The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-10

had turned loose for a holiday. The
fusion nominees received the congratu-
lations of their friends upon the victory
that tomorrow would certainly bring. as
wei as Epon the downfall OF the hood
lers' One Texas Democrat, a carpenter,
became so much enthused that he started
up Noble avenue about twelve O'Clock at
night walking around and around yelling
at the top of his voice, Let 'er roll. Let
'er roll Let 'er roll. He went UP the
street 10 the limits of the townsite ana
disappeared, still letting 'er roll He
never returned. What became of him
no man knoweth even unto this day.
Whether he was translated or whether he
went up ike Elijah in a chariot of fire
the early records Of Blaine county do not
show. All that he left behind 10 indicate
his identity were few carpenters tools
an old coat and forty-eight dollar board
bill.
The Republicans won the county. The
Indians helped.
Speaking of the amenities Of early life
in Watonga, Mr.. Ferguson relates this
Incident:
After the clouds of battle had cleared
away and It was settled thing that the
Republicans would control affairs for at
least TWO years. things assumed a mora
quiet epi,.sran--. u aas evident
that both sides were ready for war at
any time. There were citizens in va
tonga who for two years lived near each
other, passed each other upon the street
every day. but never spoke However,
no open hostilities took place between
the factions during the winter of 1929
except that the monotony was occasion
ally relieved by encounters between Geo.
Rainey and d. ]. Martz. The latter
would lambast George in the Rustler and
then when Martz would go up around
the court house Rainey would go after
him. During the winter of 1929 life in
Watong was meFry-go-easy affair. The
saloons were numerous and the cowboys
were still lingering around the old camps
where they had been for years prior to
the opening S. c. Grenup and Black
Stanley held forth on the corner where
the White Elephant Saloon is now To-
Gated Another popular resort for the
cowboys was saloon in the Brock build
ing which was located on the south side
Of Main street near where the Watonga
packing house now stands The saloon
was in the lower rooms of the building
The upper rooms We're occupied by sew
eral families. A Mr.. Steele, justice of
the peace, occupied a room with his wife
and child just above the one in which the
saloon was located. At that time there
was no ceiling above and the floor was
not Of very heavy lumber. one stormy
night a dozen or more cowboys ccngre-
gated in the saloon. After enthusing for
some time they became very reckless and
90 TO CHI in,
into the floor through the door. into the
walls and through the floor above. Vol
ley after volley was fired upward It be-
came too hot for Mr. Steele and family
The whirring missiles were playing hide
and seek in the very room in which the
wife and child were located. causing them
to take refuge upon the bed. Mr.. Steele
came rushing down stairs into the saloon
and told the boys what they were doing
One fellow, who seemed to be a leader.
assured Mr. Steele that nothing of the
kind would be repeated apologized. sent
his compliments to the lady and begged
Mr.. Steele to assure her that no harm
was intended and that no more shots
would be fired upward. He told his fell
low jewellers that they might shoot the
lights out shoot into the floor. shoot the
hinges of The door, shoot at the German
bartender. but the first one that shot to-
wards the ceiling would die like coyote
After that time no more shots were fired
towards the ceiling. They continued 70
shoot into the floor and through the door
into the street, but as none of the shots
ranged skyward it is presumed that Jus
tice Steele and his family reposed in
peace the balance of the night