The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-02-21
Widespread Conspiracy.

The silver Lake si.ootings of last
spring furnished an example of the
distances Travelled by some in cooper
ating with others Of the band, When
cartridge boxes were found with q
Prinevilie firms cost mark on them.
although tie scene CT the shooting
was Ia5 miles from here. At that
time two affairs followed each other
in quick succession, resulting in the
slaughter Of over 1000 head of sheep,
and were probably also responsible
for the death Of Greed Conn. a Silver
Lake merchant, whose definite knowl-
edge GT the affair became known and
feared through MS criticisms
The writer has been fortunate In
getting the story OF Il sheep-snootlng
affair from participant, anu the fact
that it was unsolicited enabIes him 10
give il without any qualms OF con-
Science. His story follows:
About o'clock in the afternoon
ing the entire day had asceTIained
that the herder was alone and un-
armed. and that we ran no chances IN
getting possession or ms Dand ms
was done by our party, numbering
some dozen men, after We mad IN
dulged in a few preliminaries, such as
a few oaths. just to make the poor
cuss stand pat, for if he had attempt
ed 10 run We would have had TO XII
him He was bound and gagged 10
prevent his getting away and giving
the alarm, and was then placed by
the side OF d tree
Driven to Corral.
THE band of sheep. numbering about
1000, was then driven to a corral on
decided land, which was done for
double purpose as We could then shoot
without scattering, and We could also
point to the carcasses and say. w ell.
they were on decided land, and whoever
killed them did so merely as an act pro-
tecting their own property. We then
knelt with our knees on the ground that
every 81 yJ from our 1890 might take
effect II more than one sheep and thus
save ammuni ion. In this manner more
than 500 shots were fired. and as a
result 200 sheep were killed.
..,rhose of the band that succeeded III
getttn.. away were without a hcrder for
TWO days, and many succumbed 10 the
attacks OF the coyotes.
yes we had our faces blackened SO
that we could not be recognized, ana II
was veritable picnic. HAD everything
our own way from start 10 nnisn fou re
right that Sheeprnan Will never Be'
| within miles Of our range again. that
= cinch.
Not All Implicated.
| The shooting described was that II
which Morrow & keenan,, Of Willow
/ Creek. representative sheepmen of this
/ county, suffered a loss OF about tnous
Iand head Of thoroughbred sheep, ano
/ illustrates the method pursued by tht
1 sheep shooting crowd. / do not mean te
say that all cattiemen are Implicated II
| these affairs. but there are certainly rev
! executions 1t has been said that whel
! a cattleman refuses to countenance thell
! acts he incurs their enmity and Is rate
with q sheepman. Other cattlemen W1r
/ do not care to run the chances or detec
| ton by active participation show theil
! colors'' by contributing cartridges. anf
sometimes information, thus working
! in with the gang
to destroy legitimate industry OF Thu
section that has the full protection o
the law the world over, save in few
fstsIa ted Western localities. The las
season has Witnessed more than 500
sheen of Crook county's total of 200, 90
\ pass into outside hands, and II the atti
| Jude OF the cattlemen does not chang
in another season this number Will b
more than doubled. In the end. al
ranges contested for will pass into tn
hands of the cattlemen, and as neari,
! the whole OF Central Oregons rangini
| lands come under this head IL means tn
practical determination of an industr.
that has brought more dollars. two 1
one into this section than any other tw
industries Certainly the ends do no
justify the means, but unless condition
a1a., hot nnsa Ia