The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-06-27
1T WAS
HOW a POOR soUATrER MADE
HIMSELF WELCOME.
An Exciting Episode ON a Kansas Ranch-
A Rushing Herd OF Cattle and a
Brave Mans Act in saving
an Innocent Life.

and there was quite "A little army Of
men and boys connected with II. One
of the duties with which We were
charged was that OF keeping the range.
which was government land. free OF
settlers.
When you see a covered wagon"
said our manager, keep your eyes on
IT, and take a that IL don't stop on
grazing lands"
But suppose. " questioned one. the
owner Of IA wagon should refuse TO
on. Then what are we TO doP"
Il guess there's enough OF us here"
replied the manager. Ito see that he
does move. II any man should be
foolhardy enough 10 squat here after
being notified not TO do 80. II will be
our business TO rou him u
] did not look with favor on this
arrangement and neither did the
majority OF the herders. Our sympa-
thies were with the poor home-seekers
and we knew that both the law and
justice gave them the right To own the
land OF which our range was composed.
However. we said nothing at the time,
tut tDullnutu dbOub our uuiltS.
During the next month several
wagons drove across our range, but
none of them halted within our limits.
Then one day. late in the afternoon,
there came an old can%vas-covcrcd
wagon, dilapidated and shackling 10
the last degree. drawn by n span OF
poor. bony horses hat could scarcely
more than creep. ! saw the poor out
III crawling along the edge OF the tim
Der and ! watched IL until ! saw IL halt
at a point less than a fourth OF "A mile
from the ranch. | saw n man come
ont Of the wagon. and after looking
about Tor N minute or SO, proceed 20
unhitch his team and turn them out TO
Craze | felt IL my duty TO warn him
10 move on. so l rode down 10 the
wagon for that purpose. The man was
atall, thin. sickly-looking person whose
surroundings proclaimed him "a victim
OF extreme poverty. | was touched by
his appearance, and as gently as |
could, informed him OF the necessity
OF Immediately vacating the spot AS ]
spoke his pale. sharp features lighted
up with the fire Of Indignation, and in
reply he said;
1--WE made my last move, unless I'm
driven by force. I've been run about
from place to place by the cattlemen
till I've got nothing left. and I'm tired
Of II. This land is open for settlement
and ] have "A right 10 n claim here,
and | propose 10 have it,
but you can't hold IT, ! reasoned.
They'll burn your wagon and kill
your horses"
just let them try IT," he replied.
laying his hand on n pistol which hung
al his side. Some OF them wouldn't
burn any more wagons"
/ reasoned with the nan as best /
could, but he refused TO move on. and
az last ! turned away from him hoping
his presence might not be noticed that
evening by any Of our people. and that
by the following morning he might see
the wisdom OF moving on.
! had only gone q short distance
when | met a little boy running across
the prairie. and IA he stopped 90 adj
mire my gaudy cowboy attire and
trappings, | spoke 10 him and asked
his name.
I'm Johnnie Merrill, y he answered.
Men my pa just come down here to-
day. an my pa he's gone 10 look NJ the
cattle an I'm goin' down there 10 that
wagon. My pa he owns this ranch,
you know, an he let me come down
here with him this time
II had not gone far, after leaving the
boy. when ] met n man cantering along
on horseback, and ms he was "A stranger.
and well dressed, ! rightly judged that
he was Mr.. Merrill. just ms we met
he happened TO notice the old wagon,
and refining In his horse. ne said:
What is that there by the tim
ber?"
"A homeseekcr, F" | replied.
'Oh. n squatter. ehp Well. go over
and tell him TO move on"
I've already warned him." | an
swered.
lis he going away. thcn?'
II don't know. He is very poor.
and is very sick, but I think he'll 90
tomorrow"
MIR. Merrill saw nj once that | was
attempting 10 screcn the man. and
with n flash OF anger he said:
You go down and tell the boys that
! said that squatter must not be there
nj sun down. DO you understand mep"
II do. " said /. n I turned away.
II rode leisurely down In tho di-
rection 81 the herd and | found the
boys working the cattle back toward
the rancn.
] informed old Ike. who was the
leader among the boys" OF what
Merrill had said. and the whole force
gathered around 10 listen. ] also told
OF my interview with the squatter. Old
Ike scratched his head for a moment
fhou clavvlv .nfd.