Fergus County argus., 1902-01-29
In Company With '6ilI' sewell He
Hunted and Ranehed in the
Dakota Bad Lands.
SHOWED HIMSELF TO BE NERvY
Wouldn't be Bluffed by the Marquis de
Mores and offered to Fight
With Rifles.

Island Falls, Maine, says the Boston
Post, is the man that President Roose-
welt loves best of all men-loycs and
admires for the stern stun that Is in
him. for his fearless, rugged, honest
nature. He is Rooscyelt's type ot
what man near to natures heart
ought To be.
Ii is not every man who is a presi-
dents ideal of sturdy manhood, but
Enl Sewall bears his distinction with
an easy, frcc-born grace.
Twas Bill Sewall who took young
Theodore Roosevelt. the stripping
then under doctors constant care
and taught him the way that plain,
hardy. self.rellant men fight their way
the lap of prosperity.
When the president was 20 years OF
age and a student at Harvard, h'
sought the woods of Maine in search
OF health and recreation, lie came to
Island Falls. then one Of the smallest
oJ Aroostook county's scattered towns,
and became a boarder at Scwalrs
home. It was in this way that friend
ship spyaug into existence, lasting
through many years. while one man
pursued his even way aud the other
rose 10 that OF the highest place in the
nation.
More than six feet tall, keen Of eye,
guick. strong and always alert, he is
a picturesque figure among host OF
pictnresques. Possessing many traits
oi mind alike, each honest and brave,
n link of friendship was forged that
can acyor be broken. When Roose-
welt went west To assume the charac-
ter of a ranchman, after the death OF
his wife and mother, Sewall and his
cousin. Wilmer Dow, went with him.
They stayed with him until the end of
that part OF the presidents career,
when the country demanded that he
cease to bury ..Imself far from the
centers of political activity. Sewall
thus tells OF his first meeting with
Roosevelt the boy:
Il was on the porch cleaning my
old shotgun the day that Theodore
drove mp. He was the first one ol the
party 20 speak To me. Are you Bill
Sowall?" he called. and admitted
that was. Then his two cousins, j.
West Roosevelt and w. L. Roosevelt
and their tutor jumped out Of the wag
on. They were with me three months
those boys.
Theodore then was a quick little
chap with a pair of big glasses on
He was queer looking and seemed all
eyes. Backswoodsmen has natural
disrespect and suspicion of fellers
with CLOSES on, but tell you it warn''
long before | found out that glasses
and foolishness didn't always go hand
ir hand.
Before his tutor went away he call
ed me aside. Look out for Theodore
he said. he amt strong but he's al
grit. He would die of WEAKNESS anC
say with his last gasp: I'm having I
real good time ! was cautioned no
to let Theodore know that | was look
in ont for him special He wouldn'
he stood Tor that.
I'VE made several hunting trips il
the northern part of New York stat,
and while there we laid our plans 70
the trip west. Theodore was feelinl
bad. and wanted TO get away from
New York. came back here an,
waited until he was ready, meanwhile
selling my sawmill. Pretty soon IN,
letter came. and Will Dow and start
ed for New York and met Theodore.
I'VE went out to Medora. S. d., earl,
IL July. 1891. and settled on Thee
dore's ranch, called Elkhorr. about 8
miles below Medora. We had abou
E,Uuu mead OF Cattle.
Where we were was right in tn
middle of the bad lands. and the ba
men, too. and OF thrilling experience
we had plenty. The Marques de More
claimed that he owned the land o.
which Elkhom ranch was located an
ordered MS to get of Now the MAJ
quis had a reputation for being
quick shooter and having a gang o
the toughest rustidrs that Dakota he'll
and II looked like trouble.
Theodore took the letter the MAJ
quis had sent. read it over carefull
and then wrote back; You can't hol
land with nothing but dead sheep. w
are here to stay
"A letter came back hot foot
There way for gentlmen to settl
disputes like this he wrote. Thee
dore waited a day. slept on the cha
lenge and came to me in the morn
ing.
"'Bill.' he said. it looks like a due
I amt going to be bullied by tina
Frenchman, so he whipped a lette
back. he said he was ready at an.
time or place and the weapons woul,
be- Winchesters at ten PAGES. eacl
nan to shoot as long as he was able
When the letter was on its way Theo
dore says: Bill you will be my sec
ond in the affair But didn't hav,
to play that part.
THE next day a note os apolog,
came over to our ranch and the due
was of. The marquis liked to fight