Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-08-22
DAN DUNSTAN'S CLAIM.
Graphic Relation Of His Troubles
in Holding It Down.

It was generally conceded in the
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 Greek in search of
recruits for the far West, one of the
suckers that was caught was Dan.
II 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 establishment of every
one ne came back, three years later,
with .'bushel of money" built the
Dunstan House at a cost of $120,000,
and married the daughter of the presi-
dent of the bank.
Some said: "A fool for luck, any
how" but the Differentiated ex-
Claimed: 'Dully LOT IAN
A few of the latter were invited to
dine one evening with Mr.. and Mrs.
Dunstan. when the former gratifed his
guests by telling them how he had
made his money.
None of you fellows ever held
down a claim?'" None Of them had.
s.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.
so it has. But III tell you; they
say, a fool for luck"
And 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 l hired a
wagon and team. and we drove about
thirty miles due south. where old Lock
year said there was fine valley, you
betcher.'
81 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 tC
recognize it at once. After figuring a
little. he said We were in range 81,
and about town Qownship) Is; so we
hunted around for 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.
1--WE were pretty tired; the country
was sandy, and the sun pretty hot, st
before l had counted out TWO sections
dropped off to sleep and fell out of th'
wagon; that started the horses, anC
away they went with Lockyear. The!
must have run pretty straight, for i
was the township corner that upset the
wagon"
Mr.. Dunstan paused to minister Il
his guests. Mrs. d. sensibly with
drew; which action being silently takel
as a signal for the cigar of peace, tht
host continued:
Il located in that valley, on q nice
little stream which old Lockyear as
sured me would never dry up-yOl
betcher' l remember the way h,
shook his head as he said it. 1t haC
been an exceptional winter for snow
or that little stream never would have
been on the surface-it never has since
it runs under.
We'll, | fled on the northwest quar-
ter of 10 as a homestead, and tn
northeast quarter as tree claim
was out of the question to grow tree
they wouldn't live; | never knew
any one to prove up on tree claim.
The way they do is to hold on to it 70
the two years and then sell the right
if its worth any thing-to some on
to 'pre-empt.'
1T was four miles from rancho
and there l boarded with the granger
(the outfit were away on the 'roun,
up) until L got my house up and wei
dug.
He was nice man ('Honest John
they called him). and be promised I
help me out. When l got down wit
the well so l couldn't throw the dir
out any more overhead, he came dow
and drew it up for ne.
sit was on one of these occasions {
was down the welO when a waterspou
burst about three miles north of us
and came roaring down the valley. w
had Just time to get into the shantee
when over it went and US in it. Tn
door being on the south side, it had U