The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-12-05
the SPRINGER FRACks,
The Full and Correct Account of the
Fight on the Canadian.
A Cheating Ranchman's Last Game
of DraW-Poker.
The Soldiers not Blamed for the
Killing of Springer and Lead
better.
THE FIGHT AT spRISGER's RANCH.

TIE FIGHT AT SPRISGER'S RANCH.
| 1t will be remembered that q few days agt
THE TIMES made mention Of some shooting
which occurred at Springer's ranch, thirty
five miles east of Fort Elliot, on the Canadian
river, In the Pan Handle Of Texas, durin,
which Springer and a young man names
| Leadbe were killed and
TWO OF MAJOR BRoDHEADs ESCORT wOUN
| DED.
Maj. Brodhead, his clerk and escort of ter
men arrived at the ranch about three O'CLOCK
/ on the afternoon of the 18th, and hearint
that the Canadian was too high to be fordabi,
sent two cavalrymen forward to see if such
was the case. They came back and reported
that the river was not fordable, and accord
| ingly Maj. Brodhead and party went
INTO CAMP NEAR THE RANCH.
The Major went around to the camp abou,
O'Clock and found everything AL right, at
| ter which he went TO bed. About 1875 he
heard q shot, and soon another which was
quickly followed by third. He hastily arose
and Immediately the corporal entered and
said,
'.THEY ARE FIRING on THE GUARD"
The Major supposed they had been attacked
by robbers, and when the corporal asked
what should be done, the Major ordered
them 10 fire back. They fired back. Before
the order to fire was given a soldier named
Wesh came into the Majors room, shot
through the chest. The Major then stepped
out OF the door and found the soldiers firing
Into the ranch.
HE ORDERED THE FIRING TO CEASE,
and after that there was not another shot
fired. The whole affair did not last over two
minutes. The men shot were Welsh through
the chest, and Brown, in the leg, both men,
bers of Co. d, 10Th Infantry.
How IT CANE ABOUT.
Theparticulars Of the cause Of the rumpus,
are as follows: Major Broadhead had given the
sergaent strict orders to not 60 into the ranch
at all, nor allow the men to go, but 1t seems
that after thomsjor had returned from the
camp the sergeant and the corporal of the es.
cort went In, the former engaging in q game of
with Springer. The sergeant was
a pretty good player, but Springer was beat.
Ing him, and he soon discovered that he was
being cheated, Springer drawing six
cards instead OF five. The sergeant accused
Springer Of cheating, and said he couldn't
come that game on him. There was SO ofIhe
,ergeant's money on the table at the time,
when
SPRINGER SWEET THE WHOLE PILE
Of the table into his pocket with the remark
mat "he'd see If he couldn't" and going be-
hind his bar got a pistol, and striking the
'ers cant over the head, knocked him down.
The latter was entirely unarmed. Springer
hen went to the door ofthe ranch and begun
firing into the camp, and il was then that
he two soldiers were wounded. The cor
Doral, as soon as
THE FRACAs IN THE RANCH |
proceeded at once to Major Brod. |
lead's quarters and made his report. At the |
line Springer was killed he was outside his |
ioor, and was killed instantly. The young |
nan, Leadbet;er, who was killed, did rot, so |
ar as known, take any part in the shooting,
'ut was probably trying to induce Springer |
vas shot. In the afternoon
AFTER THE SHOOTING OF THE TWO MEN
he ranchmen held an inquest over their |
'odies but did not attach any blame to the |
oldiers. Springer was a dangerous man and |
ore a bad reputation. Leadbetter was not |
y any means such man as Springer, aud |
n fact everyone spoke well OF him.
UNDERGROUND PASSAGE.
There was an underground passage from
pringer's ranch, the entrance to which was
aimed through trap door, leading about
hirty- five ieet from The ranch, terminating
{ "A small fertilization, provided with loop
oles through which to shoot. Had Springer
OF been killed when he was, and had he had
ne opportunity of intrenching himself in
ais fort, ne could have picked of the soldiers
his leisure and been perfectly safe himself
II the time, as the entrance to the passage
AS unknown to any one of the escort, and
tier the trap-door was closet it could not be
elected without close scrutiny,