Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-18


Were engaged in the conspiracy. It was
agreed that if Atkins opposed the plan he
should be killed.
One night. in the Ration mountains, soon
after getting into camp, and when within a
lew mics OF military post, the plan was
submitted. Atkins suggested that after
supper they would gather around the camp
fire and talk it over. He SO managed as to
get them seated, some distance from the
the wagon and their weapons, and listened to
their proposals. Suddenly springing to his
feet, ne and his assistants covered the party
with their revolvers while the extra man was
dispatched to the fort for assistance.
And they crouched before him, for he had skill
10 warp and WELD their vulgar will"
The mutineers were taken to the fort as
prisoners, while soldiers were sent to take
the train through to its destination. Thus
did the courage and decision of Tom Atkins
save to our company, and to the United
States. thousands of dollars of valuable
property.
Card playing was one of the amusemsnts
OF the plains, as it appears to be here. /
received letter from a ranchman, demand
ing 800 for horse furnished Atkins.
referred the claim to him and he returned it
with the endorsement that he did not owe that
man "a cent"
de insisted that he had gotten the horse
on the square; that he had enjoyed the game
and with the poet might well exclaim:
oh the dear pleasures of the velvet plain.
The painted tablets dealt and dealt again.
Subsequently while engaged in my Office
IN settling the business of his six months
trip, was startled to find him quietly Slip
ping his pistol from its holster, and then.
without word, and as quick as a flash,
wheel around, covering with his weapon a
man who had Just entered the door. The
stranger replied, ''Al right, you have the
drop on me now, but the next time we meet
We shoot on sight, and don't you forget it."
This man was one of the mutineers whom
Tom had put in irons, and who had sworn to
shoot him. He had followed him to my
Office for that purpose, but was not quick
enough for the occasion. Atkins subsequent
ly killed his man, and he in turn was assas-
sinated and died with his boots on in Kan
sas town.
Twenty five years ago the professional
''bullwhacker" was hard citizen. Profani-
ty was part of his nature-the cattle even
appearing to do their level best pulling, in
proportion to the energy and huency with
most familiar expressions.
l have have known of priseworthy efforts
at reform.
One distinguished freighter, whose name
twenty-five years ago was known west of the
Missouri, perhaps better than any other,
went so far as to furnish his "whackers"
with bibles, but the effort was religious and
financial failure. The men declared no NOR
tai man could drive six yoke of cattle from
the Missouri river to the Rocky mountains
without an occasional swear. The bibles
were traded off to the Indians, and within
twelve months the firm went into bank
ruptcy.
Mr.. President, of course you will not un-
derstand me as intimating that financial dis
aster overlook this firm because of its COM
mendable effort to improve the vernacular
possible to make cattle pull without the usu-
al amount of profanity. But in those days |
there were times when it did appear difficult |
to dispense with the familiar code in wet |
For example, trains would become |
mud bound, and it was not infreQuent to see |
q wagon in the mud up to the axle, and the |
cattle in the mire almost to their backs.
Now, this is a bad situation, and it did re- |
quire real lively talk to get the load to move. |
was passing by train upon such an oc- |
casion, in company with the late Thomas II. |
Scott, the railroad maSnate, who had a mon |
BY interest in our enterprise.
We passed by one wagon which had sunk |
down to the axle. Scott, addressing the dri. |
YER, said: "Well, my man, you are in a bad |
but there are two wagons below mine and |
hose fellows down there are having HI |
Of timen'
But much progress has been made since
hose days of prairie schOoners; then there /
was not mile of railroad in the state, now
here are more than 300 miles in operation
and as many more projected.
Then not school house or church in the
now we have more of both in pro-
portion to our population than any other
tate in the Union.
Ihlrty-tive years ago the territory was uIi-
Known to the world of agriculture. In the
,ast two years We have produced nearly 4t1.-
NO, 600 bushels of corn, l00,0OU,O00 bushels
If wheat, and all other products Of the field
n proportion.
In 1861 we had population of IO7,GDo.
low we have not far from 1,2:0, 900, and yet
his is only our quarter centennial. But,
dr. President, it Is not alone i'll agriculture |
hat Kansas has made such rapid develop
nent, and now if it is not too late, and if |
AVE not already taxed your indulgence too
much, shall proceed briefly with the sub
ect assigned me.
Thirty five Yeas ag } there was not fac
Dry in the territory, not a single smoke
tack to obscure the ETHEREAL atmosphere.
human hands had not wrought in the virgin |
oil, and the curious and frisky prairie dog
vas undisturbed in his system of mining |
nd sub .erraneous exploration.
Now our young state is known from the
rOZ6u lakes OI TIE uOFtn 10 Tile WsirHl VaLorS l
# the gulf, and even to the golden sands of
he Pacific, for the numbers and excellence
# her manufactures.
In Atchison, Leavenworth, Topeka, Wyan- T.
otte, Lawrence. Fl. Scott, Emporia, Wich-
Ia, and indeed in all parts of the state the
lever ceasing hum Of machinery may be
eard. In the brief time allotted it will be
to refer in detail to the manufac-
uring enterprises of various cities and towns,
ut may speak of one of them as an illus
ration of what is being accomplished.
Leavenworth is the chief manufacturing
enter of the state. To dwell upon the sub
ect without making that town a prominent
actor in it, would be like attempting the
lay of Hamlet with that important charac-
er left out. / trust, therefore, that l am
in selecting that city, my home,
5 an example for the progress and rise of
and mining in Kansas. Up to
he year of the war 1861, and during its con-
inuance slow progress was made, but since
S65 the development has been rapid.
Mr.. President, you are familiar with the
usiness of Leavenworth, but even you may
ot know the last year the aggregate of man.
features was about $50, 100000. Prominent
mong these industries are stove works, pro-
uciny about GO,OOO stoves per annum,
bout 200 per day, or complete stove in !
bout every four minutes of working time.
A single wagon factory with capacity of
1000 per year, or thirty-three per day, or