The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1892-04-29
uNRELIAgLENzss OF Taz pRsss.

uNRELIABLENESS OF TIE PREss.
y ou can't believe tie I,;4,,e,s'' i; >;
common expression among the people
anu proof was surely given tu lie say
lug III the early stages al Tie trouble
between the socaled cattle rustiers and
the cattlenen. First came reports of
the loss OF cattle on tic Wyoming
ranges. These were followed bt accounts
OF large herds that some parties now
controlled who but IL few wears before
came in bare handed Next twas stated
that the cattlemen were tired tf The
rust'ing business and Chat parties
engaged in it would be esunlnI;iriaiiy dealt
with. We next read of the silo ,ting O +
several men. They were stated to lie
suspected parties who while returning
from town were co,l!y shot down and
found dead by the road or in their
wagons. Later come runors OF oroani
zatlon among stockmen to cIea" out
the supposed band OF ruStEels, followed
by the recent outbreak 1t scarcely
seems. as we now look back at these re-
ports. that they were OF chance. We
cannot believe that Wyoming papers.
with perhaps few exceptions were INTO
the plot, but it does seem chat there was
some Journalistic talent among the
cattlemen and that the papers were art
| luily worned to prepare the p:bIIu for q
| Wholesale slaughter OF iiiuDcent men
under the guise OF instiiiable lynch law.
Ana the plan took well. Tlie casters
press assldiously copied all ier;orts OF
western papers, ami the puDf1c SYM
phathlzed with the stockmen in their
| losses and wore little troubled over the
lew rustlers found dead. But when the
wholesale work OF determination or
driving out began, the tables were turned.
The poor settlers oil that thinlv settled
country realized that hey must fight
their own battles. The county officials
awake to the situation, and there is d
sudden change in newspaper reports.
Lo! the socalled rustiers have become
deputy sheriffs and the indignant stock
men supposed to be avenging their
wrongs are bands uf hired cow boys and
texas rangers sentin by wealthy cattle
companies TO drive out, by killing ii nee
essary, the small cattieinen and farmers
Of that section
1 v - Il
socalled rustlers were killed The cattle-
men were surrounded ara besieged at a
cattle ranch and would haYe cen exter
minated but for the interference Of the
United States troops. Two cattlemen
are reported killed. The state ailthori-
ties did not care to assume the icspon-l
i sibility OF protecting the prisoners frn.,
i the enraged settlers aud tlleY IRE on
their road to Douglas in care OF the
4 troops. The settlers fear j.Isfire will
not be meted out and appeal to the pres
ident who responds stating that the
troops shall only act until the state
: authorities can handle the matter and
assuring settlers chat he believes the
law will take its course. 70 De3t,is
i familiar with the power 4of money. lsef-
pecitiisy In western courts, it is very
questionable Wliether there viii be any
i Justice in the matter
a We were with a minister Of the gospel
. recently when he was reading a report
!. of the trouble and came across tile name
i OF one called a leader OF the Iaistlels
/ IS This gentleman. like tho ftiaiolit,s, had
! lsided with the cattle men is,.t tiis name
WAS a revelation to him. MByi said
he. know that man personally. have
x often worked with him on the frontier
!. he is a methodist Clergyman aii earnest
. conscientious man He would never b
2 with the rustlers II be did mt beiieyi
their cause was just.
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