The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-01-24


Stacking pace, the structure swaying
and rocking to their horses hoof-
beats. firing more shots at the second
sign as they passed under 1t.
ut may seem almost incredible,
yet It remains fact. that within
week after the signs were put in
place the letters we're cut out so shat
each sign looked like an overgrown
marking stencil. and within another
week not 8 splinter Of either re-
mained. HziHSf ~ zkEa
1T was at this same town of Great
Bend that was best displayed an In
cident of cowboy humor. It was just
after the Santa Fe railway reached
the town, which was as far west as
the railroad gave passenger service.
The last train ont reached Great Bend
was about o'clock in the afternoon.
"One day their disembarked man
wearing plug hat. After leaving TIE
station he had to go west for short
distance to get into the street lead
/ ing to town. That street was con-
tinuation of the road into town from
the 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
cowboys 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 Of their guns came out and
two bullets perforated the strangers
hat.
THE cowboys were fooled, however,
for instead of terrified tenderfoot
making rapid time towards the near
est shelter. they were greeted with a
polite bow
"'How are yo'b gentlemen? he Said.
1t pleases me greatly TO be received
with such marked distinction
"The cowboys were speechless in
amazement Here was a new specl-
men. something altogether different
from anything in the tenderfoot line
they had ever seen. Finally one Of
them found his voice, and said
"'Say, stranger. you're plumb
good 'un, and me and Jim 'pologizes
for spilia' yer hat, The Rome saloons
the first place goin' mp. town where we
can Ticker up. an il It's all the same
to you, the drinks is on us
"The stranger signiied his satis-
faction with the arrangement. the
two cowboys dismounted and walked
at h. side ani they became acquainted
in the Quarter OF mile walk to the
Rome.
"An hour iatsr they were better
acquainted The stranger was still
under the escort OF the cowmen- All
three were loaded with COW town
whisky. and the man with the plug
hat. now forlorh and marked with
many dent, was being introduced
to every coypuncher in town as the
, unbranded cayuse that stood fire the
first dash and never twitched an ear
Shooting up a town was not al.
ways unattended by casualties In
1880 crowd shot up a Kansas town
A young woman was visiting there
from another town. Hearing shots
she stepped TO the door OF the house
in which she was guest and re
ceiyed a bullet in the middle OF the
forehead. killing her instantly. The
{ man who fred the shot was
Identified and convicted. and he served
term in the Kansas penitentiary.
When Harper, Kans., HowIed.
81 "A strange fate has since pursued
the town. From bustling, aetlye
town and cattle shipping point, q
has become only hamlet among the
: sand hins Of The Kansas border There
are many old cowmen who recall the
( killing OF Tie young woman and de
clare that the town has since ben un
der a curse
"Whon Harper became a railroad
Z town number Of shipment drives
were made from territory points
Having attained to the dignity Of 4
railroad Town q number Of ordinances
Z were passed prohibiting fast dTiyinl
4 and fast riding within the city nmif'
Y and assessing hnea ior dischersin|
& nrearms snd other misaameai ors.
3 y'fht men vho came on tae drive
5 were surprIset and Indignant o ant