Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-03-21

THHODGH HOSTILE COUNTRY
For the cowman loves the sheep
man,
And loves him mighty well,
And the sheepman loves the cow
man
He does. like -"
The chorus 10 a song heard often
In the sheep camps OF the west qnay-
cred ont in the crisp winter air OF
the Rockies. II was sung by a camp
cook--a man whose humorous cast
OF eye and mouth was at variance
with the grim looking belt Of car
tridges about his waist and the Win
chester propped against a tree near
at hand. There were other men
moving restlessly about, mostly
Mexican herders. and all of them
had the same full cartridge belts
and the same omInous looking guns
On the surrounding hills were men
standing sentinel-like. They also
had cartridge belts and guns. And
all about were sheep, and more
sheep. and the tinkle of sheep bells
and the 'ba-a" of lambs filled the
air.
IL was the great "sheep army"
moving from the summer range In
the Rocky mountains In western
Colorado to the winter range on the
high plateau OF eastern Utah. And
the sinister looking cartridge belts
and the ominous looking guns and
the vigilant guards on the surround
ing hills were all evidences OF the
fact that this great mass OF 21 900
sheep was being tralled through a
hostile cattle country, where the
oowmen had sworn TO exact VEN
geance from any sheepman who
crossed the dead line"
No such daring move has ever
been made in the history of the west.
For years the unorganized sheep
men have suffered depredations at
the hands OF the we'll organized cat
tlemen. The country, divided by the
Colorado-Utah line. has been one Of
the battle grounds between these
conflicting interests OF the open
range. Time after time. when herd
ers have crossed dead lines" drawn
by the cattlemen. cowboys have Wis
Tied the camps OF the offending herd
ers and have killed the sheep, burn
ed the wagon and driven the men
back with stern messages never 10 re-
turn. The climax was reached in D.
April OF last year. when one night
on Indian creek. In western Colo
rado, Peter Swanson, young sheep
herder. was mnrdered. Swanson was
by his brother and
man named Gourlay These two
men were In camp with Swanson
when a band OF armed men rode up
and called 20 them 10 surrender.
Gourlay ana Peter swanson's bro
ther were bound hand and foot with
out resistance. but Peter hesitated.
But before the herder had a chance
20 draw a weapon he was shot. one
Of the horsemen getting down out OF
his saddle In order 10 get better
shot al the herder. After shooting
the man the horsemen rode away In
the darkness. leaving two OF the
herdors bound hand and foot and
another fatally wounded. Finally
the men who were bound managed to
work themselves free aud carried
Swanson 20 the nearest ranch house.
but the young herder died In few
honrs--one more victim OF the ter
rihle feuds that have sprinkled the
sheep ranges with blood. II
Swanson's killing reused the
,heemen OF Colorado 10 frenzy. The
Western Wool Growers association
1fered $4,000 reward for the appre- !
nension OF the slayers OF the herder.
strong organization was affected
among the sheepmen. and In January I
lf this year. when IL was determined ,
10 move the sheep from the summer i
range 60 the plains where they feed
In winter, the sheepmen decided 10
adopt strenuous methods for mutual
protection
The sheep feed In summer on the /
lopes OF the Rocky mountains. but !
n winter they are moved back 90
he plains. where they and subsis- !
enee until the spring suns melt the !
leep SHOWS from the mountain /
anges. II is necessary 90 trail the I
heep many miles across a country I
! hero Ihn rnitlnnan nrn strnnn and