Fergus County argus., 1890-12-18
FOUND DEAD ON the PRAIRIE.
!. NJ Priddy Loses His Life While Driving
Band Of Sheep from Big Sandy to
Brooks Bros Ranch.

H. |
., Mr.. John Arnold arrived in Lewiston
\. on Thursday night OF last week and brous
:" news of the finding Of the body Of l.
:" PrIddy on the prairie, about three mil
u, northwest Of John Brooks sheep ranch q
~ Salt creek. On Friday, Coroner Hanso
,' loft for that place to hold an inquest. A
.s the examination the following testimoa,
j. in substance. was given by Henry Bresl
:, in relation to the unfortunate eccurrsnc,
$. lie in company with l. NJ. Priddy, lei
u Big Sandy. ON November goth, with ban
n of about 100 head Of sheep for the Sal
u creek ranch. Mr.. Brooks left Big Sand
! with team about two hours after Pridd,
Z had gone, but failed to overtake him tha
night after travelling until about 12 or
o'clock. On the morning Of the 3Oth b,
h'tched up his team and started for Will
iamsons sheep ranch, about two mile.
from the road. He inquired at the ranch
whether "A band OF sheep had passed there
the evening before and was informed that
no sheep had been seen. Mr.. Brooks then
concluded that Mr.. Priddy was behind with
the sheep. He waited there three or four
hours and on going out Of the house saw
Priddy about two miles distant, driving the
sheep along toward Eagle creek. He waited
about half an hour and then drove on to
Eagle creek where he found Mr.. Priddy
camped with the sheep. The latter had
been to ranch aud was returning with q
loaf Of bread and some salt Priddy said
IL he had not overtaksn him that night he
would have killed a sheep. Mr. Brooks told
him that was all right; that he should not
&" hungry as long as he had hand OF
sheep in charge. Mr.. Priddy then excused
himself, saying that he (Brooks) was not
to blame, that it was his own fault that
they were not together the night before.
that instead Of staying close to the road he
pulled three miles off.
On the morning OF December LIST, the
sheep being restless, they got an early
breakfast and Mr.. Priddy started On
toward home with the sheep. Mr. Brooks
caught mp with the band about four miles
from The Missouri. Camp was made on the |
north side OF the river. The next day the |
sheep were fsrred over the river. getting
them all over about noon on Dec. I'd. As
u
at Judith, he learned that dinner was
ready, and he went and told Priddy to 10
and eat and he would tend the sheen, The
latter said he didn't want any dinner and
Kept moving right along with the sheen.
hr. Brooks assisting him through the lane.
then returning to get his team. As he left
Priddy told him to take his ovsrcoat az he
ID. Ant to . L /
Brooks took the coat and at the same time
told him not to drive the sheep any farther
than the top OF the hill; to stop there and
see what kind of time he would have
getting up. As Mr.. Brooks was leaving. I
Priddy called to him and said he wanted
ms TOBACCO which was in q pocket OF the
overcoat. II was given him. whom Mr..
Brooks told him to drive slow. Il was ;
after dark when Mr.. Brooks reached the
top oil the hill. He was assisted by John
Natheson, the freighter. Mr.. Brooks saws
when he arrived at the top OF the hill he | !
'ould see nothing OF Priddy or the sheen.
md as his horses were played out he could
not proceed any further. He disco vered by :
he tracks that he was driving, not letting :.
hem feed. He did not know how far he Z
vent. Priddy told Mr.. Madders that night c
nat he would camp at the bad place."
welvs miles distant from the Landing. t
Brooks camped for the night and the next
lay hunted for his horses. fading them
ate in the afternoon. Mr.. Brooks saw the b
tage driver. whe met Mr.. Priddy between "
= and O'Clock at noon the next day. n
The driver said Mr.. Priddy appeared all a
isht. lie drove the band along but did
ot speak.
On Wednesday, the 10th inst, Mr..
'rosks took his team and drove over the II
round to see If he could find Priddy's v
amp. In his opinion just az soon as Il
'riddy got through what 10 known az the
bad place. he left the sheep and started
DR. the ranch. Mr.. Prddy dissbeyed his "
r'ers in not camping after rsa ching the p
op of the hill. n
The testimony OF other witnesses was Il
aken but it related more particularly to n
he finding Of the body. q
The jury, which was composed Of VIM. J.
'. Parrott, Wm. +. Barger Erwin W.
5. NJ. Simmons, Thomas Ma -
Ilre and Alex. Schnebelen, after hearing
he testimony, rendered the following
erdlct: That the said |. NJ. Priddy came n
o his death through exposure an starva-
ion due to neglect of orders from his EN-. ''
leyer, II. 7. Brooks"
The particulars Of the finding Of the
ody are about as follows: John Arnold, U
om Riser and Jacob Miller were on a deer -
llf in la.h h,.l e I, l.xl. I N
nd on the 9Th inst. while walking along b,
'oking Tor game. Mr.. Miller came across "A a,
lePherd dog lying ON the ground The dog 4
cted very strangely. He seemed about :,
.arved and would give vent to his feelings
IA plaintive cry. lie could not he Goa xed
way from the spot. Mr.. Miller went into A.
amp and reported his find to his compan- !,
ms. who came to the conclusion that a
IAN was lost. on Monday, Mr.. Miller ac- :, :,
pmpanied by Mr.. Arnold, returned to the
lace finding the dog still there. Mr.. Ar la
loid recognized the dog at once, having II
zen il number Of tiHes before. A search g
as commenced at once and continued an nj
ny Monday. That evening they went to n
Ohm Brooks ranch on Salt creek. taking a,
ne dog with them. There they learned :,
nat Mr.. Priddy was missing. The search u
as then continued with vigsr, Paul Me- III
ann and David Busch joining in the hunt. tf
was not until Thursday morning that
ne remains were found, and then within
iree mile. of John Brooks ranch. -
II is supposed that soon after lea wing the u
bad place" Mr.. Priddy, not being over M
aken by Mr.. Brooks, left the sheep and b'
tarted for the home ranch. believing that al
2 had strength enough to take him there. IL
ut by his tracks. which could be discsrned A,
ow and then, he got into a region of num- -
rous coolies, and had completely ex- :,
austed himself in trying TO get out. Leav- :.