New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-17
FUNNY PHASES OF LIFE.
JOYS OF THE PLAYFUL WEST
AND pEoUL1AR1rIEs OF THE YORKER.
CHARACTER PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THE TRIBUNE
BY FRED. II. CARRUTH.

At Chadron Nebraska we got into conversation
with a man who was sitting on the depot piai'i"'
waiting for the train
81 came out to this country few days ago. no
said after talking some time, " for my health Du'
an going back 10 Connecticut on the next tram.
Doesn't the climate agree with your asked bfia,,
"Yes I think the climate would agree with me al
right but the people don't. went up here 10
oolrichs, Dakota. A friend Of miro had spent
summer near there on Zig Nose Georges rahoh'
and he recommended the place TO me. At my home
in Connecticut follow the calling Of minister Oh
the gospel in humble way to be sure but trust
my work has not beer without its beneficial results
Did you preach any az Oelrichs! ?" asked
"No. simply went there for my health, Intending
TO board during the fall and return home beiore
cold weather. AS got off the train when 1t arriVcd
l roticed quite a crowd Of men the platform, all
wearing big fat hats and spurs and walking very
bow-leggcd. / started down the steps toward tho
hotel when Of them approached me confdentiaiiy
and said BE you goin' to open bank, partner
"A what p I asked. "A bank he said why, no.
said I, what made you think going TO engage
in the banking busnessP 'Oh, thought you looked
little that way he replied NC m the boys lowed
you had your outfit all excep' the tables in your grip
the boxes, an beerds an chips. an layout gen
orally You are mistaken replied. good deal
bewildercd and went on over to the hoteL' Whhe
! YVES registering the clerk leaned over and SAID
COIN TO deal faTOF NO, ST. L lcpHcu' Hbn' "
ginning to dawn on me little. Keno or hazard.
then - he went on. Nothing of the kind i SAID
warmly. 'Jess straight draw poker s'posel he
continued. no game at all replied. 'Alnt goih
TO try TO work the boys on no thimble-rg' nope
be said anxiously they dropped roll on that last
week and they arc little about IT, NO, Sir
l have no gambling apparatus at ALL I said. i
simply out here for my health,-and went and
sat down by the door.
" I'm at m n
while the crowd had seen at the station as well as
others began to drop in and whisper to the CLERK ana
talk low among themselves and look at me- Prcty
soon one Of them, who such big hat that IL nahe
him soopshouldcrci came over and said: Stranger
nv name is Pete Doyle-they call me wcboot but my
right name Is Pete Doyle Il am pleased 10 meet you
Mr. Doyle said shaking hands with him. lie started
a little and then said: Il reckon you better call me
Webfoot-Im more onto IT. l am one OF the city Al
dermen and cheernan Of the Council Committee on
strangers. The committee directed me 10 ask you
question: go ahead, replied. we wanted to ask
you'-aud he lowered his voice almost to whisper
what YOU had TO leave the states forP didn't have
10 leave the East for anything replied ! came out
here for my health Wcbioot looked at me very
hard and started to retreat. when heard some one be-
hind me say in loud whisper 'Ask-him-how-fur-
-'o-the-shcrih- Wcbfoot looked a.
me a minute and said: Il take Il there want no
sheriff! NO. replied.
Most OF them went out. but q gOOu-SlLtu CToHu
fingered around the door, and they all kept circulating
between tie barro0m Of the hotel aud saloon Directly
across the street Pretty another came and SAID
WAS it murderl NO said. Burelry or anything
mo- "Taint as bad as hOssstcalin' hopcF ! came
West simply FOR NY health returned rather sharply
He explained that he county treasurer, and being
public man It his duty to ask about these things
Then another wanted to know If II was train rob
berry or stage robbery and when told him neither he
said oh as much as to say OF It was some
thing as bad Then another wanted to know If l got
away with all the bank had, ard advised mo In any
cesc 10 20 TO Canada instead OF staying in Dakota, DO
cause he thought / couldn't be arrested in Canada.
"And all the while l heard two Of them talking be-
hind me as the probability Of there being much OF
reward for me.
a lot OF Others were standing outside and looking
gloomy and depressed, and polishing IN their revovers
with their pocket handkelchefs. And about once in
five minutes they all took drink
One man was talking very loud all the time about
this idea of trying to make the town corral for the es
capped criminals from the States being about played
out. afterward learned that he the postmaster.
And about this time the Mayor Of the town began to
walk ZIP and down the middle OF the street with shot
gun his shoulder all the time looking of across the
prairie heard him explaining to the probate Judge
that there might be more Of ZEN coming and that he
lowed 10 give it TO 'em fore they got into town and
cot a foothold Ike this rooster had done.
Then another man udde ne roll W my UOustrs ~
show that didn't have a striped pair on underneath
lie went ont and told the Mayor that probably had
time to change them. The Mayor said he noticed my
hair had grown out some too.
81 was now thinking OF Connecticut most OF the time.
And all the while those fellows were discussing the
probable amount of the reward for my capture. And
another began to speculate to whether I had this
money had stolen about my person my satcho.
And all the time the county sheriff was riding up
and down the sidewalks, with his horse on the run,
shouting: 'Al members Of Southwestern Dakota Vsl
lance Committee meet at Maverick House in thirty
minutes! Business Of importance with small man
from Connecticut
gave the subject good deal Of careful study and
concluded that Connecticut pretty good place
after all ! couldn't why l should have ever
thought my health poor there.
The coroner dropped in and looked me over, and
heard him promise dozen different men TO see that
each tho inquest
About this time my old friend Webfoot came down
tho street dragging a long rope behind him, with
hangmans moose on the end Of It, lie looked IN and
said was the man who refused 10 shake hands with
him or call him by his last name. lie said any man
who was too proud TO shake hands with old Webfoot,
councilman from the Second Ward, had got TO hang.
Then he threw the rope Inc limb Of tree in front
Of the door could look of across the prairie
through the moose and enjoy the scenery.
The sheriff announcing that the vigilance
committee would meet in five minutes got a CLEAN
of hope Just then, when saw the city marshal com
ing, wearing his star appealed TO him for protec-
ton, but he looked all and then said he rcck
oned it best for the civil authorities 10 take
their own course and he waved HIS hand to in
clude every cutthroat IN sight The proprietor Of The
hotel in and presented bill for 90, for occupy
Ing his house two hours, and said better pay before
the exercises; and heard the county Judge yelling
that the time up.
- then started out the back door for Connecticut.
found that my health was hrstrato for running. When
| left Connecticut, l thought / needed a change of
climate, but concluded that still needed one moro
change. by leaning over AID taking long steps and
lots OF them managed to reach little rayino and
hill while they getting their horses and riding
around the hotel. l lay among the sage brush TIL
Lid LranI- ,.Ia