THE BOOT HILL PROJECT

by Frazer Williamson.

  Jake Goldfarb didn't let the grass grow under his feet. Soon as he saw what was happening, he called a meeting of the town council. "Men", he said, "you all know by this time that Governor Tate has made John Clay a U.S. Marshall, and he's got a list of all them that gunned down the Morgan brothers and Sheriff Harvey."
"Ain't we ever goin' to hear the last of that?" said Bill Mossey, who ran the freight line. "How do you know he's got a list?"
"Come right into my store and showed it to me, askin' where he could find them twenty people."
"I suppose you told him, Jake", Tucker Coe said.
"Didn't tell him nothin'. Your names on that list Tucker, Reckon you'll be getting out of town now."
"I can't just up and go", Tucker said. "I got a business here."
"It's your neck, Tucker. Tell you what. You sell us your business, and you can hightail it out of here."
"You'd like that Jake, but I ain't sellin'."
"Where you goin', Tucker?"
"To see that Marshall."
"Men," Jake said. "We got to elect us a new Mayor."

* * *

"Name's Tucker Coe, heard you was lookin' for me, Clay."
"True enough, Mr. Coe."
"Names on a list, right? Where'd you get that list?"
Clay said nothing.
"You didn't ride in here with a list, right? My guess is that you didn't have a list when you went into Jake Goldfarb's store, but you did when you came out."
"I got to arrest you for the murder of the Morgans and Sheriff Harvey."
"Wasn't murder, they was shootin' back at us," Tucker said. "Look Marshall, I got a wife and kids. What good's it goin' to do now taking me or the others in? Won't bring back the Morgans or Sheriff Harvey."
"Maybe not, but it'll be justice."
"I'm beggin' you, Marshall. You can say you couldn't find me. Give me time to pack up here and move my business somewheres else. Think of what you'd be doin' to my family."
"Let's take a walk down to the hotel, Mr. Coe. I got men there who'll take you to the state prison where you'll wait for trial. You'll get your chance to say your piece."
Clay avoided seeing the misery in Tucker Coes eyes.

* * *

The town council were on the stoop of Goldfarbs store when Clay marched Tucker past.
Coe shouted, "You gave him that list, Jake."
"Man says that's a liar," Jake said.
Clay stopped in front of Jake. "I say it," he said. "You gave me that list, Mr. Goldfarb."
The town council looked at Jake and moved away from him.
"Listen to me men," he said to them. "It ain't like he said."
"You ain't goin' to be the new Mayor, Jake," Bill Mossey said. "Let's go, boys."
"Wait," Clay said. "I'm goin' to appoint you a new Mayor. Who has the feed and grain store?"
"I do." A man stepped forward. "Name's Ben Routledge."
"You're the new Mayor, Mr. Routledge, and I'm appointin' Con Davis as your new Sheriff until such times as law and order is fully established and the time comes when you can elect a new Mayor and Sheriff for yourselves."
"Way we heard it, Con Davis robbed the bank. Some Sheriff!"
"Ain't the way I heard it. That's the way it goin' to be," Clay said.

* * *

Ben Routledge was a man of vision, and he had a vision for Boot Hill.
There were so many notorious outlaws as well as the Morgans buried there, that he could see it as a place where people would pay to come and see the last resting places of these attractive bad men. So, soon as he became Mayor he lost no time in pushing through plans for making Boot Hill into such an attraction. He gave some of the Negroes from Joshua work tidying up the graves, and with the sowing of grasses, which later they cut short into lawns like they had in military cemeteries back East.
Rotting wooden crosses were replaced with granite headstones with the names and epitaphs of the outlaws chiselled into them. Some of these even appeared over unknown bones.
"Ben", said Bill Mossey, "Jesse James ain't buried here."
"Who's goin' to know?" Ben said.
"Somebody's bound to know, and Billy the Kid ain't even dead."
"But when he does die, there'll be a place here for him," said the man of vision.
Boot Hill sure looked nice and trim when it was finished. They even built a log cabin gate lodge for the caretaker. They reckoned this would be just the job for Soapy, the town drunk. Might even keep him sober. Soapy had a need to drink, but with this job he drank less and seemed to be happier among the dead than among the living. Ben was right. People got off the trains and the stages to have a look at Boot Hill, and they paid good money, for a guided tour during which Soapy entertained them with tall tales..
In the evenings Soapy would do his rounds to see that there was nobody left in the graveyard before he locked the gates for the night. One evening while he was doing this the stillness of the cemetery was disturbed by the sound of a hammer hitting a chisel. Tapping, tapping. Soapy made his way towards the sound which was coming from the far end of the graveyard where there was the lonely grave of Clint Pufendorph who had robbed three trains, twenty-four stages, and a hundred and twenty-seven mining camp brothels before he was shot by an irate Madam.
Soapy came on and saw that there was a man tampering with Pufendorphs headstone. "Hey", yelled Soapy. "What do you think you're doin?"
The man, as rough looking a character as Soapy himself, turned and with a great deal of hurt in his eyes said: "They didn't spell my name right."

