Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-07-11
A STORY WITHOUT A MORAL.
How . Wood River Rancher Made Hit
in the Horse Market-his Chances Tor
Visiting the Pen.

III Tug 1AOA 90 mol AVS-1AAO NssSssOVC ava |
Visiting the Pen.
The TINES learns of . recent trans
action in stock that is at least very pc
,uliar, and will bear investigation. if
true. The story goes that a few weeks
since a tramp-seedy, footsorc, and
gaunt as a greyhound-made his ap-
pearance on the river, and passing
HALEY and the lower towns.
made his way OH toward Ketchum.
On his way he stopped at the Cold
Springs ranch of DR.. johnson, about
two and half miles this side of ket-
chum, and there unfolded tale that
seemed to have been slowed away in
some back attic of his brain for weeks
and months, and entirely forgotten.
The tale was not one OF woe, nor want
and suffering; but Of party Of dis
gusted millionaircs who had some
time ago engaged heavilyin the horse
raising business in Montana, who
wanted to dispose of their entire hand
for short song. He was authorized
to say that these heavy stock owners
were disguised with the country; that
they had all the money they wanted,
and were going to leave; that if they
could not dispose of their horses for
cash, they would give them away.
They wanted some man with a few
dolIars-and it required but a very
few-to come and look the band over
and make them an offer.
The report says that gentleman
who was at the ranch at the time, and
who is we'll known on the river, stood
not upon the order Of his going, but
hied himself away to Montana to &C
ccpt this liberal proposition.
He was not many days away, a:
Mrs. Grundy has it, until he returned
with small band OF the finest ami
mails ever brought to the river, which
he disposed of at low figure, consid
cring their value-prices ranging from
$l25 to $50 per head.
He is said to have given away hi
landed and other interests here to hi
former partner, in the exuberance o
his great joy at having struck it St
rich.
He relates his story substantially a
follows: On arriving at the range DIES
ignated by the tramp, he was met b
one of the owners of the herd an
allowed to inspect the entire lot. Tn
band numbered ESQ head-most {
them superior, blooded animal
About 200 Of them were branded, an
the other so had no mark or brant
n bargain was soon struck. For til
200 head that had been branded, 81
per head was paid, and the SO tn;
had no brand were made a present
the whether in consider
! ton of his good looks or liberality,
not stated; but at any rate they WEI
given to him, and branded on Il
spot.
lie at once assumed control, ar
picking out small band, left Il
range in charge of his herders, al
started for home. A part of his pick'
lot he left somewhere on the trail, al
from the sales of those he brought {
the river he was reimbursed for |
- outlay for the entire band of $50 hea
This story is not vouched for by t
TIMES, although it was given in go
faith, and is believed to be true
general detail. The herd is, no doul
= the collection of a gang OF hors
thieves from all parts of the Paci
northwest. The question is, whetl
the purchaser bought in good faith,
whether he Is interested IN, and is d
posing of the band for the thievt
If The matter will no doubt be look
nj into.
i. Whether he is interested or not,
H.. must know that the horses were stol
> A remarkable illustration of wi