The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-10-23
COWBOY C~USSEDNESS.
They Raid a Ranch, Frightening Harm
less Women and Destroy Property.

Itso happened that on Sunday a large
party gathered Mt Fred Schwartz's road
ranch, about eighteen miles from town,
for dinner. Among them were some
dozen cowboys who had been drinking
heavily, and were consequently rife for
any kind Of riot and rollicking. AT
about noon one of them rode up to the
ranch, dismounted from his horse and
placing the muZzle Of his revolver
against the house discharged it. This
was the signal for a general outbreak
and the shooting at once began. There
seemed to be no intention Of taking
life, but only to do as much damage to
property as possible. Some fifty rounds
Of ammunition were discharged and
the~house was shot full of holes. All
the bottles behind the bar vera broken
and a hole was made in a barrel of
whiskey, allowing its contents to run
out upon the floor. Had they been
contented with this it would have been
bad enough, but one of the ruflans, in
famed by liquor and the smell of pow
der, forced his way into the room where
Mrs. Schwartz was, placed a cooked
revolver at her breast, and demanded
Of her ~to"bring on her women, FOR words
to that effect. Mrs. Schwartz. who is
in a delicate state of health, was natur
ally much alarmed, but managed to
break away and get to her room. The
effects upon her are likely to be seri-
Gus. Mrs. Bard, who had STOPPED
there for dinner on her way to town,
ran out at the back door at the first
alarm, but stumbled over an obstacle,
and being afraid to rise for fear of be-
ing shot, crawled or her hands and
knees to some brush about sixty feet
distant, and remained their until after
the melee was over. There were hall
a dozen men present besides the cow
bows, but as they were unable to find
firearms of any description alb out the
ranch, they could do nothing. Mr..
Swartz himself was absent. The party
had two women of loose character with
them. When the stage from Fort Lar
annie came in a cowbow drew his gun
and threatened to shoot the driver, but
one Of these women threw her arms
around him and prevented him from
carrying his purpose into execution. At
one time the cowboys withdrew to their
camp for more ammunition, and during
their absence the peaceful travellers left
the ranch, and on the ad Twice of one of
their number, locked the door. This
the cowboys broke in on their return,
SO that in case the law is allow
ed to take its course with them
they can be indicted for breaking and
entering, for which there is a severe
penalty, in addition to their other
oGenses.
AS soon as possible those who were
bound for the city came in and notified
Sheriff Sharpless, who Immediately
started in pursuit, accompanied by
Officer Thomson and others. Yesterday
morning eve II citizens started out to
join in the pursuit. The sheriff tele-
graphed in last night that he was on
the trail with a surety of success
Deputy Sheriff Hosford found last
night where the ruf1ians were and mott.
fed Sheriff ~Sharpless, so that they will
undoubtedly be captured this morning.
The cowboys in question belonged, it is
reported. to the outfits f Lem Smith,
Benjamin, Weaver Il Co., and Hanna,
Anderson & Campbell. The outrage,
however, was melted and largely car
ried on by two T-1as cowboys, who
came up over the trail this summer,
and took the first opportunity to estab-
lish their reputation as bad men,"
The other cowboys seem to have Joined
in it more from a desire for a little fun
than anything else, without thought of
more serious harm than a little damage
to property, which could be recon-
pensed by a little pecuniary outlay.