The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1901-01-18
FORT HAYS.
Historic Frontier Post to Become
College Grounds.
OId-TIme Barrier Against Indian Raids
Upon the People Of Kansas
Had = HOsr EFentfuI
FTfstorT

u
the Fort Hays bill by congress, been
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 It's 1000 acres have been leased to
cattIemen and the splepdid timber
that is unequaled in western Kansas
has been furnishing the settlers with
fuel. Nineteen big frame cottages, the
the officers homes, the barracks and
training quarters, have been unOecU-
pied, and it will be a great delight to
the people of this section to- see them
filed with students Of the state nor
NAL school and the state agricultural
school, both of which are 1Rder the
bill to have branches here.
This fort was a barrier against the
Indian raids that marked the last at
tempts Of the redskins to brighten the
people out Of the state. When the
Cheyennes came down from the north
west the soldiers Of Hays, with the as
sistance Of those from Wallace and
Harker. met them and drove them
back, saving the lives Of thousands OF
settlers. Gen. George FOrsythe follow
ed Roman Nose into the Upper Repub-
Ican country, and there, with his band
Of 100 soldiers, was surrounded by full
ly 1000 of the redskins. For three
days they we're held there, and were
rescued by succOr brought by two
scouts who escaped and went back to
the fort. It was found that the i'm
prisOned soldiers had more than been
victors, fer they had killed more than
a dozen forevery one of their own num-
Der that fell. Roman Nose himself
was among the killed.
Fort Hays has had an >eventfuI his
tory. 1t was originally called Fort
Fletcher, and was located IA miles
south of Hays on the Big Muddy. One
day the creek was sweIled by a storm
and the waters drove the soldiers out
OF the fort. Several colored soldiers /
who we're too slow were drowned, and
Gen. Pope ordered the location chang
ed to the present site. The buildings
were erected and improvements made. /
The town of Hays City, which was |
then founded a short distance to the |
north, was a rough place, being filed |
with cowboys and frontiersmen who
followed the building Of the railroad /
The city council granted 81 saloon IL |
oenses the first day that it met. There |
were "killers" without number, and on /
the slopes Of a little hill we're laid the |
victims Of their prowess. 1t was called ]
Boot Hill, and there lie 45 Of the d5s- !
tinguished gentry who died with their
boots on, some being known by their /
real names and some not. 1t will new /
er be known who really we're laid to
rest in the unceremOniOus fashion of |
the frontier days, for now 1t is too late
to find out.
"WiId Bill" was marshall Of the town
fot,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 is again marshal, with a Pre-
dilectIOn for killing.
The most famous event in the history
Of the fort was the raiding of the army
stores in 1869. The government then
had a great many stores here and the
surplus that could not be cared for at
the fort was piled upalOng the railroad
track with two watchmen to guard it.
One Of them, John Hays, went across
the street one night and entered a sa-
loon to get a drink. As he went in he /
was met by two soldiers from the fort,
who, without PROPAGATION, killed him.
The soldiers we're cOlored and were
drunk. They went into a barber shop
and scared the proprietor to the roof
OF his shop. He went in to the fort
and when the men were ranged in dress
parade By order Of the colonel he pick
ed out the desperadOes. They were
taken to Hays and shut up in cellar
that served as q 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
battle that issued six Of their number
we're left dead in the street. There
were many other fatalities in the con-
fiets between the town and fort, and Il
the soldiers found that they had a town
Of fighters 80 deal with.
The old-timers, like the late Henry
Imam and Gen. FOrsythe, tried their
mettle here and found honor. Now it
viii be devoted to peace, for the terms
Of the grant are that the agricultural \
college and state normal school shall
have it for branches of those institu-
lions. 1t is expected that at least 200
students win be in attendance when