Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-10
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The Trouble
at Sun Dance
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"
On the Sun Dance range, freshly
won from the Sioux and Cheyennes,
and taken in a rush by the cow-men,
there was constant trouble for sever
al years.
At Bar-Two-V'sranch ten line riders
were employed, and extra men were
constantly on duty to guard the ranch
buildings and horse corrals. TIE
limit Of cattle range on the north was
Cheyenne reservation. Rustlers, both
petty steal ngs of horses or cattle &C.
red and white, were on the alert, and
cured nearly every month in the year.
But the thieves were not always
content with small pickings. In a sin
gle raid in October Indians ran off
nix hundred head Of cattle, scattered
them among the mountains of the res
ervation and slaughtered them there.
When complaint was made at their
agency, the Crows declared THAT the
Cheyernes had done this wicked bust
ness, and the Cheyennes were equally
arm in asserting that the Crows were
guilty. The Crows are always steal
Ing" they said.
Nevertheless, 1t was noted that a
good deal of beef was hung up to dry
I at their several villages. The at
tent:on of their agent was called to
this fact, but that individual proved
lethargic, and would take no action.
Thereupon the half-dozen cow-men
who had lodged complaint declared
that they would shoot his Indians on
sight whenever any set foot upon their
range.
you'll have to get sight of them
FIRST" was the dry rejoinder.
So the Bar-Two-Vs men rode home
in high dudgeon. Some days later
two pony-riders drew rein at the door
of their ranch-hcmse, and inquired if
more men were wanted there.
"A regiment" replied Allen, the
foreman. who Glanced to be at the
ranch. How do you size up against
a bunch Of reds?"
The two were young men, well ann
ed and mounted. They laughed. IF
you mean the Crows and Cheyennes,"
said one, speaking slowly and with a
slight halt in his accent, 81 think that
we can keep them of your range"
you can sure brag some," said Al
len. Light and set your teeth
against bull beef"
So the young strangers, boys and
brothers of eighteen or twenty years,
s fell Into the ways OF the ranch. The
elder gave his name as Hugo and the
other as Raymond. which, as well as
their carefully spoken English, mark
Of the range did not require any show
Of antecedants.
But the dress and armament of the
newcomers were of the range, their
ponies certainly cow-horses, and their
saddles Of unimpeachable Cheyenne
manufacture. In fact, as punchers,
they proved wholly fit save in the one
matter OF choice precision in the use
OF English.
Get a move on your chin!" was an
Injunction which each frequently
heard, and which seldom failed to
provoke a broad smile.
The proved valuable additions to
the line-riding force, and each earn
ed his good wages ty honest and eff
fecttve work. Thus matters ran on
fhrnuph tho fall ylytnta,, the
and, as it happened, no stock was stol-
on from the Bar-Two-Vs people during
these seasons.
you fellows have sure brought
coed luck to this outfit" Allen admit
ted to them, at the spring roundup;
and as usual the brothers grinned
their appreciation.
About the first Of June. however,
. the good opinion they had won was
rudely set aside. 1t happend thus.
Hugo and two punchers named Far
ley and Morgan were riding the line
on Oxus Creek, very close to the res
ervation boundary, when a number
OF horsemen were seen upon ridge
across the line.
"lnjuns!" pronounced Farley.
4 Sure assented Morgan.
"Cheyennes," said Hugo, casually,
and as the others rode on he stayed
behind, apparently busy with his sad
die cinches.
1t was some time after they had
round the next bend that the new
cowboy came up with his fellows, and
as the sun had set and their horses
were tired. the three made night
camp On the bank of the creek. They
made coffee. ate their supper, and
chatted Of old tines on the range in
Colorado. Hugo listened until 1t was
nearly time to turn In.
Fellows" said he, I'll take a stroll
down the creek. If that bunch Of
creatures took for elk back ways
should turn out to be steers, they'd
need looking after tonight. They'll
have come down to water by this
time"
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