Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-01-26
MEDICINE LODGE NOTES.
MEDICINE LODGE, Jan. 2

The EullOI OIL tue LSAs AeeAe'
This is court week here and to-
gether with the opening of the new
railroad a very large number OF people
have come in, and in consequence the
hotels and boarding houses are taxed
beyond their capacity to provide COM
fortably for all, and a visitor is lucky
indeed if he can procure three o:din-
airy straights and shake down of the
most moderate kind.
Everything points to very lively
spring opening here. and the amount
of building, together with other I'M
proyements. which will go ahead as
soon as the weather becomes more fav-
orable for such work, will be the
greatest. outside of Wichita, in south
eru Kansas. The railroad company
| will build handsome depot costing
Sc. 500, and they have also reserved
TWENTY-FIVE acres for stock yards,
which are located on the river bank :,
making one of the most convenient
yards for this purpose in the state. A
new $4,000 brick hotel has also been
contracted for and will be located east
of the depot. In addition
to the above the Standard
Oil Company has decided to make
this distributing point for the west
and southwest, which is a good indi-
cation that the town will eventually
become fine business center, and per-
haps a jobblng point Also
This is perhaps the most important
term Of court ever held in Barber
county, and the number of legal lights
from almost every quarter in south
west Kansas is very large. Probabl,
. the most interesting and important
trial OH the docket, is known as TIT
Watt murder case; this is the thiro
time it has been before jury, and thu
prospect for Il verdict this time is mo-
very encouraging. A brief outline o
this deplorable affair is as follows: Oll
man Watt and son were travelling
5 south through Barber county, and
when near the Indian Territory it j;
4 supposed they attempted to cut SOM
:. fencing which obstructed their pas
, sage. when the men now held for tn
5 murder rode up and killed them both
g The only witness in the case is one o
these men, who was also slight.
wounded by young Watt in the strug
gle which took place. The defense j
I, that the killing was necessary in self
. defense, but it has not beef
proven that the old mai
was armed, and the boy
for he was nothing more, had only
t small revolver TO defend himself with
4 If the shooting occurred, even as thu
defendants claim it did, it certainl
, shows that they were q cowardly Sc
S to shoot down an cd man and DO
e under such circumstances.
? Ii will be allowed as fact bv thos
who are posted that among the man
growing towns in the Arkansas Vale
which have come into favor an
wealth during the past three year:
!, none in all the bright galaxy of star
I of which they comprise, shine with s
n much promise and assurance of fEtur
greatness than this beautiful little cit
of Medicine Lodge. Its location an
advantages are perhaps unsurpasse
by any city in the state, with the on
f exception of Wichita, while its waite
: privileges, which is the crown of il
!, superiority, are greater than an
: other city in the state. There al
q three water courses which form
: junction near the town, and are I'll
9 Medicine river, Elm and Spring creek
s all OF which contain a fine body {
water, and one of them elm creel
/, could furnish ample powe
n for half dozen of mill
!, besides providing power for an cleo
:. trio light system, and also waite
), works at very little cost. The tow
!. site could hardly be better, situated 8
). it is on gentle elevation which has
gradual slope towards the waite
courses and providing a natural drain
age; while from most any point,
Y view can be had of the timber fringe
n streams which almost surround th
o town. And unlike most places j
n Kansas, Medicine Lodge has been
thriving business point, even when til
j nearest railroad was sixty miles ava!
and while it has never had rushin
: boom such as towns of more receI
a growth, have enjoyed, yet her ad
: vancement has been sure and stead!
,, and since the completion of the raj
/, road, big things for the town can !
e reasonably be expected the comm
. season :. w.