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ANNALS OF IOWA
VOL. VI, NO. 7.OCTOBER, 1904. 3D SERIES
PIONEER PERILS
II
THE CEDAR RIVER GANG OF OUTLAWS BROKEN UP—MRS. J0HN
WEARE AND THE WOUNDED OUTLAW CHIEF—AN INCIDENT
OF THE FORTIES
The
great immigration of 1849 was preceded by a period of outlawry which compelled
Iowa citizens and property owners to organize in defense of their lives and
property. The men who made up such organizations were everywhere known by the
significant term "Regulators." The findings of the improvised court of
Judge Lynch were by common consent exempt from appeal. In the memorial volume of
the late William Williams Walker, dedicated to the memory of John Weare, a
pioneer of Cedar Rapids, from which extract was made in the July issue of THE
ANNALS, occurs an interesting incident which throws a strong side-light upon the
period of outlawry immediately preceding the tidal wave of immigration that set
in three years after the territory of Iowa became a State. Following his custom
the biographer lets Mr. Weare tell his own story in his own excellent way, which
story, somewhat condensed, is as follows: J. B.
All winter, it had been evident that we had
in our midst some persons who were giving aid and comfort to the outlaws; but we
were not able to identify them or put a stop to their work. In the spring, one
of the "Regulators" joined the outlaws, and so learned that a party on
a certain night would pass Cedar Rapids, conveying a large amount of stolen
goods to their cave on the bank of the Cedar River, at the point known as
"The Palisades." Plans were made .by the Regulators to intercept this
company, on their way through Cedar Rapids, capture the goods and the thieves
and bring them to justice. We greatly desired to secure their leader, a
desperate Missourian. The Regulators were stationed along the road where the
outlaws were expected to pass. When the band stole into the guarded road, at a
given signal they were surrounded, and nearly captured; but they fought like
tigers. In the contest the leader escaped, although he was known to be wounded.
All the plunder was seized and most of the outlaws were captured. After seeing
the gang lodged in our block house—built for defense from the Indians—I
returned home, not more than half satisfied with our night's work. My wife met
me at the door with the information that one of the Regulators from Marion, who
had been wounded in the attack, had started home and found himself too weak from
lose of blood to go on. Knowing mine was the house of a friend, he sought its
shelter, and had gone to bed in our room. I made haste to go to the man,
wondering who he could be. By the "Law Harry!" there lay, in my own
bed the leader of the outlaws!
It swept over me in a moment, his whole audacious
plan. When he knew how badly be was wounded, he made straight for my house,
knowing I was not at home, and that any sufferer had but to let his sufferings
be known to my wife and he would have a friend. I was greatly enraged with him,
but my wife pleaded for him. She knew he would be hung by the Regulators. With
all this in mind I spoke to him. He answered and, looking me straight in the
eye, said, "John, you're not the man to strike even a dog when he's
down."
I went right out and called a physician, and my
wife, the doctor, and I took the best care we could of him. He died the next
night. The doctor got a coffin from a cabinetmaker, telling him he wanted it for
a woman who had died up the river, and would take it himself. In the dark of the
early morning hours he brought the coffin to our house, and we put the body and
all the belongings, excepting the gun and a few valuables, into it. Doctor and I
drove to the little burying ground, on the way to Vinton, and dug a grave in a
corner of it and covered it with brush. These facts remained a secret for many
years. I afterwards gave the gun and other valuables to the son and daughter of
this man, and went with them to the place where we laid him. I think the earth
has never been disturbed in that spot, and not a few persons wonder how he could
have vanished and never left any trace of himself.
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