1880 Census – Fox & Hound
Update 37
Spring 1880
Sheriff MacLachlan’s gut led Stevens and his group up into the foothills of SorGun. Mr. Blankmore’s murderer was still on the loose, and the Sheriff was in pursuit. Stevens could have taken the fork into the town of New SorGun, but Foxton was on his list, and he figured he might as well check it off sooner rather than later. Plus, Stevens couldn’t lie… he was a little curious how this little adventure with the Sheriff would play out.
The sun was falling as the travelers found their way into Middleton. This was Stevens first glance at the F&M Railway that connected New SorGun with Foxton. Much had been said about Mr. Finch and Mr. Myers wild gamble, and it was clear to Stevens that the success of the little partnership was becoming a major thorn in the side of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Stevens was curious to get Finch’s side of the story, but that was for a different day. The Census crew had more pressing matters, like where were they going to sleep that night.
(1680x1050 – click for full)
The group of travelers made their way to the tiny shack of a station in the center of town. After spending a few minutes talking up the station master, the sheriff returned to the group.
“Th' varmint scum is gonnae fin' his grave at th' bottom ay a mine.”
Most of the group gave MacLachlan a quizzical look.
“He hopped th' lest train tae Foxton. We’ll hae tae sleep haur an' catch th' first train next morn. I’m wabbit ay trackin' th' wee scunner,” declared the Sheriff.
The motley crew did their best to get comfortable and get a bit of shut eye before the first train ran the next morning.
(1680x1050 – click for full)
Just before dawn, Stevens was awoken by the sound of hooves and hushed talking outside the station. Curious, he cracked open the door and saw Sheriff MacLachlan speaking with a rider on horseback.
The Scotsman heard the creak of the hinges and noticed Stevens in the doorway and motioned for him to come out.
“Things jist got a bit mair complicated,” said the Sheriff as he handed Stevens a note.
Stevens finished reading the note and glanced up.
“Bit ye wished ye woods hae taken th' other fork,” chuckled MacLachlan.
“I count people for a living, Sheriff… Gangs and all,” smiled Stevens.
A breeze rustled through the pine trees, reminding the early risers how cold the spring air could feel.
“Reminds me ay mornings back haem,” sighed the Sheriff. “Heelain air is guid fur clearin' th' heed.”
(1600x872 – click for full)
Stevens was happy to be riding on the ol’ iron horse once again. It was an early morning after a restless night’s sleep, but anything was better than riding for miles over bumpy terrain on horseback. As the train wound deeper into the hills, Stevens sat back and admired how beautiful the back country was.
(1680x1050 – click for full)
The ride to Foxton was a breeze compared to his trek 10 years earlier. The terrain was rough, but the engineers of the F&M railway somehow pulled it off. Stevens was impressed by what the little railway was able to accomplish in just a few years.
The station in Foxton was quite lively. It was immediately clear that the coal mines had breathed life into Foxton and hurled the tiny community into a respectable sized town in no time flat.
“It looks like we have a bit of work to do,” said Stevens, as he stepped off the carriage.
“Aye, sae dae Ah. Mebbe uir paths will cross in th' future, until 'en …” said the sheriff as he glanced around to get his baring.
“I sincerely hope so my friend,” said Stevens as he shook MacLachlan’s hand.
(1680x1050 – click for full)
The makeshift group parted ways. The Sheriff went digging for information around the seedier parts of town, while Stevens and his crew set up shop at a local Inn. 10 years ago, a town this size would have passed for a metropolis in the SorGun area, thought Stevens. The coal had certainly brought civilization up into the hills, but one only had to look around at the surrounding forests and mountains to realize that nature still reigned.
Foxton had slowly pushed back the evergreens, and given new life to the SorGun highlands. Farms, stores and houses all jostled for position along the town’s dirt avenues. Steven’s group began the task of tallying up the unlikely outpost and adding more miles to their already worn boots.
(1680x1050 – click for full)
Meanwhile, Sheriff MacLachlan visited the usual hangouts frequented by scum and villainy. Shortly into his search he stopped in a bar near the trail that led to the mines.
Two or three souls glanced up as the Sheriff strode in, his heavy boots thumped with each stride on the wooden floor.
“What’ll it be, my friend,” questioned the bartender, while scrubbing out a stain in the counter.
“Hae ye crossed paths wi' a stranger, he woods hae jist arrived lest nicht. Th' laddie main hae bin tryin' tae fin' somebody,” asked MacLachlan.
The bartender gave a half laugh, “we get strangers passing through each day, sir. Unfortunately nobody pays me to keep track of all ‘em.”
The Sheriff nodded and turned to walk out.
One of the patrons at the bar gave a cough.
“Kid was here last night, said he’d just hopped off the train. Was lookin’ for a Granger boy,” grumbled the man. “I don’t care for ‘em ruffians much, so I told him he’d best not get mixed up with that company. But the kid was insistent. Warren was his name. “
MacLachlan leaned up against the bar next to the man, waiting for him to continue.
“Well, I know Ned Granger works up at the mine, so I sent the boy up there,” the man said, while rolling his empty glass around on the table.
