The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-12-30

ranch was merely another way of ex
acting tribute from the cattlemen TO
the thieves expected to make it 81
uncomfortable for the new owner tha
he would soon tire of his purchase
and would he ready to sell the plac,
back to Smith for small part of th,
purchase price Smith was killed las
month in skirmish between armed
COW boys, headed by Bob Divine. ani
how the rustlers have sworn vengeance
apon Devine, and he is regarded as {
marked man.
/ When the final survey of lands il
! Wyoming gave the disputed tract oi
country in which the Hole-in- the
Wall is located to johnson county
the authorities telegraphed for the re
lease of Bob Taylor, one of the rust
lers captured in a former battle be-
tween cowboys and rustlers, Taylor al
once received place on the K. G.
isauh, where Champion and Ray were
killed in the invasion of the cattlemen
into johnson county si1 years age
when the United States troops were
called out to settle the warfare. The
| b. G. ranch has ever since been sus-
pected of having too many varieties
of branding irons and doubtfully
branded cattle, and notorious charac
tiers have found occupation there
Depradations have occurred ever
since on the ranges and the authori
ties of johnson county have showed a
decided lack of spirit in efforts to run
down the thieves.
Last spring Deputy Sheriff Dean
was out making search for cattle
thieves. In q lonely region he en-
countered two horsemen, who began to
quarrel with him. While he talked
with them a man from ambush shot
him in the back. At the coroner's
inquest no one would volunteer infor
nation as to who had fred the shot.
No arrests were made and no step
was taken to run down the murderers.
After this the thieves grew bolder and
op My threatened death to any one
wi D should interfere with their liberty.
They attempted to rob the bank at
Belle Fourche and were driven off,
though no one was arrested at the
time. They made long ride over to
Glenwood Springs and held up
saloon and gambling house, getting a
large sum Of money. They made an
attack upon party of cowboys, of
which Bob Devine was member, but
the cowboys put up plucky fight and
the rustlers had to flee. leaving Bob
Smith dead on the field of battle
Occasionally officers have been sue.
cessful in finding one of the party off
his guard at some camp or settlement,
and several of the worst men of the
gang languish in penitentiaries. The
johnson county officials made none
of these arrests, however, contending
that no jury in the county would ever
dare to convict and that the money
for trials would be simply wasted.
Sheriff Sporall admits that this is the
ses.. 'ment of the board OF county com
missioners of johnson county, and he
acts accordingly. When the Belle
Fourche robbing attempt WIS made
officers came into Johnson county and
asked the sheriff for a posse to go
with them into the Hole e-in-the- Wall
country after the men, but he refused
to gr9nt the request Once be leceiv
ed warrant for a man on Powder
river, but instead of serving 1t he hid
in the stable and waited until the man
saddled up his horse and left home.
and then be called at the house and
announced his mission
There are so many old grudges re-
naming from the cattle war of six
years ago that no one is willing to
take band in settling the present
lawless condition in the johnson
county range country. The friends
OF the thieves seem to be in the ma
jority, and the officers elected in the
county appear to befriend the rustlers
rather than the cattle men of estab-
lished reputation. So far has this
gone that the financial affairs of the
county are in deplorable state.
Taxes are not paid, there are no
revenues to meet ordinary expenses,
and the business of the capital town
OF Buffalo is fast dying away. Not
long ago an official of the county who
rendered the recent roundup party
valuable assistance was ordered by
letter to leave the county under
penalty Of death should he remain
Ranchmen in the region tributary to
the Hole-in-the- Wall country are
harassed if they give the least assist
ance or information to officers of the
law or armed parties of cowboys seek
ing stolen cattle.
When the summer roundup season
came on several of the larger cattle
owners of the country adjacent to the
Hole-in-the-Wall region, decided to
include that unknown range in search
for lost cattle. The G. Y. Pugsley
and Ogallalla companies combined,
| and with owners of other brands mus
tered a party of forty cowboys of ex-
| per5a, ce and long acquaintance with
the country. With this party went
the sheriffs of several counties, dep
uties, and United States officials. and
seven officers from Belle Fourche
anxious to capture the bank robbers
Starting OF from Casper, the party
arrived at The entrance to the outlaws
country on Aug. 3, to find notices
posted in several places announcing
that on certain date officers OF The
law would invade the disputed terri
tory. One notice found at the forks
of road read: Hell ON thew al
Ang. 3, 1897" which indicated tha
the gang were advised of the appear
ance of the roundup party and Off
GERS of the law.
| The cow outfits worked the country
gathered cattle. and made their round
ups as if nc trouble was expected Al
ambush was attempted by member
Of the gang several times, and Bol
Devine, whom they we're espec,alI,
anxious to get, came very near fallin,
into their hands. The cowboys re-
covered large herd of G. Y, Ogalla /