Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-09-23
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1904.
had reached the favored spot which

boasted a tree, when Bridges inter-
rupted the impending ceremonies with
a remark that he wished to speak tc
the leader Of the band. The moose
was already around the fellows neck
but 1t was withdrawn, although his
hands were still tied behind him. He
and Bridges walked short distance
from the others and conversed In low
tones. At length they came back and
to the expectant circle Bridges said:
"They were my cattle this fellow
stole, weren't they?"
| The crowd assented.
Then I reckon this fellow Is my
prisoner, since I'm the injured party
isn't he?"
"Yep," remarked the crowd in unis-
on.
"Then I decree that he goes free, u
said Bridges, and, suiting the action to
his word, he cut the bonds about the
cattle thiefs wrist, and, while the fell
low, who was astride his horse, pre-
paratory to riding beneath the fatal
tree where several of his comrades al
ready hung, dug his heels into his
pony's flanks and raced out across the
plains, Bridges stepped back and fac
ed the crowd with his hands resting
lightly on his hips, near to his brace
Of six shooters. There was no objec-
tion, however, and after completing
work" the cattlemen rode home, but
it was quietly found, upon comparing
notes, that Bridges and that "cattle
rustler" looked enough alike to be
brothers.
One spring Bridges was caught out In
blizzard and, hardened as he was, he
contracted a cold which settled on his
lungs, and from which he never recov-
cred. When he knew that he could not
last much longer Bridges called all
his cowboys into the room where he
sat, wrapped in a blanket, in rough
hewn armchair.
Boys, I'm going to die" he said,
"and I called you in to hear me make
my will. I'm not going to write 1t
down, but as a friend to each Of you !
expect you to respect my wishes and
see that they are carried out as
would like.
big Ben, come closer and let me
hold your hand. You are to have the
south ranch and 1000 head Of cattle.
Oscar Ito another Of his cowboy
friends), you come here and let me
hold your hand, also. You are to have
the little ranch on Big Beaver Creek.
It's smaller than the others, but there's
more water there and you, too, are to
have 1000 head Of cattle"
So on down the line to the five men
with whom he had been closely asso-
ciated during his life in the West did
he give each a ranch and the cattle to
stock It, To the men with whom he
had not been so closely allied, but
who worked for him, he gave cattle by
the hundreds and then, dismissing all
but his five friends, he said:
BOYS, beneath the head Of my bed
you'll find an iron box. It Is locked
and here's the key. I want one OF
YOU to take that key and throw it In
the creek, now. When I've cashed
in, I want you individually to see
that that box Is buried with me-un-
opened, mind you, but for Gods sake
don't look so glum."
AS they filed out the door they heard
him humming bordertown song, the
first words of which were, "Oh, bury
me deep on the lone prairie-e!" and
when they again entered the room he
was dead.
The five friends were faithful. The
SPOT where his tomb now stands was
chosen and Bridges was buried there.
Cowboys for hundreds Of miles around,
when they heard that Bridges was
dead, came to the funeral, which, ev-
en- if somewhat crude, was the most
magnificent ever held up to that time
in the Texas Panhandle. Upon the
dead mans chest, within the coffin,
which was a homemade affair, rested
there for aught any one knows, 1t still
remains.
After the funeral the five friends to-
gether with nearly 100 other friends
were assembled at the ranch house
Lets build him a monument. some
one suggested. The five friends, how
ever, refused to let the others in, but
between themselves made up pool OF
$4,000. With this sum they had the
monolith which marks the grave made
and carried across the plains
from Garden City in a wagon. the
iron fence, surrounding the grave, was
added later, as it was found the cattle
rubbed against the huge pillar and II
was feared they would eventually
thrust it over. Another sum Of money
was raised and invested. With the
interest from this the three coats OF
paint which is administered to the
fence each year is purchased and
from this also the trees were bought
and planted. All five Of these men are
still living. They are among the
wealthy men of the Texas range and
never a year passes but what each one
makes pilgrimage to the grave OF
Jim" Bridges, who, as he wished, lies
buried deep on the lone pralrie-e."
Kansas City Journal.
HIS FEARS WERE REALIZED.-A
Georgia statesman says that while he
was in the shop Of an optician in At
lanta he once heard an amusing con-