The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-05-07
OLD TRAILS
RECALL FIGHTS
CATTLE PATHS OF MIGRATING
NERDS SEEN IN OKLAHOMA.
Civilization and Barb Wire Fences
Ended the Tran Travelling Of
stoek-Rsnehmen Feared
Cattle Fever.

Guymon. Okla. May 6.-There are
men In this part Of Oklahoma who
remember the days when large herds
of cattl" were driven annually from
southern Texas and old Mexico
north over the plains to Colorado.
Montana and Wyoming. This trail
followed the route taken for cen
turtles by the buffalo in passing be
tween their feeding grounds. Set
tlement of the west. and with it
barb wire fences, brought AN end to
this trail travel of the cattle herds.
Colonel Jack" Hardcsty and 9th.
'r pioneer cattlcmcn of this section
attempted to prevent their passing
from the south, fearing that they
would spread Texas fever among the
herds that had ranged from the
north where this fever did not ex.
ist This brought on what was
known as the Jack Hardesty war"
Hardy hired a lot of fighting men
and placed them at the east end of
Beaver county, with instructions to
stop all southern cattle. The meth
cd was successful only for short
time, for the Texas cattlemen com
planned TO the government and or.
ders came to break the blockade.
After the settlers became numcr.
GUS enough to demand their rights.
about the first herd that came
through, in charge of a man named
Moore. was from Tom Green county.
Texas. There was a difference among
the settlers regarding the route.
some wanting the herd TO take the
north side of the Beaver and 9th.
ers the south side. After DAYS
delay Moore chose the south side.
and this trail became the established
route. This was in 1887 or 1883.
No trouble was encountered until
year later when Alfred Blocker
came with a herd. He had trouble
with the Kramers at the mouth of
Fulton over the route through their
range. In those days the settlers
had an ORGANIZATION for the enforce.
ment of their own laws. Their or
ganization was known as the
League and some member was
chosen To keep the herds on the es.
tablished route. when this represent
aiiNc OF the settlers met Blocker
about half way from Hardesty to
Grand Valley, Blocker was mad lie
told the trail watcher that he would
take his herd lust where he
pleased Blocker was reported to the
league, and after his case had been
considered, a committee was sent TO
him with the statement that he could
either follow the trail as the other
herds had done, or he and his en-.
tire outfit of cattle, horses and men
would be escorted back to the Texas
line.
Wy this time Blocker had eater
his dinner and taken his midday
siesta. He passed the mornings con.
versation as joke. directed his
cook to prepare a meal for his Wis.
itors and with the dinner the last
shadow of trouble over the trail
passed away.
\ saloon at Hardesty In those days
was always well patronized There
Vas less shooting than Is popularity
believed. II Quarrels arose and it
was apparent that fight had to
be pulled on" the men often were
persuaded to use their fists II will
require many years to obliterate the
old trails as they are now marked by
paths, running parallel, where the cat
tie worked single file. Well used
trails generally are marked by tween.
tyfiye or more such paths.