The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-04-24
A TRAGEDY OF
FRIENDSHIP.

This last little Indian scare reminds
me Of something that happened some
twenty years ago" said the ranchman,
fiicklng the ashes from his cigar. IL
might call 1t the story of a modern
Damon and Pythias but for the de-
movement which. warn you, is not n
particularly joyful one. still, If you fell
lows don't mind the tragic, here goss:
about twenty years ago two Young
fellows, whom Wen call Tom and Jack,
started out to seek their fortunes ranch
ing in Arizona. The ranch fever was
Just then about at its height. England
and Australia as well as cur own east
were sending out idiots in droves to tue
West. Young fellows, many OF them
well educated and of good birth and
brought up to every luxury, simply
went wild over the primitive freedom
OF that adventurous life, until. with cap
ltal exhausted. downright hard work
and privation inevitable, they came to
wish-heaven knows how bitterly some
of them wished it-that they had never
exchanged the commonplace comforts
of civilization for the intoxicating I'M
certainty of frontier life These two
youngsters, having tidy bit of capital
between them on coming of age, cor
cluded to invest 1t In cattle, and fixed
upon Arizona as the most favorable spot
for their financial experiment.
'In surprisingly short time they bad
conquered every difficulty and made n
good start They built themselves a
snug little house. were joint owners of
quite a bunch Of cattle, and had sew
eral boys as helpers. They had always
been the closest of chums, these two,
born In the same town, schoolmates In
boyhood. classmates at the university
you never knew two chaps more de-
voted.
'Tom was a big fellow, blond, with
n ruddy skin, honest blue eyes, and a
laugh-well, l tell you it did fellow
good just to hear him roar In his hearty
way when any one got off joke.
Jack was little fellow, a bit deli.
cate. not really equal to roughing it.
He used to complain that Tom did the
biggest share of the work but Ton
never would hear word of that, and
while they smoked before the rough
stone fireplace, in their one room, OF
evenings, to hear Tom defer to Jacks
Judgment and consult about business
matters was to think Toms little part
ner one of the biggest and cleveres
business heads Of the age.
"For some time there had been ru
mors OF an Indian outbreak. Tn,
Apaches were getting restless and al
ready several small bands had stoler
away from the reservation TO hidin,
places In the mountains. There was, o
course, big scare, people leaving
homes and property. especially wher'
there were women and children to b'
considered.
"rom and Jack talked II over and de
cided to stick to the ranch. To leav
was to lose everything. the hard-won re
suit Of months Of toll; for. OF course. /
they deserted. the boys couldn't be ex
pected to stay. There was bar
chance of things blowing over, and II
any case watchfulness and systemati
defense might save them. II the wors
; did come.
80 the ranch was provisioned for
/ siege and fortified in every way: ad
/ jacent outbuildings. which Nigh
= through nearness to the main buildin
p become dangerous, were removed-ey
4 erything. in short. which could insur
r safety when the critical moment al
I rived was anticipated and done.
i zone day n cowboy from a neighboi
r ing ranch came riding In like mad, ha
4 gone. blood streaming down his face.
a His tale was Of the worst. His ranc
5 had been attacked. the house burne,
c and every one killed but himself. HI
e although closely pursued, had succee,
d ed in eluding the Apaches, who wer
/ however. close behind him.
/ 'rom-he was naturally the leader
u at once called in all the boys; doors an
windows were barricaded, last detail
OF defense completed. The horses wei
brought inside to place already pr
lie pared for them, so that II need be the
h would be means for attempted fig
lie and possible escape. Every man hi
his station. some at the loopholes. son