The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-04-12

position. It is also possible that he
tainted, fell, struck his head on the
side Of the iron bed and sustained a
stroke Of apoplexy, which carried him
OF.
Was a Partner of Nye.
When a young man Colonel Root set
tied in Laramie, Wyo. He became in
terested in the Laramie Boomerang,
and took "Bilr' Nye in partnership with
him. That was the beginning Of the
latter's international fame as writer.
In time Nye became the editor.
For wit, the two men were evenly
matched-Nye had the faculty Of writ
ing and placing his humorous stories
before the public through papers AID
magazines, while Roots forte lay in re-
counting them to groups Of friends or
everything listeners who CHANGED to
be around when the colonel felt in the
storytelling mood.
Il is said that some Of the first stories
which Nye published, and which helped
10 make him famous, were actual ad-
ventures Of Root. He told them TO the
author who, IN turn, recOunted them 10
the public through papers, periodicals
and later publications Of his own.
In later years. while both men were
connected with the Laramie Boomer
ang, Root sought the life OF Nye, armed
with siX-shOOter. He would have ac-
cOmpished his end had not friends OF
the writer secreted him for about three
weeks until the cOlOneIs blOodthirsty
tendencies subsidized.
The trouble was caused by Nye writ
ing one Of his famous cutting editorials
entitled "A Monumental LIAR IN which
Root figured bit too conspicuously TO
his own liking.
Aiming himself, he started in quest
of Nye. Before the two could meet the
friends Of the latter spirited him of TO
the Homer ranch, a few miles from
Laramie, which was then run by man
named Evans. Nye was kept in seclu-
sion there for three weeks. In the
meantime Root permitted his anger to
Ooze from his finger ends. The two
men were brought face TO face, they
shook hands, had a smile" and fol-
lowed Shakespeare's famous quotation:
Let the dead past bury its dead.
The first book Nye ever wrote con-
tanned one of his characteristic humOr-
Gus sketches on that incident including
a copy Of the editorial. An especially
fine bound volume was sent 10 Root by
Nye, with his compliments and auto
graph. The former always priced IL
highly and. in after years, experienced
great pleasure in exhibiting il TO his
friends. and telling them that he was
the monumental liar" referred TO Ia
I the editorial and the article.
Colonel Root did not confine himself
I to the newspaper business while in Lar
annie. For years he conducted the Lar
annie branch Of the Studebaker wagon
store. He did the biggest business OF
/ its kind in al Wyoming while he was az
/ the head Of the establishment.
Captured Many Wild Beasts.
About that time Root laid the foun-
] dalton for his international reputation
! by catching wild animals for eastern
and European parks. Hundreds Of
/ deer, elk and other beasts Of the forest
| owe their present captivity on this and
/ the other side Of the Atlantic ocean 70
/ the trapping Of Colonel Root
When Austin Corbin. the multi-mil-
/ lionaire of New York stocked his IA
nous park. he gave the contract Tor
/ the wild animals 10 Colonel Root and
/ it is said. and upon good authority
| that every wild animal that makes the
west its home, which is found IN that
park tod1v, was captured and shipped
TO Corbin by Root.
His fame for catching wild animals
soon spread TO England and the con-
/ tinent. and in time he received large
/ and remunerative orders from the no
| bility. These necessitated frequent
/ trips to Europe, and while IN that coun-
4 try he was the guest Of not only the
nobility. but members Of the royal fam
/ lily and court attaches.
Played Joke on Englishman.
on one Of those trips Colonel ROOF
met a young Englishman who was very
anxious to come to America and lead
\ in the west the life of which the col.
onel told In his interesting fashion
Shortly after Root returned 10 Lar.
annie the young Engiishman put IN an
3 appearance. True to his promise. Roo
/ agreed 10 show him the west as It Their
was. But at the same time the colone
/ did not lose an opportunityAto play ono
of his practical jokes
When il came time TO retire hi
showed the Englishman through his
/ house, which was q veritable curiosity
shop. Passing through the back door
he led the way to an old stage coacl
which stood in the back yard
Without the least semblauce OF q
smile upon his face. the colonies told
/ the Englishman that he would have q
sleep on one OF the seats TO break hin
/ into the life which he would have q
/ lead IN the future. Without more add
/ Colonel Root stretched himself out on
! the opposite seat and was soon sound
| asleep. Not so the young man from
across the ocean. He was not accus-
| toned to such a bed and. as the colone