The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-09
Tgo,fPsoN,s SPRINGS.
A Place from which Men Return with Bul'
let noles in Their Hats.

SALT LAKE, Utah June 7.-Once in while
man with bullet hole in the crown OF his hat
is seen at one of the cheap hotels here. lie
naturally attracts the attention OF strangers.
on the theory that he is from the scene OF the
fighting in the Philippines; but citizens OF TINS
town pay little heed to him. They assume that
he has been at Thompsons Springs. for bull
let hole in ones hat IL tho regulation sign OF q
visit TO that resort Of cattle rusters
Almost everybody from Thompson ne springs
is a raw-boned staggering six-footer and
wears black soft hat pushed well back on his
head. And nearly every hat from the Springs
has one or more bullet holes in tho crown,
whether the wearcr is citizen OF that pace or
n cattle buyer The farorite amusement there
is shooting up the town. and when there are
no visitors to shoot ut people take few harm-
less shots At ono anothcrs hats There are pI no
do not need water there. They prefer whis-
KEY. and of the strongest variety.
south OF this city, and is on the cattle rusters'
main road. which reaches from wyoming to
Arizona. 1t is one of their ,sstopping places;
There is only one house at Th9mpsop's and
1t serves as n, store; saloon ana hotrl IL y
the door is rather narrow. which is some.
what nconvenient when target practice
is going on I" Stolen 6S Gara Wien cn Fs''r s
Arizona they make stops ct various Sa-
looms strung along the trail thT2Gsha n the
journey and intended to accommodattee
tho ruster trade and mining rrosprctnrs. lt
is said that the rustlcrs number 200 or 300 and
that they supply with cattle small ranchers
along tho line. The ranchers In turn turnlth
beef to prospectors and freighters. While the
ranchers. who buy the cattle may not he in
| league with The rustlers. they either symnathize
| with them or perhaps keep silent through fear;
They profess entire Ignorance when questioned
| by officers OF tho law. The depredations OF
the rustlers have increased so that officers are
! in continual pursuit of the cattle thieves: but
| they seldom catch any OF them. Tho rustlers
are familiar with the country and when hotly
pursued they are apt TO am bus h their pursuers.
| 1t is the custom of the rustlers to signa!ize
| their entrance into n saloon by firing volley
| at the roof and shooting out the lights. AS q
matter Of convenience and to protect the roof
| and to save lamp chimneys the saloon keeper at
Thompson's Springs has strung tin cans along
| the counter. so that rustlcrs may have some
| thing to shoot at. The rustler Is good marks
| man. and when tho practice has ended and the
| smoke cleared away each can is full OF holes.
New oyster cans are then substituted for the
| old ones. to be ready for the next passing band
Of rustlers.
| Officers who have been in action with the
| rusters testify to their accurate shooting. and
| say that the rustler never raises his gun above
| tho hip. He is trained to shoot without using
| the sights on his pistol. and. therefore, fires
much quicker. While the officer is raising his
| gun to the shoulder and getting the sights Ia
| range the rustler has taken a couple OF shots
| at him and is off like the whirWind,