LONESOME LUKE

Now Luke he was a loner
He rode a lonely trail
His suit was black as lampsoot
Though his face was kinda pale

He made his livin' gamblin'
Roamin' from town to town
Some didn't like his dealin'
But most of those backed down.

The other men that argued
Are well and truly gone.
And now they're just remembered
As notches on his gun.

Killed a cowboy up in Kansas
Shot a sheriff in Cheyenne
He was nearly lynched in Pecos
When he shot another man.

But Luke he learned in Abilene
What most men already knew
There's always someone just as mean
With a faster draw than you.

An Ace from his cuff was good enough
To make most men fold and leave,
But that didn't beat a derringer
In a really bad man's sleeve.


From Chuck Wagon Tales
by
Miz Tinny and Fretherne © 2004




39 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING

Author unknown

1. Avoid alliteration. Always.

2. Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.

3. Employ the vernacular.

4. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.

5. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.

6. Remember to never split an infinitive.

7. Contractions aren't necessary.

8. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.

9. One should never generalize.

10. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."

11. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.

12. Don't be redundant; don't use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.

13. Be more or less specific.

14. Understatement is always best.

15. One-word sentences? Eliminate.

16. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.

17. The passive voice is to be avoided.

18. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.

19. Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.

20. Who needs rhetorical questions?

21. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

22. Don't never use a double negation.

23. capitalize every sentence and remember always end it with point

24. Do not put statements in the negative form.

25. Verbs have to agree with their subjects.

26. Proofread carefully to see if you words out.

27. If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.

28. A writer must not shift your point of view.

29. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)

30. Don't overuse exclamation marks!!

31. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to the irantecedents.

32. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.

33. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

34. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.

35. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

36. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.

37. Always pick on the correct idiom.

38. The adverb always follows the verb.

39. Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; They're old hat; seek viable alternatives.

Article submitted by Lance0812

NEW BOOKS:

WIND OF THE MOUNTAIN

by Brian Kelling,

Whiskey Creek Press

Whiskey Creek Press - Book Publisher
http://www.wiskeycreekpress.com/authors/Brian_Kelling

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WIDOWMAKER #2: TURNBACK CREEK

by Robert Randisi

Pocket Books Sept.
(Book #3 will not see the light of day, as Pocket has announced they will no longer publish "genre" books after January 1st. They only want to publisher Best Sellers.)

THE SONS OF DANIEL SHAYE #1: LEAVING EPITAPH

by Robert Randisi
HarperTorch Sept.

Robert J. Randisi | Western Author Interview | ReadTheWest.com American Western

http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/redir?src=websearch&request

ROSE O'NEAL GREENHOW

Confederate Spy in Washington DC:

by Margaret Bzovy

   Rose O'Neal Greenhow was the most tenacious spy in social Washingon D.C during the early 1860s. She was a beautiful, tall, slender woman with thick, black hair pulled back across her head into a popular styled tight bun. Rose almost went unobserved until the "eye" of detection caused her downfall. She hosted some of the most elaborate parties in Washington, DC and wore the richest most fashionable gowns. Her soft, smooth white skin was appealing to every gentleman and her long slender nose added toward the appearance of royalty. The deep dark brown eyes extended mystery that men found inviting, rather than being cautioned.

Only one man knew the difference about Rose's ostentatious attitude and that was Allan Pinkerton, national detective who had her in his files as being a Confederate spy. Should there be any wonder about sensing a spy better than Pinkerton? Their emblem of the open eye and motto, "We never sleep" described the agency quite well. Few spies ever out guessed Allan Pinkerton.

Rose was born in Port Tobacco, Maryland in 1817 to a prosperous Irish-Catholic planter family named O'Neal. When she was a teenager, her parents died and Rose came to live with an Aunt in Washington, DC. She was considered very popular with several young men seeking her hand in marriage. However, Rose set her eyes on a man who was very wealthy and had a respectful, proper business. She married Doctor Robert Greenhow and they soon had four beautiful daughters. Rose enjoyed parties and often invited many influential government senators and rich business people to their dinners.

