Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1901-09-13
PETE GREER's END.
Us Fate the Same as That of One OF
His Men Yenrs Ago.


A former cattleman the other day was
telling about one Of the old time rangers
who died recently in western Nebraska.
This man was Pete Greer.
He was one of the biggest men 1 ever
knew" said the former cattleman. He
stood 6 feet 3 inches in his stocking feet.
He was straight and broad at the shout
ders, and the quality of fear was left out
Of him. remember an experience which
he once had in New Mexico several years
ago that will show PeSe Greer's personal |
courage. He was with a party Of COW |
boys who were riding southwark with a |
wagon and cooking outfit, going out aft |
er a bunch Of stray cattle. The story was
told me by one of the men in the party, |
and / remember how he swOre when he
told me Of the heat of the plains. Greer
was a sort of boss or foreman Of the
party. One day it was discovered that
one of the men was missing. de mad
wandered from the others looking for the
cattle and had been away from the party
a day before his absence was discovered.
Then Greer at once gave orders that
search be made for him. When Greer
smoke. no one replied. Then one man
grumbled that it would be no use, that
the lost man would be dead. The others
/ Joined the mutiny, and all Of them re-
/ fused to leave the wagon. Pete PLEADED
and bluffed them. The men were Obsti-
nate. Then big Pete piled together about
/ the wagon all the equipment OF their
camp. Along with this were three barrels
of water which had been carried from the
last stream passed. The heat was a tor
ture. A man walking over the dry turf
was followed by q stream of dust. The
! W
no shelter in the empty plain around
them.
when Greer had made a heap Of all
that stood between the cowboys and
death, he placed under and around II
dried grass and wood. Then he stood
square in front Of the pile.
"'Now, boys he said, If you don't &C
out and look for this man I'll set fire t.
this He had his revolvers in his hands
"This man who told me this story sait
that Pete Greer was a man who neve
made empty threats. They knew tina
when he said anything it went, and the!
Obeyed
"That day they found their MISSING
comrade lying face downward on tn
prairie, dead from the heat.
"And it seems a cruel thing that tn
80 ssove, manly Pete Greer should him
: seIf have bse9- found face downward, dy
: ing with the heat on rs own lFalch !
Nebraska only month ago"
"Greer's ranch was near Seneca, IN tn
y western part of the state. In diHeren
o parts of his grazing land be had wind
e mills to provide water for his cattle.
e zone afternoon month ago, when tn
S hot spell was at its zenith, Greer rod
out on a horse over his range to see tina
L his windmills were in order. He though
,, nothing about the heat. He had nevt
d been sick a day in his life, and he was
e his prime.
"A few hours later his horse trotted u
l. to the door of the ranchhOuse with q
e empty saddle.
e "Mrs. Greer, sitting in the house, wi
IS the first to see the horse. She wake
l. quickly out Of doors and looked ever
g where for her husband. Others came u
e. Mrs. Greer had never ridden a horse
IL her life. She had not been strong al
u had never taken an active part in ran'
a. life. But she climbed into her husband
at empty saddle and with two or three me
n from the ranch started out under Il
OF burning sunshine. Mrs. Greer allow
r the horse which she rode to take its ov
g, course. And it was she who found h
IS husbands body. He was lying face dow
L ward in the parched grass not more TIL
20 feet from one of his windmills. 4