The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-25

that a branch of the Mani
foba Railroad would be built into Blue
Duck there We're many of the town
who felt that this accession would
prove to he an injury and not bless
lug to the community. The time is less
than hundred years distant when the
citizens of Elgin rose en- masse and pro-
tested against the building of what is
now the Chicago and Northwestern
Railway. They said it would destroy
the inns and the plank roads. Blue
Duckians held that their cattle would
be run down and the town become but
the way station of trunk line. Blue
Duck without q railroad was out Of
the world in one sense. Il trading COM
munity with an identity: with Il rail
road ii became Il spot on map. Il prey
to rapid transit and competition. -Ac
cordingly he message Travelled south
ward to Mr.. Marvel:
Blue Duck don't WaUt your road to
come this way. Go to Hamar but leave
us alone"
Mr.. Marvel kept that message. signed
by all the traders, merchants and cow
men Of the town, for many years. and
never looked ut it without hearty
laugh. But he did not change his plans
nor those of Mr.. Hill to make Blue
Duck railway point
The graders ana the iron men kept on
a their work. and day after day the
rails drew nearer to Blue Duck. until
they We're scarcely ten miles away.
IA, IL
this distance from the town Gentleman
Ed. who was IN inveterate foe of rail
ways. acted. His brief message Of the
afternoon sent by couriers to every
cowboy in the region. Come to town."
brought ready response. y hundred
sat their saddles when by the town
pump he seriously announced that no
railway must enter the place.
When a little later he mounted his
own black mare and gave the signal for
start all OF the D,ale population of
Blue Duck was with him. He rode
straight for the camp of the builders.
descending on their tents and boarding
cars like Il whrlwind. The devastation
he and his men wrought in one short
hour was a wonder. The workmen fed
to the tall grasses and hid. When they
came back they We're homeless. They
cursed a little. then sat down and wait
ed for orders from the higher powers.
While they We're waiting a mystic
riOus prairie fire favored by a strong
wind, came up through the gra sses and
drove them with their horses and mules
miles southwark. The heat warped the
rails already laid; cattle We're driven
over the new dump or grade until it
was almost worthless. In two days
Blue Duck had stopped the northward
progress of more than a hundred mill
ions of capital. and as this was in a
land where courts and lawyers We're
scarce. where the people of Il commu-
nifty willed for themselves what should
or should not be. this capital was stag
gered. AS u preliminary to recovering
from the shock it sent out an emissary.
1t was his misfortune that he wore Il
silk hat
'Py gracious" said Halverson when
he saw the hat and knew to whom it
belonged "he vas born to be hung. Me
tirk ploog hat and wicked heart go
tpSethSI uLHp, NOu SuCheI. ne eA-
claimed and his lively handling of his
pistol sent the emissary into the air
Two or three feet.
''Yump again. he shouted, and the
unfortunate visitor did as he was told.
Unfortunately his hat wobbled this
lime and almost rolled from his head.
Half dozen pistols spoke on the in
stant. and the silk crown was riddled.
The emissary fell to the ground scream
ing:
Spare me- gentlemen; spare me. i
am your friend"
we'll" said Halverson. you may
be. but you don't look it. You vast not
dressed shoost like friend You go
away and tink it over and you may
shhnge your mind. Go far away
After this the railroad company made
another effort to resume track laying
but another wild ride of the cowboys
ended that effort and made every track
man afraid of his life. Not that any one
was hurt. hut the cowboys were lively
and practical iokers and a grading
gang was huge enjoyment for them.
When the fireman of the iron gang
drew a gNi OH them they roped it out
of his hand. roped him. dragged him
into slough. soused him thoroughly
and then set him free sorry sight
He offered no moro resistance.