MacLachlan tossed a half dollar onto the bar next to the man and strolled out into the sunlight as the coin rolled around the counter.
The bartender gave a chuckle, “You’d say anything for a drink, Clyde…”
“I believe I would,” mumbled the informant as he slapped his hand on the dancing coin.
(1680x1050 – click for full)
MacLachlan borrowed a horse and took the trail up to the mines. The path into the mountains is a hefty climb, but it was made easier with the recently laid rail tracks. The main camp by the mines was dusty, dirty and smelled of coal and sweat. The sheriff felt right at home as he walked about. He noticed a man barking instructions to a group of workers.
(1680x1050 – click for full)
“What’s your business,” the boss said in a huff.
“Th’ Law, laddie,” retorted the Sheriff. “I’m lookin' fur a wee a body by th' nam ay Warren. A new arrival, he’d be.”
“Granger is in charge of all the new diggers,” said the boss. “Check over by the new vertical shaft.”
“Thenk ye,” chimed MacLachlan, as the man spat down a wad of tobacco and turned away to find somebody else to yell at.
The Lawman walked his horse over toward the new shaft. There were a few workers milling about.
“Onie ay ye men seen Warren,” hollered MacLachlan.
Just then, a man walking near the edge of camp dropped the load he was carrying and ran off into the woods.
“Raj basturt,” huffed the sheriff as he climbed back on his horse and gave a “hyaa.”
He rode into the woods in pursuit of the fleeing man. The forest was dense, and his horse began to protest so MacLachlan slid off his mount and began tracking his man through the thick brush.
“I’m gettin' tay auld fur thes shite,” he cursed under his breath.
The Sheriff worked his way up the steep slopes and found himself on a high ridge. Warren was running along the embankment away from MacLachlan, but within earshot.
“Stop, ur I’ll shoot,” yelled the lawman.
Warren paused and turned.
“Ah ain’t haur tae kill ye son,” continued MacLachlan. “I’m lookin' fur answers. If ye cooperate, ye will be sure tae gie a lenient hearin' under a coort ay law.”
“The law is the least of my worries old man,” shot back Warren.
“Ye weren’t actin' aloyn laddie. We can protect ye,” Shouted the Scotsman.
Warren let out a laugh and turned to continue his escape.
The loud crack of a gunshot rang out from the wilderness and Warren gasped in shock. MacLachlan dropped to the ground searching for the source of the sound. He looked back in Warren’s direction but his fugitive was gone. He crouched and weaved hastily toward where Warren last stood. He reached the embankment and looked down the steep cliff. He could see nothing but rocks, brush and trees falling away towards the valley below. No man could survive that fall, thought the Sheriff.
Later that evening MacLachlan walked into a tavern where Stevens and his crew were celebrating after a full day’s work.
“Sheriff,” called out Stevens. “May we have the honor of your company?”
The Scotsman gave a nod and walked over to the group of census workers. Stevens ordered his friend a drink and sat down with the united fellowship.
“Can we drink to the successful apprehension of a potential murderer,” questioned Stevens.”
“Aye, th' sorry eejit paid fur his sin,” grumbled MacLachlan.
The group gave a cheer and a jumble of voices brought the tavern to life. But as the night wore on, Stevens noticed the Sheriff was even more quite than his usual self.
At one point, when Stevens had a moment alone with the Lawman, he brought his chair closer.
“Did the boy talk?” Stevens asked quietly.
MacLachlan shifted in his chair, his eyes never leaving the glass in front of him. “Unfortunately, someain wanted 'at laddie silenced mair than ah wanted heem tae gab.”
A pause hovered between the two men as the din of the drunken revelry continued in the background.
Suddenly the Sheriff’s eyes caught Stevens. “A flood is comin' tae SorGun … One 'at woods wash Noah himself awa'.”
MacLachlan paused and looked back down at his empty glass. “Th' railroad will stop at naethin' until everybody is under th' shadaw ay their boot. Dark days ur aheid, Mr. Stevens.”
The Sheriff tilted his glass until a shadow ran across his fingers. “Dark days…”
Replies to the last Teaser:
Luiz P. Romanini, agunter999, iCities, _marsh_, Gugu3:
-Thanks for the comments - reading each one makes getting the next update out that much easier.
NMUSpidey: I sense eminent domain coming...
-Ha! Yes, perhaps we will see a bit of eminent domain 1880s style 
Ace❤: It's freezing outside, but the railroad tycoons seem to have things heated up inside. Amazing scene, the snow is serene and beautiful.
-Thank you - photoshop is becoming a little less foreign to me after all these updates.
Forthwall: Woah developments, I wonder when they start paving these roads?
-Paves brick roads are starting to show up - and many of the roads back then were made from logs (called corduroy roads) but sadly there is no SAM option in SC4 for them 
-
16
20 Comments
Recommended Comments
Sign In or register to comment...
To comment in reply, you must be a community member
Sign In
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In NowCreate an Account
Sign up to join our friendly community. It's easy!
Register a New Account