New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1883-02-14
Dead Mans Ranch.

Dead Mans Ranch.
How Rousing Majority was Manufactured q
Frontier Election.
Special correspondents rarely visit
Dead Mans Ranch. happened there
election day by accident. For weeks /
had been contemplating a hunting trip
through the Chisis Mountains. In the
latter part of October paid visit to
MY friend Jones. who owns a big sheep
ranch in the Buckhorn Canyon. When
] reached his ranch he was just prepar-
ing to leave In few words he ex-
planned himself:
''Eleckshon koms off ther seventh Nv
mex month";" he said ..Hit's pine
blank sartin we'll hev tightra in this
county for Sheriff. Thar's no regular
ticket an three candidates in Their field.
A sort Nv er go-as-ye-please. The pres
ent incumbent hez a power o. friends
an a 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 at theil
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 a
sayin', we're for 'ther Major an we
manage Their river precinck right. I he'd
pollin'-box sent tew Dead Man sRanch
all eleckshon officers appointed thar
I'll manage that precinck an she kin be
safely counted on for jest 583 majority
for thar Maori
Where is Dead Mans Ranch?' !
| 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 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 1.-The Maj.
orr
In conversation with one of the ranch
men l incidentally mentioned that Dead
Mans Ranch must be a town of consid-
cradle Importance.
''Jones located hit, was the reply
II don't reckin' ez how hits much big.
ger than San Antonio. l know the riV-
er kentry tolerbul we'll, an I'll be darn
ed eff ever hearn tell Nv Dead Mans
Ranch till Jones jumped hit up"
''But, sill" demonstrated, ''Mr. Jones
told me that the Ranch would give near.
ly six hundred majority for bis candi-
date
''Wall?'' drawled the ranchman.
''Unless it has large population it
certainly can't return such number Of
votes, unless"
''Wall?' again drawled the ranch.
man, at the same time cycling me quiz.
zically.
l hesitated moment and then, motto.
ing that my companion looked peacea-
BILE, continued:
''Unless you falsify the returns or stuff
the ballot-box."
s'Look hyar," said the ranchman,
leaning over in his saddle in confden-
tial way. you're from tho States,
amt ye."
I nodded assent.
"Wall, up whar ye KUN from this
hyar false returns and stufin' may de-
very well. Down hyar on the frontier
hit won't work. We're an ignor.
ant people an tolerable rough in ou1
Planners, but we're honest, thank
God?''
He delivered the information with con.
siderable emphasis, and I fastened t.
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.
plicit This frank admission seemed to
mollify the ranchman.
We reached Dead Mans Ranch safe.
ly and were Hospitality received by the
owner, Don Patricio O'Hallan, formerly
of New York City, who inquired after
the Major.
'.He's tolerbul,'' said Jones. s'Sent
his best regards an he pine blank de.
ponds on Their ranch for his mejority."
''Sure, he'll git it an its Their trooth
I'm tellin' yees. I bought up 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
ister Their votes. an Their divil Ay away
wild us eff 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. The 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, nv
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-
ed-tifteen for the '.present lncumbent''
and fifteen for "Kunnul Smith,
''Thet thar's tew make Their thing look
solid," explained my friend Jones in q
whisper. We'll begin to roll 'em In
now for ''ther Major.'
They did roll in at such rapid rate
that for two hours my pen few across
the registration book, writing down
long and almost unpronouncea6le Cas-
titan names. At the end of that time
we rested, drank bottle of aqua diente
and smoked a fragrant puro.
I took a stroll outside. About thirty
Mexicans were ranged in front of the
casa, each with ballot in his hand
The Don was bustling about giving or
ders in his native tongue. I noticed
then that several of the faces of the
waiting voters looked familiar, but it
was not until we adjourned for dinner
that learned that these thirty retain
ers of proud Don had cast all the votes,
which then footed up $50. BY four o.
clock that evening 600 votes had been
cast.
'.How miney more duz yees want,
bJesp" queried the Don, thrusting his
head into the room.