hoping to spot who recovered the loot and gun them down as they tried to escape the canyon. As the afternoon came to a close, the outlaws apparently hadn’t found any loot, and the clouds were gathering in the west, so we left the outlaws to their search. Late in the day with heavy rain coming down we made our way to camp where we met up with the other rangers just before dark. Just after dark Sgt. Cloyed led the rangers on a recon and harassment mission to the outlaw camp, finding them setting up camp in the wet and dark. A few shots were fired and several outlaws were pinned down in their base camp tent, but no injuries were recorded. Wednesday The rangers were up and out early on a large patrol of the area. Riding eleven hours covering over 25 miles they found two stashes of loot and recovered over 30 head of rustled cattle. After putting the recovered cattle up in a secluded pasture, the troop was back in camp just before nightfall. Tracking scouts awaited with the news of the outlaw doings for the day. It is known the outlaws worked in three groups; Loco took Mad Mike and the Godzowski outlaws to Dead Horse Corral on an unsuccessful search for loot. Deadly Dave stayed behind in camp, skulking in the trees and hoping to pick off an unsuspecting posse member. Rowdy and Anything occupied the ranger camp for most of the day; they are known to backshoot our heroes when they come in from a hard days’ ride. The sun was well set when the sound of gunfire broke the night’s quiet. Hot lead flew into the ranger camp from the outlaws’ position on the rocks above. It was very dark and near impossible to make out a target, so little affect was done. Sgt. Cloyed slipped around the outlaw position and approached from the rear. Spotting shapes in the dark he opened fire wounding one in the leg, convincing the outlaws to scurry away into the darkness. Thursday The posse horses were jaded from the long day yesterday so it was decided to spend the day in camp and give the horses a days’ rest. Watches were set up and it became a waiting game. Several of the rangers were all for going on the attack but patience is the key to a day such as this and it was rewarded with the arrival of the outlaws about midday . A two-hour gun battle ensued, and the carnage was terrible. The Posse took up defensive positions around the old homestead cabin, with snipers in the rocks. The outlaws furiously attacked from above and below. During the battle, Dave, Russ, and Andrea attacked the cabin with guns ablazing. Capt. Bates was pinned down inside and was returning fire from the windows, with Lew, Dianna, and Lia providing support just outside. During the battle, Russ feigned a gun problem and drew Lew into the open, where he was promptly gunned down by the evil outlaw thug. However, Nate, Dianna, and Lia teamed up to force Rowdy into the open, where he was promptly dispatched with extreme prejudice by Private Smith. This turned the tide, and our heroes charged Dave and Andrea. Rounds flew and gunsmoke hung in the air, but Dave and Andrea were brought down. Meanwhile, on the other side of the corral, a pitched battle was in progress with Janet, Amy, and John battling Mike, Mark, and Rochelle. The outlaws teamed up admirably, pinning down John while he fought in the rocks. The outlaws had the posse on the run, until Capt Bates made a mad dash to the fray. Mark and Rochelle fought valiantly, escaping sure death. Mad Mike circled around, and spotting Capt. Bates’ cabin door ajar, tried to slip inside. Unfortunately for him, Capt Bates returned at just the right time and got the drop on him. The outlaws, recognizing that the battle was not going well, withdrew from the posse camp. They were doggedly pursued by members of the posse, and Mean Mark caught a bullet while preparing one of his legendary meals back at outlaw camp. A restful afternoon followed, as the Rangers made plans for the attack they knew was coming. Over in the outlaw camp, Loco and the Floridians practiced their quickdraws. The men couldn’t help but admire Loco’s speed and accuracy. Although the afternoon was quiet in both camps and the weather had improved markedly, there was a tension in the air of a coming fight. Evening fell and with it a quiet over Posse camp, soon to be broken by the sound of horses spooked in the corral alerting us to the approach of the outlaws. It was pitch black again, with the stars and moon concealed by the season’s clouds. The outlaws used the blackness to get within yards of the Posse cook tent. Their strategy was clear, as they avoided the rocks and the cabin where Capt. Bates was ensconced. During the hail of gunfire, the tent was barely standing from all of the paint that the outlaws were throwing. Amy, Janet, Dianna and Lia returned the fire and the taunts. Nate, who was on guard duty prior to the attack and may have been sneaking a nap, spotted Russ behind a tree and began sneaking up to backshoot him. Unfortunately, he forgot about Rowdy’s partner, and Andrea, who was laying in the tall grass watching her man’s back, killed Nate. Sometime during the chaotic battle, Lew took a friendly-fire kill from an overzealous posse member. The outlaws, led by Dave, finally charged the tent. A short but very vicious exchange was followed by the outlaws retreating towards their camp, confident that they’d put a hurt on the posse. Insult was added to injury when Rowdy, who had hidden himself just outside the light of the fire, emerged to finish off the survivors. Absent from the battle was Sgt. Cloyed, who had left camp earlier on a solo excursion to the outlaw camp. There he found Loco alone in camp and silently she fell his prey. He stayed in the area until the triumphant outlaws returned and surprised most of them , dashing their victorious jubilation. He waited in the wet and cold three more hours and silently found a few more outlaws until he himself fell victim to one last silent killer. Friday Dawn arrived finding the rangers in better moral than the evening before. The decision was made to get moving while the moving was good. We saddled up and headed back to town finding another 20 or so head of stolen cattle, which were recovered. The outlaws trailed but were aware that the tables were now turned and they no longer had free run over the country, and they disappeared to places far from here. Despite the bad weather during the early part of the week, lots of riding was done, and there were several good battles. I believe a good time was had by all, and the guests are to be commended for their good humor throughout the rainy weather. On top of it all, we got some strays rounded up, saving us some work in the future. |
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