The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-11
BIG WESTERN SWINDLES
HOW SMALL HERDS ARE MADE TO
BRING LARGE PRICES.

HOW SMALL HERDS ARE MADE TO
BRING LARGE PRICES.
How Tom Mendenhau of Wyoming
Works lt-Chsrlie Williams of Chey-
enne and His Little Trick-Land
Sharks in the Cattle Business.
Comparatively
NEW York, Aug. 10-"Yes, there have
been q great many horse and cattle swind-
lers in the west receatly, said n well-known
citizen Of Dsnver, Col, whom met in the
st. James hotel. But don't thin, thero
IS any such glorious career befora tho young
fellows who are going into the business a.
old Tom Mendenhall has onjoved.
10 is the man who used to ran the toma-
hawk brand up in Wyoming, and is now a
big ranchman in Montana, and a rich man.
Tom had u streak of bal luck some years
ago ard had hardly dollar in ready money
left. His herd numbered about ten or
twelve hundred head, and he did soms deep
thinking as to how he could turl them at a
profit. By and by some men came along
wanting to buy ranch aud cattle Men
denhall got hold of them. They asked him
how many cattle he had. He pulled out his
books and the figures showed 10000 head,
about ten times as many as he really owned.
Tom had set down every head he had ever
bought or raised, bat had failed to deduct
the number that had died off or been sold
The eastern men were a little backward
on accepting book figures, and wanted to
count the stock. This Tom represented as
impossible, tho herd was too large, thero
was no corral to hold them all, etc, but if
they 50 desired he would round them up
and drive them by a certain spot, so tho
purchasers could Wow them. This idea
suited, and the day was fixed for the show.
A little way back of the ranch were a
couple OF hog backs with a narrow cut be-
tween them. Mendenhall got his men to-
gether, told them what he wanted and
promised them each a big sum if tho
scheme worked all right He got his 200
hoad rounded up behind the hog backs, and
then took his purchasers out in a wagon to
the mouth of the cut The boys started the
cattle through the gap and as soon as they
had passed the wagon turned them around
and run them in behind the hog-back
again.
There was just enough stock to makea
complete circle of six or sew en- abreast around
the mill The boys, when out OF SIGHT of the
wagon party, would change hats and horses,
and then ride around again without being
recognized. Well they kept them cattle a
running arounl that hill all the forenoon
and them eastern fellows thought they was
getting all the stock in the country, and
couldn't close the deal quick enough. Tom
give them bill of sale of his head and
brand-didn't specify any particular num-
ber-took his pay, $4,000 cash, and went
to Montana, where his homei is now. OF
course the jays that bought the outfit found
they were beat, but Tom was gone with the
stuff, and they found the wheels of justice
in tAat country pretty rusty just then, so
after q little up-roar the matter was
dropped.
Another transaction l was witness to
took the cake for unlimited gall and open
faced sNindling. In the spring of 1885 two
brothers named McWatty came over from
Scotland with the intention Of engaging in
cattle ranchlng.
''They had been warned, by fellow
countryman who had paid dearly for his
experience, mot to buy cattle by book state
ment, but to personally count every head
they purchased. Having received this ad-
vice, and priding themselves on their native
shrewdneSs, they thought they were capable
of seeing through any scheme tho land
sharks might spring upon them. Among
the many acquaintance they made,
was that of Charley Williams, who
owled a small ranch and 500 head of cattle
out on SAID creek. Charlie was a pretty
smooth talker and would sell anything he
had foreigners being his favOrite buyers.
Soon after meeting the McWattys, Will
Jams told them, that as the high altitude OF
Wyoming didn't agree with him, he would
have to sell his ranch and go away, and if
they wanted to buy ranch, here was a good
chance He would like to sec them nicely
settled, etc, and to prove how much he was
interested In their welfare, he made this
offer: For stated sum of money he would
sell them his ranch and 800 head of cattle,
and count out every head, and also make
them a present of his ten saddle horses.
The McWattys thought nothing could be
fairer than this, and that they had found
bargain.
"a day or two passed and the broth
ers told Williams they would accept his
offer, and would be out to the ranch on a
certain day to count tho stock and take
possession. Charlie at once went home to
arrange matters. He only owned 500 head
of cattle and be had agreed to count out
800 head. There was ranchman living
farther up Sand creek who owned lots of
cattle and whose brand, to the eve of a
novice, was the same as Williams To this
man Williams went and borrowed 1000
head for a few days He drove them to his
ranch and put them in big corral aud in
an adjoining smaller corral he placed his
own 500 The Scotchmon arrived on time,
and taking a seat on the fence near the
corral gate proceeded to count the cattle as
they passed cut. Fifteen hundred cattle
running about in a corral raise tremen-
dous dust and, before 200 head had passed
through tho gate, the McWattys, coughing
and sneezing, with throats and eyes full of
dust, paid no more attention to the brands,
but contented themselves with counting
the numbers only. Charlie took good care
to keep the cattle moving and plenty Of
dust flying, and along with his 800 head
the borrowed stock went through the gate
and were counted without a suspicion of the
difference in the brands.
"Soon the whole herd had passed out on
the prairie and were scattered everywhere.
The Scotchmen, after an inspection Of the
buildings and horses, expressed themselves
well satisfied, paid over their money and
took receipts. Charlie gave his neighbor
good sum for the use of his cattle, set up
the drinks for every man round town, and
then took the train for Oregon, his sickness
leaving him as fast as the train did Chey-
enne.o DAVID WECHSLER.
A SWARM Of butterflies, so thick as to almost
obscure the rays of the sun, passed through
Mott Cal, recently There were myrinds OF
them. and many OF them would alight on moist