Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 106, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1899 — New foundland Gun Men. [ARTICLE]

New foundland Gun Men.

The New foundland pioneer was a curious mixture of simplicity and hardihood. Only 15 years ago, before the introduction of magistrates on the West Coast, “shotgun law” was the order of the day. If one offended another the aggrieved party threatened to shoot the aggressor on sight. Although every man had his own gun, and the threatened man had equal chances in a fight, he would hide in hisjiut and go in fear of his life for many days, never thinking that he might settle the affair by a counter threat.