Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-07-20
The Terrible Fever

1t has never been the policy of the INDEX
to stir up any unnecessary excitement that
might result in injuring the interests of
our people, and for that reason we have
not before mentioned that the eastern part
of this county is and has been for the last
two weeks. terribly excited over what ap-
pears to b. a well d, fined cases ofTcxas or
splenic fever. We preferred to wait until
thu stockmcn interested made the matter
one for p bile discussion, before giving ID
the Publicity il must receive by appearing
ia the columns Of the INDEX. This may
not be consid red newspaper enterprise:
bit 1t is C. rtainly good sense and policy.
On the 18th OF April. Jesse Boyd, of Har-
per, h'nsas. shipped to that place Il lot of
about $50 Arkansas cattle, said to have
been purchased in the vicinity of Fort
Smith, and therefore belonging to class
of stock which the statutes of Kansas pro-
hibit being driven into this state between
the first day OF March and the first day of
November. These cattle Mr.. Boyd drove
from Harper TO the eastern part of this
county, and, against the advice and protes,
of the citizens in that neighborhood, turn
ed them loose OF the range. \ committee
waited on him aud showed him the danger
he was creating. but nc still insisted that
that his cattle should remain there to gr.lze.
While the citizens felt uneasy from the
time the cattle were driven there. but little
more was Slid, until two weeks AGO. Then
u was discovered that animals were begin
ing to die, and investigation showed that in
nearly every instance the dead and sick an
finals had been grazing on the same range
with the BOYD cattle. Consultations be-
tween neighbors one week ago to-day re-
vellcd tire fact that the losses were greater
than any supposed, and that no herd near
the Arkansas herd had entirely escaped
Among those who were the heaviest losers
at that time were Garrison, b .Ils Il Huffl-
ker. Clough q McKeever, w. w. Cook,
Maddox Bros, j. w. Warren and Moore &
Elmore. These had lost up to the 18th
inst, from to 10 head each, many of the
ANIMALS being fine bceves.
On Saturday the parties who were suffer-
ing most came to town and made complaint
to the sheriff in accordance with the law.
that there was at the place mentioned,
bunch os cattle infected or diseased with
Texas, splenic or Spanish fever; and as
was his duty. Sheriff Rigg arrested the ac-
knowledgcd owner, Mr.. Boyd, and took
charge Of the cattle and notified Justice
Hess of his action. That official then ap-
pointeda commission Of three citizens, c.
G. Taliaferro, Nick Sherlock and WIN.
Springer, to examine the cattle in the hands
Of the sheriff anu report as to whether or
not they were diseased, or came under the
provisions Of the act providing for the
protection of cattle from contagious dis
eases.
This committee went to the neighbour
hood where the Boyd cattle were being
held and the diseased animals were diving.
and made full inquiry into the matter.
Tuesday evening the committee returned
To town and reported that they did not feel
competent to decide the matter, and asked
to be excused from further investigations
and at the same time recommended that the
cattle be still kept in the hands Of the sher-
IN and that another committee be appoint
ed.
SO the justice appointed a second com
mittee wednesday, composed OF John Bee
be, Eli Smith and G. A. Champion, and
this committee went out and made their
examination, but had not returned up 10
last night. We understand that no less
than hundred head Of cattle had died no
to yesterday, and many more are sick.
We understand that all along the road
these cattle travelled up to the stock yards
at Harper, cattle have been dying right
along and further, In several instances
where animals were driven from of the
range occupied By the Boyd clTtIe, by the