Daily camera. [volume] (Boulder, Colo.) 1891-1928, 1900-05-18
FAMOUS FORT HAYS.
Historic Frontier Post to Become
College Grounds.
Old-Time Barrier Against Indian
Raids Upon the People of Kan
sas Had Most Event.
full History.


wiped out of existence, says the ST.
Louis Globe-Democrat. This fort,
which was for many years the central
point of the army operations against
the redskins, has for years been desert
ed. Its 1000 acres have been leased to
cattlemen and the splendid timber that
is unequaled in western Kansas has
been furnishing the settlers with fuel.
Nineteen big frame cottages. the otii-
GERS homes. the barracks and training
quarters, have been unoccupied, and it
will be great delight to the people OF
this section to see them filled with stu
dents of the state normal school and
the state agricultural school. both OF
which are under the bill to have
branches here.
This fort was the barrier against the
Indian raids that marked the last at
tempts of the redskins to brighten the
people of the state. When the Chey.
ennes came down from the northwest
the soldiers of Hays, with the assist
ance of those from Wallace and Harker
met them and drove them back. saving
the lives of thousands of settlers. Gen
George Forsythe followed Roman Nose
into the Upper Republican country, anc
there. with his band of 100 soldiers. was
surrounded by fully 1000 of the red.
skins. For three days they were held
there, and then were rescued by sue.
cor brought by two scouts who escaped
and went back to the fort. 1t was found
that the imprisoned soldiers had been
more than victors, for they had killed
more than dozen for every one Of their
own number that fell. Roman Nose
himself was among the killed.
Fort Hays has had an eventful his
tory. 1t was originally called Fort
Fletcher, and was located IA miles
south of Hays on the Big Muddy. One
lay the creek was swelled by storm
and the waters drove the soldiers out
IF the fort. Several colored soldiers
who were too slow were drowned, and
Gen. Pope ordered the location changed
to the present site. The buildings were
hen erected and Improvements made.
The town of Hays City, which was
then founded short distance to the
north. was rough place. being filed
With cowboys and frontiersmen who
followed the building of the railroad.
The city council granted 81 saloon IL
lenses the first day that it met. There
we're killers without number. and
IN the slopes of little hill were laid
he victims Of their prowess. 1t was
,alled Boot Hill, and there lie As of the
distinguished gentry who died with
heir boots on, some being known by
heir real names and some not. 1t will
never be known who really were laid to
rest in the unceremonious fashion of
the frontier days. for now it is too late
% find out.
"Wild Bill" was marshal of the town
for awhile, until one day he shot three
soldiers on the street, and then it was
healthier for him to go hence. He went,
and was next heard of at Abilene, where
he was again marshal, with a predilec-
ton for killing.
The most famous event in the history
Of the fort was the raiding of the army
stores in 1869. The government then
mad a great many stores here and the
surplus that could not be cared for at
the fort was piled up along the railroad
track with two watchmen to guard it.
One of them, John Hays, went across
the street one night and entered sa-
loon to get drink. AS he went in he
was met by two soldiers from the fort,
who, without provocation, killed
him. The soldiers were colored and
were drunk. They went into bar
Der shop and scared the proprietor to
the roof of his shop. He went in to the
fort and when the men were ranged in
1ress parade by order of the colonel he
picked out the desperadoes. They were
taken to Hays and shut up in cellar
that served as Jail. That night they
were taken out by the citizens and
strung up to the railroad bridge. In
1874 the Ninth infantry (colored) tried
to get even with the town, but in the
Udltlc lldu SHSuSu OLA VI tilSll ii uiii oSl
were left dead in the street. There
were many other fatalities in the con-
ficts between the town and fort, and
the soldiers found that they had town
of fighters to deal with.
The old-timers, like the late Henry
[nman and Gen. Forsythe, tried their
mettle here and found honor. Now it
will be devoted to peace, for the terms
If the grant are that the agricultural
college and state normal school shall
have it for branches of those institu-
tons. 1t is expected that at least 200
students will be in attendance when
the legislature shall have made appro-
priations fo.' the teachers. The people
Of this section are to fit up the build
ings and these are so generous that
they will serve the purposes intended
well. There are 5000 acres that are
we'll fitted for wheat, and if the agri
cultural station wishes to experiment
with the possibilities of the semi-arid
region it could not find a better place.
The Russians have made a good living
in this county and the farmers who
have mixed their wheat with stock
have also done well. The gold excite
ment that was so prominent a few
81 do hN L.