The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-02-09
Dead Mans Ranoh.
How Housing Majority was Manafsetursd Il .
Frontier Election.

n"~ SOoh coucotuPiottuS uuutSuX UP
through the Chisis Mountains. In the
latter part Of October paid a visit to
my friend Jones. who owns q big sheep
ranch in the Buckhorn Canyon. When
l reached his ranch he was just prepar-
ing to leave. In few words he ex-
planned himself:
''Eleckshon koms off thcr seventh NV
mex month";" he said. Hits pine
blank sartin Wen hev tight race in this
county for Sheriff. Thar's no reg'lar
ticket an three candidates in Their field.
A sort NV er go-as-ye-please. The pres
ent incumbent hez power o. friends
an Mexican wife. He'll poll big
vote, but Kunnul Smith hez about an
ekal number o. friends an Mexican
wife,, too. Hit will be nip an tuck
'twixt them two. The people ut their
settlement air for one of Their tother Nv
these men. We ranchmen are solid for
ther dark horse-'ther Major Ye know
'ther Major? Mighty clever man. Will
make a good Sheriff. Wall, ez I.was %
sayin', we're for 'ther Major an we
manage Their river precinck right. l he'd
n pollin'-box sent tew Dead Man sRanch
at eleckshon officers appointed thar
I'll manage that precinck an she kin be
safely counted on for jest 583 majority
for thar Major"
"Where is Dead Mans Ranchp" /
asked.
"Down hyer in Their Cheeses," an
swered Jones, and then continuing:
"Never been thar? Well, go long with
us. Well hev lots NV fun an theirs
ded loads NV pretty Mexican gals thar"
This latter inducement decided me
and an hour later l was riding across
the plain in company with my friend
Jones, two other ranchmen and three
Mexicans, bound for Dead Mans Ranch
and rousing majority for "The Maj
or"
In conversation with one of the ranch
men 1 incidentally mentioned that Dead
Mans Ranch must be town OF consid-
erablo Importance.
"Jones located hit" was the reply
II don't reckin' ca how hits much big
ger than San Antonio. / know the riv-
er kentry tolerbul well, an I'll BIO darn
ed Of ever hearn tell NV Dead Mans
Ranch till Jones jumped hit mp"
..But, sir" demonstrated, "Mr. Jones
told me that the Ranch would give near
ly six hundred majority for his candl-
date"
.'Wallp" drawled the ranchman.
Sunless it has large population 1t
certainly can't return such number of
votes, unless"
"Wallp" again drawled the ranch
man, at the same time cycling mo quiz
ideally.
hesitated n moment and then, MOTTO
ing that my companion looked pencea-
BILE, continued:
"Unless you falsify the returns or stuff
the ballot-box." 4
"Look hyar." said the ranchman,
leaning over in his saddle in confden-
tial way. you're from the States,
amt ye." T s nH,
1 nodded assent.
"Wall, up whsr ye KUN from this
hyar false returns and stuffin' may do
very well. Down hyar on tho frontier
hit won't work. We're an ignor-
ant people an tolerablt rough in our
manners, but we're honest, thank
God?"
He delivered the information with con-
siderable emphasis, and fastened to
assure him that my belief in the honesty
of the frontier people had never been
and could never be shaken. My conf
dence in their integrity was blind, i'm
plict. This frank admission seemed to
mollify the ranchman.
We reached Dead Mans Ranch safe
ly and wero Hospitality received by the
owner, Don Patricio OHallan. formerly
of New York City, who inquired after
the Major
Hes tolerbul." said Jones. ''Sent
his best regards an he pine blank de-
ponds on ther ranch for his inejority."
''Sure, he'll Git it an its Their trooth
I'm tellin' wees. 1 bought ND that ould
devil NV Justice Juan Jose this bless
ed day for fifteen dollars an jug NV mes
cal. All we hev ter do now is ter reg
lister Their votes, an Their divil ny away
wild us Of we amt shmart enough fur
that"
The election took place three days af-
terward and the night before the all
important day Jones assured me conf
dentially that "The Majors" election
was settled fact. Tho votes were de-
posted in the reception room of the
casa. The could divil NV Justice"
Juan Jose, was Judge of the election;
the two ranchmen were inspectors, my
friend Jones was clerk and he pressed
me into service as his assistant.
Voting began early. The first thirty
votes cast for Sheriff were equally divid-
cd-iifteen for the present Incumbent"
and fifteen for ''Kunnul Smith,"
"Thet thar's tcw make Their thing look
solid" explained my friend Jones in
whisper. "We'll begin to roll 'cm in
now for ether Major"
They did roll in Mt such rapid rate
that for two hours my pen flew across
the registration book, writing down
long and almost unpronounccablo Cas-
lillian names. At tho end of that time
we rested, drank bottle of aqua dicnte
- r.