The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-08-24
DAN DUNSTAN'S CLAIM.
Graphic Relation Of His Troubles
in Holding 1t Down..


Wolf Creek community that Daniel
Dunstan had no more sense than the
law allowed him-and his liberty.
1t was no wonder, then, that when a
certain Mr. Lockyear, a "claim To-
Gator" struck Wolf Creek in search of
recruits for the far West, one of the
suckers that was caught was Dan.
1t was memorable day for Wolf
Greek when Lockyear and Dan Dunstan
left it, for on that day one of the lard
tanks at the pork house exploded. kill
ing three men, thirteen hogs and a
Chinaman.
Still more remarkable was Dams re-
turn. To the astonishment of every
one he came back, three years later,
with "bushel of money" built the
Dunstan House at a cost of $l20,000,
and married the daughter of the presi-
dent of the bank.
Some said: "a fool for luck, any
how but the better-natured ex-
claimed Bully for DAM"
A few of the latter were invited to
dine one evening with Mr.. and Mrs.
Dunstan, when the former gratiied his
guests by telling them how he had
made his money.
None of you fellows ever held
down claim?" None of them had.
.'Well, then" said Mr.. Dunstan, take
advice that has cost me few hundred
dollars, and don't"
"But it seems to have panned out all
right in your case" said one
$50 it has. But I'll tell you; they
say, "A fool for luck"
.And a poor man for dogs" inter-
rupted another.
That's right. Well, / decided to
take up land outside the limits;' so
when we got to Sage station hired a
wagon and team, and we drove about
thirty miles due south, where old Lock
year said there was a fine valley, you
betcher.'
II somehow didn't think the old cuss
knew much about the country; but
still, after driving pretty nearly all
day, we did eventually find a nice
looking valley-and he appeared to
recognize it at once. After figuring a
little, he said we were in range 81,
and about town (township) 13; so we
hunted around for p government cor
ner; having at last found one, Lock-
year tied his handkerchief round the
front wheel of the wagon, and drove
while counted the revolutions.
"We were pretty tired; the country
was sandy, and the sun pretty hot, SO
before had counted out two sections
dropped off to sleep and fell out of the
wagon; that started the horses, and
away they went with Lockyear. They
must have run pretty straight, for ii
was the township corner that upset the
wagon"
Mr.. Dunstan paused to minister to
his guests. Mrs. ID. sensibly with
drew; which action being silently taken
as signal for the cigar OF peace, the
host continued:
~ located in that valley. on a nice
little stream which old Lockyear as
sured me would never dry up-you
betcher. l remember the way he
shook his head as he said it. 1t had
been an exceptional winter for snow.
or that little stream never would have
been on the surface-it never has since;
it runs under
''Well l filed on the northwest quar-
ter of 10 as homestead, and the
northeast quarter as tree claim 1t
was out of the question to grow trees
they wouldn't live; l never knew
any one to prove up on tree claim. ,
The way they do is to hold on to it for
the two years and then sell the right
If its worth any thingvto some one
TO 'pre-empt.
''It was four miles from a rancho,
and there boarded with the granger
(the outfit were away on the round
up') until got my house up and well
dug.
''He was nice man ('Honest John
they called him), and he promised to
help me out. When got down with
the we'll so couldn't throw the dirt
out any more overhead, he came down
and drew 1t up for me.
'1t was on one OF these occasions Q
was down the welD when waterspout
burst about three miles north OF US.
and came roaring down the valley. We
had just time TO get into the shantec,
when over II went and US in 1t. The
door being on the south side, 1t had us