The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-05
WANTED TO LYNCH HIN.
How Horace Greeley Was Saved by
Timely Arrival of Friends.

Timely Arrival of Friends.
What would have happened to Hor-
ace Greeley had not John II. Witter and
party arrived oppOrtunely on Il historic
scene at South pass, near the spot
where now stands the town Of Evans
ton, Wyo-, on Sept. 2. 1853?
Perhaps the makers Of history can
answer; perhaps not. CefNain it is that
no one of them has yet tol6 the story.
and yet it has a most important bear
ing, politically, journalisticaliy and
philosophically on events since 80.
1t is an important item in itself that
party Of disappointed homeseekers
should have decided to lynch the IA
nous New York editor at that conf
paratively early stage of his career
What significance does II assume when
one puts on his thinking cap and tries
70 emulate the example Of the historian
who enlarges upon what might have
been!
What difference X would have made
had Horace Greeley been eliminated in
1859! The thinker who follows events
closely can but shudder at the posi-
bilities Of the conception.
And there is the untold story which
has been ignored in all biographies of
the great journalist and has not been
previously told in the west.
Took Greeley's Advice.
y party of restless men who had
read Mr.. GreeIey'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.
Sept. of the same year found them
wandering in the wilds Of Wyoming.
disappointed. heart sick and longing
for home. They had been told 10 come
to the Pixies Peak region. the new FL
Dorado. Unfortunately, they did not
80 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 mOnOt-
onous stretch OF sage brush on the
Wyoming plains was one of disgust and
a desire for vengeance on the man who
had been instrumental in getting them
into the HOPELESS plight.
At this inOpportune hour appeared
Mr. Greeley on the. scene. He was
making a tour 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.
Someone suggested that it would be a
good idea to lynch Mr.. Greeley
At this critical juncture John H Wit
ter and party arrived. He was travel
ing through to Sacramento, Cal, with
OK teams and happened to pass Mr.. !
Greeley's route. Hearing OF the editors
plight he hurried to the rescue
Again Convinced Them
Mr.. Greeley had left the stage and
was endeavoring to reason with the
malcontents and to convince them that
their debut in the west was not mis-
fortune, but rather a blessing, albeit |
disguised.
He was met with Kisses. His ef- /
forts TO make himself heard tended to /
increase their wrath. Shouts Of
fraud" and ''deceiver' came from I,
every side. In the face Of these &C
cusations Mr.. Greeley insisted on /
addressing them. His companions 4
counseled flight, but he would have /
none of it.
Then someone yelled Lynch him." !
A man broke forth from the crowd car !
rying rope. He tied a moose and was /
about 10 throw il over Mr.. Greeley's /
head.
Mr. Writer'S party here interfered. It \
was much smaller than the recalci- /
tTants' faction, but was as determined. /
The rescuers surrounded Greeley.
After a monumental effort quiet was
restored and the wrangling between I
the men ceased.
Then Mr.. Greeley had an opportunity 1
10 speak, and he did. After the first I
few words he commanded attention,
and held it until he had concluded his
remarks.
Such was the convincing force of his
that he succeeded in chang
ing their opinion of the west, and in
making them decide to cast their for
tunes with the new country. Finish
Ing, he thanked them kindly for their
indulgence, and calmly proceeded on
his journey without further ado.
Some members of the lynching party /
are among the oldest and best known
citizens OF the west, who have sue
ceeded in amassing fortunes in the new
country, and are today very thankful |
that they remained.-DenVer CORE
spondent Pittsburg Dispatch.