In 1850 the Greenhow's moved to Mexico where the doctor carried on his practice. Soon, he was called to San Francisco where they lived quite happily until 1854. Rose was suddenly widowed when Dr. Greenhow's buggy over turned in an accident and he was killed. Rose returned to Washington D. C. where she began to enjoy political gatherings once more and was often seen among the affluent guests. She made many notable friends, such as the handsome, South Carolina politician, John C. Calhoun who found her fascinating and well educated. During the political up-rise and the beginning of the Southern States getting "hot under the collar" over slave ownership, Rose had learned much information from the Union politicians. They included her in their discussions as they felt she was so much a part of the Washington scene. Rose decided to give Calhoun her information and the news she gave always proved to be very valuable. She was asked to keep informing them with anything she found out. Because of Rose's affections toward her birth state of Maryland and belief in the Southern cause, she made it her first duty to focus upon political talk that might effect the slave states. She worked in secrecy and for a long time no one knew where the information came from.

The battle of Manassas in 1861 proved very costly for the Union. They had worked in secrecy, yet the Confederate troops met them with tremendous cannon fire. Many Union soldiers died. The troops had to withdraw to the loud cheering of Confederate soldiers. Such a battle should have been won easily by the Union and yet they knew they were coming. The thorn of the rose had struck; Rose's information revealed all Union movements and caused destruction to their plans of overtaking Manassas.

President Lincoln gathered his generals and the discussion was well heated and long into the night. Lincoln sent for Allan Pinkerton, the well-known detective agent from Chicago. There had to be spies among them and Pinkerton and his men were assigned to find who they were.

Rose had formed her own espionage ring in 1861 and Southern sympathizers all collaborated with news they had learned. She passed all information to General P.G. T. Beauregard of the Southern Army. Information she found out about Union troop movements and total amount of soldiers in each unit was sent in secret messages to Beauregard. Rose had no love for the Union government, as she believed they had gone against the very Constitution they said they guarded. A state could not own slaves. This wasn't how the South looked at the situation and Rose agreed. The Southern States were not given their right in respect to the Constitution.

Mrs. Rose Greenhow was suspected by Allan Pinkerton as exactly the kind of woman who could get secrets out of a man. Could any rose be lovelier while the thorn tore the skin? She was always around in the political circles and was always the good listener. Those were exactly the type of traits he looked for in people when seeking out possible carriers of information. Rose did not appear to be innocent enough to pass on remarks without knowing what she was doing. Especially concerning the battle of Manassas, the messages had been deliberately sent to the enemy. Allan Pinkerton set his sights on Rose and followed her wherever she went, all the while building his report on her procedures.

In August 1861, Allan Pinkerton was issued a search warrant and began a search of Rose Greenhow's apartment. He was amazed at his find. There were detailed maps of Washington's fortifications, numerous important notes, letters and outlines of Military troop movements. Rose was quite persistent in her job, except for one important thing, she didn't try to hide her information and all was visible for Pinkerton. He arrested her immediately and took her along with her youngest daughter to the Old Capitol prison Her trial was not very long when Pinkerton exposed all the information against her.

This imprisonment didn't sway Rose from trying to get information to her beloved Southern friends. She still captivated those who would listen to her and even her prison guard took letters to informers without realizing he was doing wrong. She was sending more messages right under the Union noses, which infuriated her captors. Believing they could never get peace with this woman, in May 1862, Rose was released and sent by rail to Richmond, Virginia where she carried out more of her spy activities for the sake of her beloved south. At least she was out of Washington.

In August 1863, President of the Confederate states, Jefferson Davis sent Rose to England and France on a diplomatic affair to ask favors for the Southern State cause. The South was in great need of money for weapons and ammunition. While Rose was there she wrote and published a book with Richard Bentley, an English publisher. The book was titled, My Imprisonment and First Year of Abolition Rule in Washington. In this book Rose told about her exploits as a spy and what happened to her in prison. She revealed some very important information.

Two months later on October 1, 1864, Rose began her trip back to the United States leaving her young daughter with friends in Paris. She packed her bags and set off on the Condor blockade ship. While heading toward the North Carolina shores a Union warship came into view and leveled cannon shots across the Condor's bow causing the ship to run for cover. While running toward shore the Condor ran aground on a sand bar and became stranded. With the sudden storm arising, the Union warship turned away toward their own base. Still, Rose was worried that the Union ship would appear again and was apprehensive about being taken captive and sent to a Union prison. She asked the Captain of the ship to lower her and two companions into a life boat and let them row to shore. With the strong waves slamming against the small craft, the power of the ocean waves overturned the small lifeboat and dumped Rose and the two men overboard. While the men were able to swim to the shore, Rose, who had stuffed $2,000 in gold in her coat pocket, could not handle the strong waves. She went under and her lifeless body was washed ashore. She was identified two days later and given a Military funeral with the Confederate flag draped across her casket.

Her body was laid to rest at Oakdale Cemetery. She is still remembered as one of the South's most effective, bravest spies. Her grave is decorated each Confederate Memorial Day.

   That's all for this month, pards. Many thanks to all our contributors for taking time to keep this newsletter interesting. We'll be looking for your article in September. Do send in something. Thank you so much.

Marge, Sandy, Kim

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