The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-28
STOCKMEN AT WAR.
Fight Between Cattle Raisers and
Sheep Hcrders i'm Colorado.

DENVER Col, May III. &. Edwards,
the owner of forty thousand sheep in Routt
county, appealed to Governor Mcintyre, to-
day, for protection for his property, which
the cattlemen promise to slaughter and
the question brings before the chief execu
tive a difficult subject. Mr.. Edwards says
he has tried TO settle the controversy
amicably. He is an old resident of Colo
RADIO and heavy taxpayer, and claims
the right to drive his property wherever
necessary. He wants to drive his fiocks
through the lower part of Routt county
until shipping point on the Rio Grande
railroad can be reached, and has promised
the cattlemen that no damage shall be done
to the range or ranch property He has
proposed to the objectors that they shall
select the trail the sheep shall take, but
they have demurred and have called
other meeting to assemble at McCoy's Gar
field county, this week, to organize for re-
sistance. Edwards asks the Governor to
attend the meeting and argue for modera-
ton and recognition of the rights of the
sheep growers. What stand Governor Nc
Intyre will take is question which is
causing some speculation at the Capitol.
1t is regarded as foregone conclusion
that the local authorities of the counties
affected will be unable to stay the hands
of the cattlemen when they start to keep
out the intruders, and If military aid is not
invoked Edwards will have a cause of legal
action for damages against the State.
A dispatch from Red Cliff says: 1.-The
first open rupture in the much-talked-of
sheep and cattle mems war in Routt
county has occurred and four men are
badly wounded. two of whom may die of
their injuries. The news was brought by
messenger who came for medical as
sistance. The messenger could give but
few details of the affair. The following
are the casualties resulting from 1t. Will
liam Mattna received on the forehead a
long cash made with a quirt and was
cut i'm the ribs with a knife. Alex. Wins
low received cut back of the left ear.
ranging downward; also one across the
neck, nearly severing the artery and wind
pipe. Tom Dice was cut on back of neck and
badly beaten over the eyes. John Winsow
was cut several times in the back with a
heavy knife.
The scene of the encounter was point
twenty miles above Wolcott on the Sheep
horn. Wolcott fs station the Denver
Il Rio Grande railroad and Is the starting
point for stages running to Steamboat
Springs, distant north eighty miles. For
several days a collision between sheep men
and cattle men has not been unexpected
The bitterness between the two factions
has been growing and the feeling is
intense that fighting is expected at many
sheep men and the cattle is the same
that caused so much trouble in western
Colorado last year. The sheep men, prin-
cipally from Wyoming and Montana. in
sist on driving their herds through Routt
county as far south as Walcott. where they
expect to ship sheep by rail To Eastern
markets The cattle men oppose this drive
saying IL Is only a ruse TO get sheep in
Routt county for grazing purposes. Last
week the cattlemen. $50 in number. met at
solved TO keep the sheep men out IL neces-
sary by force.