The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-07-09
the FIRST
BIUG PUCK
RAILROAD

TINT 0ranch or the Manl-
toba Railroad would be built into Blue
Duck there were many Of the town
who felt that this accession would
prove to be nm injury and not bless
ing to the community. The time Is less
than hundred years distant when the
citizens of Elgin rose en- massc and pro-
tested against the building Of what Is
now the Chicago and Northwestern
Railway. They said Il would destroy
the inns and the plank roads. Blue
Duckians held that their cattle would
be run down snd the town become but
the way station of a trunk line. Blue
Duck without q railroad was out Of
the world In one sense. trading COM
munity with an identity: with a rail-
road II became spot on map, n prey
to rapid transit and competition. Ac-
eordingly the message travelled south
ward to Mr.. Marvel:
Blue Duck don't want 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 at It without . hearty
laugh. But he did not change his plans
nor those Of Mr.. Hill to make Blue
Duck railway point.
The graders and the iron men kept on
at their work, and day after day the
rails drew nearer to Blue Duck. Until
they were scarcely ten miles away.
The night the weary trackmen quit Mt
this distance from the town Gentleman
Ed. who was an 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. A hundred
sat their saddles when BY the town
pump he seriously announced that no
railway must enter the place.
When q little later he mounted his
own black mare and gave the signal for
q start all of the male population Of
Blue Duck was with him. He rode
straigh, for the camp of the builders.
descending on their tents and boarding
cars like a whiriwind. 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 were homeless. They
cursed little. then sat down and wait.
ed for orders from he higher powers.
While they were waiting myste-
fious prairie fire favored by strong
wind. came up through the grasses and
drove them with their horses and mules
miles southwark. The heat warped the
rails already laid: cattle were driven
over the new dump or grade until 1t
was almost worthless. In two days
Blue Duck had stopped the northward
progress Of more than a hundred mill
ions Of capital. and rs this was in q
land where courts and lawyers were
scarce. where the people Of commu-
nifty willed for themselves what should
or should not be. this capital was stag
gered. As preliminary to recovering
from the shock Il sent out an emissary.
1t was his misfortune that he wore q
silk hat.
"Py gracious" said Halverson. when
he saw the hat and knew to whom II
belonged. "he vas born to be hung. Me
tipk a ploog hat and q wicked heart so
together. Yump. you sucker" he ex-
claimed and his lively handling OF bis
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
time 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. l
am your friend"
"vell." said Halve.son. You may
be. but you don't look 1t. You vast not
dressed shoost like friend. You 60
away and tink 1t over and you may
shange 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. but the cowboys were lively
and practical jckers and a grading
gang was huge enjoyment for them.
When the fireman OF the iron gang
drew a gun on 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 more resistance.
The next move was an act Of diplo-
macy on the part Of the corporation.
Gentleman Ed received through the
mails en- annual pass. Ee tore 1t up
Halyerson received one and kept 1t un.
til he fully understood Its nature
When told that II permitted him to ride
over more than 1000 miles Of country
he grinned. When Ed urged him to
tear the temptation up he grinned
again.
"Py gracious" said he. "a railroad
may not be shoost SO bad. Ed"
That was the rift IN the lutte. Hal
yerson thought Q long while. and one