The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-05

his two sons shot Laramie Pete, and 1t
looks like general scTimmage. Big Road
whole village is camped only ten mics
down stream, and they'r war dancing
already. There's lot of drunken COWBOYS
over at town and they swear they'll rouse
the county and clean out the whole Indian
outfit"
Thanking the staff sergeant for his in
formation, Ormsby pressed on to the
crowded room and stood in the outskirts
of the throng of officers. Fenton was
speaking as he entered the hall, and his
voice had no uncertain ring. He had been
questioning one of the cowboy leaders,
scowling but splendidly built specimen of
frontier cnivalry, and it was evident that
the verdict of the commander was against
these turbulent gentry and in favor OF the
Indians.
"By your own admission, Thorpe, your
fellows are on tear, and whether meant
as fun or not, it was rough fun at best,
and nothing less than mad-brained trick
in my ewes, and an outrage from the
Indian point of view. Big Road would
have been no chief at all ii he hadn't re-
sented it furiously. 1t may be, as you say,
that he was first to pull his gun, but you
pulled him off his horse. The men that
did it deserve to be shot, and I'm sorry
he missed. You say there are cow
bows enough in the country to clean out
dozen such bands as his, and that
Laramie Petes friends won't rest until
they've done it. Go you to them right
from this spot and say for me there are not
cowboys enough in all the Territory to lick
this regiment, and you've got to do that
before you can raise one scalp IN that VII
lage."
days we used to say blood is thicker than
water, and in many tough place we've
stood by the soldier against the savage.
There was never time we went back on
you, and this is the first time l ever heard
OF an officer who would go back on US"
Don't distort things, now, my friend, !"
said Fenton, coolly. 81 never would go
back on you, as you say, ii you were the
assailed and the wronged. This is case
of simple justice, and l interpose to keep
the peace until the rights and wrongs can
be sifted and settled. Take my advice and
keep away from the village"
There's a higher power in the land
than the military, Colonel Fenton, and
that's public opinion, and public opinion
says Big Roads people murdered Laramie
Pete. Public opinion says We want the
murderers, and by Cod we mean to have
| EN-, even if we have to clean out the
whole village. We want no fight with
| you, but through the press and Congress
we'll use you up till there won't be as
much left of you as the Sioux left of Gus
ter's crowd. Take my advice and keep
away from u.s."
And SO saying, big Ben Thorpe, liking of
the cowboys" as they called him on the
Platte, strobe angrily out of the room, the
officers parting in silence to let him go.
At the threshold he turned and once more
| faced the post commander.
Another thing, Colonel Fentonr' and
as he spoke Ormsby could see how the
strong frame was quivering with excite
ment and wrath. you say we're not the
| Sheriff 5 posse and we cannot act in accord
ance with law. There's no Sheriff in all
Wyoming nearer than Rock Springs. I'm
Sheriff IN these parts until he comes I'm
Sheriff enough to hunt murderers, and