Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-02-06
GUN PLAYS OF HuMoRIsTs.
Shooting In Which Cowboys Used to
Find Fun.

had passed, says q Gutnrle letter, pe-
fore Oklahoma was opened to settle
ment, and the men who had enlivened
the towns of Dodge City, Abilene,
Medicine Lodge and Caldwell had
moved further west or remained
stranded in their old rendezvous. The
opening of Oklahoma gave them a new
outlet, and many rode over the border
and settled in the new country.
All northwestern Oklahoma is
sprinkled with them. They have reach
ed the age of Renaissance and no Ion
ger lie in wait for the unsuspecting
teaderfoot.
Col. Ed Marchant of Carmen, lived
in Medicine Lodge in the old days and
knew everybody from Junction City
as far west as Dodge.
Most of the escapades Of that reck-
less time were intended as practical
jokes" said Marchant. "They were
rough jokes, but it was foolish to pro-
test.
NO barkeeper ever liked to have a
cowboy ride into his saloon and up to
the bar for a drink, even If he pay two
bits for it, but the barkeeper did not
say so, at least not in the presence Of
those who would repeat 1t, for If the
report became current that the Lone
Star saloon or the Long Branch did not
ike such customers, no one for twenty
miles around would take drink at
any other place or In any other fash
ion.
while the merchants did not like to
have their signs shot up they dared
not complain. If Prairie-Dog-H
Dave or Cimarron Pete took pot shot
at and drilled holes in a newly paint
ed sign with AS bullet, the owner
looked on and smiled, for 1t was only
display of Dawes humor or Pete's
joking proclivities. II the merchants
had protested a dozen or more cow
boys would have rallied to the support
of their comrades and a fusillade would
have wholly destroyed the object OF
the joke.
"Only once did hear anything in
remonstance said about such pleasan-
tries, and that was when the ornate gilt
sign of a young lawyer from st. Louis
was shot up. He offered reward of
SIS for information as to who did 1t.
IAN hour or so after the report OF
the offered reward was in general cir
culation, One armed Miller from the
Z. 10 fn ha W.
yer's door and announced that he could
tell who did it, and would II the five
were placed in his hand. The lawyer
passed over the money which Miller
put in his pocket.
Now said Miller, Il fills my part
of the deal. / done it, partner, with
this'ere gum And up came the six
shooter, falling carelessly across the
horses neck, so that the muzzle point
ed in the lawyers direction.
"'You offers the reward Miller con-
tinued, I claim it. You comes up
square and pays like gentleman and
I tote square and tells. Everything
ought to be agreeable. so 1 invites you
over to the Lost Maverick, where the
boys is, and we proceeds to blow in
this ere five for drinks
1.-The young lawyer was not slow to
grasp the humor of the situation and
his acceptance Of Miller's invitation
secured for him forever the friendship
of every man on that range.
Speaking of shooting signs recalls
the trouble that the Barton county
commissioners used to have to keep
signs over the bridge across the Ar
kansas river at Great Bend. The first
bridge built was a rickety affair laid
on piles and the commissioners decor
ated each end with gorgeous blue signs
reading: No riding or driving over
this bridge faster than a walk
Hunter and Evans were holding
cattle south of the river, and the men
made frequent trips to town. The
gayly painted signs were too much for
them, and going out of town they
would put spurs to their horses, and
while on a dead run shoot at the first
sign, then cross the bridge without
slackening pace, the structure sway
ing and rocking to their horses hoof-
beats, firing more shots at the Sec
ond sign as they passed under it.
"It may seem almost incredible. yet
1t remains a fact that within week
after the signs were put in place the
| letters were cut out so that each sign
L
stencil, and within another week not
splinter of either remained.
TT was at this same town Of Great
Bend that was best displayed an Incl
dent of cowboy humor. 1t was just af-
ter the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
railway reached the town, which was
as far west as the railroad gave pas
senger service. The last train out
reached Great Bend at about o'clock
in the afternoon.
"One day there disembarked a man
wearing a plug hat. After leaving the
station he had to go west for short
distance to get into the street leading
to town. That street was a continua-
llOn OI lHe TOdu llllO lOWH lloll lllc
south and the country where the
southern cattle were being held in
quarantine.
"The man wearing the tall hat was
about two blocks north when two cow
boys came across the railroad track at
smart gallop. They glanced at each
other as they reached a point opposite
the man with the hat, both their guns
came out, there was blending of two
reports. and two bullets perforated the
strangers hat.
1.-The cowboys were fooled, however,
for instead of a terrified tenderfoot
making rapid time toward the neares
shelter, they were greeted with po-
| lite bow.
"'How are you, gentlemen? he said;
it pleases me greatly to be received
with such marked distinction.
THE cowboys were speechless in
amazement. Here was a new speci-
men, something altogether different
from anything in the tenderfoot line