, 1904-02-29
GREELEY
ON POINT OF BEING MOseED
YEARS AGO WHILE ON A WIS.,
IT TO WYOMING.
Denver Post Tells story Of Experience
OF Great New York Editor Which
Came Near eliminating Him from
History-saved In the Very Nick
Of Time.

what would have happened to Hor-
ace Greeley had NOT John H. Witter
and party arrive opportunity or an
historic scene on South pass. near the
spot where now stands the town CT
Evanston. Wyo., on September 5. 1882?
asks the Denver Post.
Perhaps the makers of history can
answer; perhaps not. Certain it is
that no one of them has yet told the
story. And yet it has a most import
ant bearing, politically. journalistic
ally and philosophically on vents
since SO.
1t is an important item in itself hat
a party or disappointed homeseekers
should have decided to lynch the ia
nous New York editor at that com
paratively early stage of his career.
What significance does it assume when
one puts on his thinking cap and tries
to emulate the example of the histo-
rian who enlarges Upon what might
have been,
What a difference it would have
made had Horace Greeley been elm.
mated in 1853! The thinker who fol.
lows events closely can but shudder at
the possibilities of the conception.
And here is the untold story which
has been ignored in all biographies of
the great journalist and has not been
previouly told in the west.
A party of restless men who had
read Mr.. Greeley's glowing editorials
of the Go west. young man." style in
the New York Tribune, decided in the
early part of the year 1859 to take his
advice.
September 8 of the same yea found
them wandering in the wilds of Wy
oming. disappointed, heart sick and
longing for home. They had been told
to come to the Pixies Peak country.
the new Ell Dorado. Unfortunately,
they did not go far enough and struck
the wrong side of the peak. missing
Cripple Creek altogether.
Weary and tired. the emotion upper
most in their minds as they gazed on
the endless sand dunes and the mo-
%notonous stretch of sage brush on the
Wyoming plains was one of disgust
and a desire for vengeance on the a
who had been instrumental in getting
them into the hopeless plight.
At this inopportune hour appeared
Mr.. Greeley on the scene. He vas
making a ton Of the west. travelling
by stage through Wyoming.
The hapless immigrants learned that
the author of their misfortunes was
aboard and surrounded the vehicle.
They insisted that they had been
duped into leaving their happy homes.
Some one suggested that it would be
a good idea to lynch Mr.. Greeley.
At this critical junctu"o John H..
Witter and party arrived He was
travelling through to Sacramento, Cal,
with OK teams, and happened to pass
Mr.. Greeley's route. Hearing Of the
editors plight, he hurried to the res
cue.
Mr.. Greeley had left the stage and
was endeavorlng to reason with the
malcontents. and to convince them
that their debut in the west was not
a misfortune, but rather a blessing,
albeit disguised.
He was met with Kisses. His ef-
forts to make himself heard tended %
increase their wrath. Shouts of
fraud and "deceiver" zane from ev-
cry side. In the face of these accu-
sions Mr.. Greeley insisted upon adj
dressing them. His companions oun
seled flight, but he would have none
of it.
Thnr cpn,nnnn uallnl ST unoh hirnfp
A man broke forth from the crowd car
rying a rope. He tied a moose and was
about to throw it over Mr.. Greeley's
head.
Mr.. Writer'S party here interfered.
1t was much smaller than the recall
citrants' faction. but was as determin-
ed. The rescuers surrounded greeley.
After a monumental effort quiet was
restored and the %wrangling between
the men ceased.
Then Greeley had an opportunity to
speak, and he did. After the first few
words he commanded attention. and
held it until he had concluded mis- re-
marks.
Such was the convincing force of
his arguments that he succeeded in
changing their opinion of the west and
in making them decide to cast their
fortunes with the new country. Fin
ishing, he thanked them kindly for
their indulgence and calmly proceeded
on his journey without further ado.
Some members of the lynching par
ty are among the Oldest and best
known citizens of the west, who have
succeeded in amassing fortunes in the
new country. n are today very
thankful that they remained.
This is the story which makes the
recent visit of John H. Witter in this
CITY notable.