The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-04-05
Go from Sumner Range in Colorado
to Winter Pasture in Eastern Utah.
Cartridge Belts ON Guards All
Filled TO Limit-NO More Daring
Move Ever Made I'm the West.
For the c0Wman loTcs the sheepnan,
And Loves him mighty vel;
And the sheepman loves The c0Hmsn-

!
belts and guns. And ali about were
sheep. and more sheep. end the tinkle of
sheep bells and the 'baa" Of lambs filed
/ the air.
| 1t was the great sheep army moving
/ from the summer range in the Rocky
Mountains in Western Colorado 10 the
winter range on the high plateau of East
ern Utah And the cartridge belts and
the guns and the guards on the surround
1 Ing hills were all evidences of the fact
that this great mass Of 1900 sheep was
being trsiled through a hostile cattle
country. where the cowmen had sworn 70
exact vengeance from any sheepman who
crossed the dead line
Move a Daring One.
No such daring move has ever been
made in the history Of the West. For
years the unorganized sheepmen have
suffered depredations at the hands Of the
well-organized csttlemen.
The country divided by the Colorado
| Utah line has been one OF the battle
grounds between these conflicting inter-
ests OF the open range Time after time
when herders have crossed dead lines
drawn by the cattlemen cowboys have
visited the camps Of the offending herders
and killed the sheep, burned the wagon,
and driven the men back with stern or
ders never to return.
The climax was reached in April OF last
year. when one night on Indian Creek, In
Western Colorado, Peter Swanson, a
young sheep herder. was murdered by
cattlemen. Swanson was accompanied by
his brother ard a man named Gourlay.
These two men were in camp with Swan
son when a band Of armed cattlemen
rode up and called 10 them TO surrender
Gourlay and Peter tswanson's brother
were bound hand and foot without re-
sistance, but Peter hesitated. But before
the herder had q chance 10 draw a weap-
On he was shot. o..e Of the horsemen get
ting down out Of his saddle in order to
get a better shot at the herder After
shooting the man, the horsemen rode
away in the darkness, leaving two OF the
herders bound hand and foot and the
other fatally wounded.
Carried to Ranch House.
Finally the men who were bound man
aged TO get themselves free and carried
Swanson TO the nearest ranch house. but
the young herder died in g few hours,
says the New York Sun.
Swanson's killing aroused the sheep
men OF Colorado to frenzy. The West
ern Wool Growers Association offered
1900 reward for the apprehension of the
slayers OF the herder A strong organize
ton was effected among the sheepmen,
and IN January Of this year. when it was
determined TO move the sheep from the
summer range 10 the plains where they
feed in winter. the sheepmen decided TO
adopt strenuous methods for mutual pro-
lection.
The sheep feed in summer on the
slopes OF the Rocky Mountains, but in
winter they are moved back 10 the
plains, where they find subsistence until
the spring suns melt the deep SHOWS from
the mountain ranges. II is necessary TO
trail the sheep many miles across a coun-
try where many sheep killings have &C.
CURED. So the sheepmen hired 100 Of the
best gunfighters that could be secured in
ali the Western country TO act as guards
while the herds were being moved.
The sheep were divided into three divi-
sions Of 700 each. Generally sheep travel
in bands Of not more than 2500 The
messing of more than 2o.000 was sight
not soon 10 be forgotten. The divisions
moved slowly down the mountain road
from Montrose toward Grand Junction.
Everything was done with the utmost
precision. and vigilance was not relaxed
az instant
Guard mounts were changed with mill
tary regularity. Scouts were sent ahead,
and at night there were armed watchers
surrounding every division to guard
against surprise.
Camping Outfit Large.
The camping outfit for the army was
Of large proportions. Scores of burros
carried the provisions, tents. &c The
packers. herders. and guards swelled the
total number of men to more than 200.
and every man was armed 10 the teeth
and ready to do battle to the death.
When the sheepmen reached the scene
of SwansOn's shooting an impressive
sight was enacted. The young hertier is
buried where he fell. In wild and lonely
spot in the mountains.
The sheepmen erected a great monu-
ment Of stone over the herders grave.
On this monument they posted a notice,
offering an increased reward Of $4,000 for
the apprehension of the men responsible
for Swanson's death. Leaving this no
tice on the monument. the cavalcade
passed or. SwansOns brother was one
who assisted in putting up the monument
over the grave of the young sheep heTder.
On Monday, January Is. the sheep army
eneamped across the river from the thriv-
Ing town Of Grand Junction. Colo. Next
. 1a
bridge and through the town and out to-
ward the ranges OF Utah. After leaving
Grand Junction it was frankly in hostile
territory, as this part of the range is ali
given over to cattle business.
sheep Move Slowly.
Sheep move slowly under the best of cir
.cumstances. and it was possible for the
.eavalcade 70 make only twelve miles
day 1t took FIVE hours for the procession
Of sheep to pass a given point.
No demonstration was made by any
hostile interests, and the sheepmen
reached their summer range without in
cident. Indeed, It would have taken a
small army of cattiemen to defeat such
an organization of well armed and deter
mined men.
Cattlemen contend that the sheep feed
out" the cattle range and that they are
helpless against wandering sheepmen who
Go not pay local taxes. but who run their
aocks where they viii. and who have
ruined many q cattleman by their ac-
tons. Dead lines have been drawn,
and sheep have been slaughtered by thou
sands. and in some instances herders
killed for their temerity IN disobeying the
mandate OF the cattlemen.
while Won think Of il telephone vour