Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-08-30

was TEDDY Roosevelt, ana tnat ne was
college student.
"They cautioned me about him, say
ing he was gritty, headstrong young
ster who had more sand in his crop
than he had strength, and they wanted
me to take the, best care Of him.
"Well, he came. He was a pale deli
cate. youth of 1S. but the toughest boy
physically that Il ever met. gave him
the room right over this one we're sit
ting in, and we went out hunting. He
took the greatest interest in the woods
and never complained Of being tired
although I knew many a time that he
was hardly able to drag himself home
after long tramp.
THAT boy would never give up. He'd
always take the biggest end OF
the stick, too, and many time I was
afraid he'd collapse on me, but he would
cheer right up and say he was as fresh
as a daisy. Talk about grit. He was
all right.
"He came year after year, and we
went out into the woods. Among Others
he met Bill Dow, the fairest and squar-
est man that ever lived and the best
shot in Aroostock county. That's Bills
picture over there on the wall. When
he died I lost good friend. We were
together on Roosevelt's ranch, out in
the Bad Lands. and it was toss-ur
who was the foreman-Bill or myself
When Roosevelt started out on his new
career he didn't forget us, and asked
Bill and me to go out to his ranch In
Dakota. This was along in 's4, and Bill
and went to New York to meet him.
1--WE found him in the Fifth Avenue
hotel, surrounded by politicians, and
when he spied us he rushed with both
hands held out. He was glad to see us
for a fact. We engaged to go out to
Dakota. Neither Of us knew anything
about ranches or bucking bronchos, but
Col. Roosevelt said we were all right
and that he wanted some Maine men
to look out for his interests. The ranch
was on the Little Missouri, about 81
miles from Medora, on the Northern
Pacific.
"Medora was named for the wife OF
the Marquis de Mores, and the Marquis
owned the lands on both sides of the
Roosevelt ranch. He had in his employ
the toughest lot Of cowboys in that part
of the country, and there was trouble
in the air all the time. This gang
seemed to think they could run the
whole country, and threw lot Of big
bluffs our way.
1.-TWO men named Reilly and O'Don.
nell were told by the Marquis that they
were encroaching on his land, and thai
if they didn't get out they would be
shot on sight. One day these two mer
were fired on from ambush. Reilly
killed and O'Donnell crippled for life
The marquis Was arrested, but was ac'
quilted.
"Soon after this Bill and I were no.
titled that If we didn't get east where
we belonged OUT bones would be found
on the ranch, and the life Of Col. Roose-
welt also was threatened. The Dc
Mores crowd claimed that we were or
their land and threatened to shoot
Roosevelt on sight.
Roosevelt was in New York at the
time, but the day he got back and
heard what had been going on he
mounted his horse and rode straigh,
over to the De Mores ranch. He hunt.
ed up Paddock, who was in charge, and
said to him:
IT understand you have threatened te
kill me on sight. Now, I have come
over to see when you want to begin the
killing, and to inform you that If you
have anything to say against me, no"
Is the time to say it,
Paddock turned pale and suffered
out something about 1T being all
mistake. He made all SORTS "f apologies
and Col. Roosevelt rode back to his
ranch.
Next came a challenge from the
marquis to Col. Roosevelt. The mar
uuis sent a letter saying the colone
had Influenced one of the witnesses
against him in the murder trial. and
declaring that between gentlemen such
differences could be settled in only one
way, meaning, of course, by a duel
Colonel Roosevelt said to me:
"'Bill, I don't want to disgrace my
family by fighting duel, but I won,
be bullied by a Frenchman. Now. as
I am the challenged party I have the
privilege Of naming weapons. 1 am nc
swordsman and pistols are too uncer-
tain and Frenchy for me: so what dc
you say if I make it Winchesters, III
just write to the marquis. saying thai
I have not done anything to injure him
but that If his letter Is meant as
challenge, and he insists on having sat-
isfaction, I will meet him with Win
chester rifles at ten PAGES. both to fire
until one drops
"I was Mortified and said such fight
meant certain death for one or both
but I couldn't stop it, and the colone
sat down on a log and wrote to Dc
Mores stating his terms Of duelling.
"The answer came by the very mex,
post to the effect that the marquis had
no intention of challenging Roosevelt
that what he meant by his letter was
that differences between gentlemen
could be settled without trouble The
marquis and his wife came over to oul
ranch the next day and called on Col
Roosevelt, and always after that were
very friendly
couoll ralotac rnany INCIDENTS Of life