Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-06
WEALTHY uTTLETOWN
Casper, Wyo., the Abode of
Many Sheep Owners.
MEMORIAL TO AN OFFICER
Bravery of Lieut.. Collins Recalled
by Name of Place.
FAMOUS HOLE IN THE WALL
Rise of the Immigrants From Scot
land and "Reminiscences of
Mrs. C. c. Moore.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

Chicago Record Herald
CASPER, Wyo.. July %, 1909.
In the carly fifties a Frenchman named
Louis Ganard built toll bridge across
the North Platte river where the little
city of Casper now stands. He mad
sliding scale of prices which were adj
justed according to the state of water
in the river. If the stream was low, so
that emigrant trains could ford it, he
charged only 50 or SIS for every wagon
If the stream was running high, so that
the trains could not cross by the ford
he charged from $40 to s25. This enter
prise was kept up for a number of years
and made Ganard rich. His wife was
a Shoshone squaw, and two half-breed
nephews assisted him and afterward in
herited his money. In 1858 he built
bridge of cedar logs, resting on cribs
filled with stone, which cost him 100000
and it was the most notable structure of
the kind west of the Missouri river.
In 1853 a military camp was estab-
lished beside the bridge for the protec-
ton of emigrant trains and did good
service. In July, 1885, the hostile In
dians became dangerous and kept the
troops busy. In July of that year, when
two paymasters were expected at the
post Maj. Howard, the commandant, was
very ANXIOUS about their safety, and
Lieut.. casper w. SOli1nS, the youngest
man at the post, volunteered to lead a
detachment to rescue them. He started
with twenty-five mounted men at $50
on the morning of July rs. 1886. and
there never was a Drawer band or more
gallant leader. Within few miles of
the post they were ambushed and at
tackled by twelve of fifteen hundred
Cheyennes. Collins and HIS men at
tempted to fight their way back to the
post. but. finding that it was impossible
to hold them in compact body, he
gave the command for every man to
make his escape the best he could. A
powerful gray horse. which young Col
Inns was riding, became frightened and
ran away when Collins was trying to res
cue dying soldier. The Indians pur-
sued him and his body was found the
next day on Casper creek. about a mile
from the place where he had attempted
to rescue the wounded trooper. He was
stripped of his first neutenant's uniform,
which he had put on for the first time
when his commission reached him a
few days before. but he was not scalped
or mutilated like the soldiers.
Casper Collins was born at Hillsboro,
Ohio. September 30. 1874. and. conse-
auently. at the time of his death. was
twenty-five years. nine months and twen-
ty-sfx days old He was son of Col. Will
liam o. Collins of the 18th Ohio Cavalry.
who had a brilliant record for fighting,
both in the civil war and on the plains.
The post and town OF Fort Collins, Col,
was named IN his honor. The son join
ed his father at Fort Laramie In 1862
when he was not quite eighteen, was ap
pointed second lieutenant a few months
later and received his commission as first
Lieutenant only a few days before his
death. Preston B. Plumb, afterward, for
three terms, United States senator from |
Kansas, was lieutenant colonel of this |
regiment.
Named After Lieut.. Collins.
The death of Lieut.. Collins and his
brave men caused Maj. Gen. Pope, then
In command of this department., to is
sue an order, dated November p, 1865,
which reads as follows:
THE military post situated at the
bridge between Deer and Rock creeks, on
the Platte river, will hereafter be known
as Fort Casper, In honor of Lieut.. Cas-
per Collins 18th Ohio Cavalry. who lost
his life while gallantly attacking a SUI
perior force of Indians at that place"
The town stands about two miles from
the scene of the fight, and, as I told you
yesterday, Is one of the most attractive
little cities in the west. 1t has popula-
ton of about 1900 and I doubt II any
other place Of the same size, unless 1t be
one of the suburban residence towns
near New York and Boston or other OF
the eastern cities, has SO large ratio
OF wealth per capita. The money was
made in sheep and wool. Nearly all of
shaded streets are occupied by sheep
men, whe have hocks Of 10000, 10000
$1,000 and even 10000 ranging upon the
mountain sides within a hundred miles
from Casper.
A large number OF these "sheep men"
are Irish and Scotch. long-legged, tawny-
haired. blue-eyed. wiry young fellows,
most of whom were imported in igno-
rance of the contract labor laws to grow
up with the country. They make the
best kind Of citizens. are Industrious. en-
terprising, temperate and intelligent. and
have added their full share and more to
their names suggest relationship to the
fine old Irish aristocracy, but others
came from the peasant class and began
their careers young and poor.
The general passenger and freight agent
Of the Northwestern railway, who spends
most OF his time riding the ranges and
making contracts with wool growers for
the shipment OF their clips" is Julian
the prince Of Irish story tellers. and
Dick he is known. is beloved in
every sheep camp in Wyoming. You
would not longer wonder that he Is a
camp fire after you have heard him tell
few stories. He has a pretty home In
Casper with a wife and two daughters
who have Just returned from a finishing
school in Illinois.
State Senator Pat Sullivan, the politi-
cal boss in this part of the world, says
that when he first ran for office there
were only eight Irish votes In Natrona
county. Now there are over two hundred
IAN livery wan o. thin has a big bank
account" he added, IAN cridit for more
Father Of the Wyoming Shepherds.
John Mahoney is the father of all the
shepherds in Wyoming. He came over
many years go. Having nothing better to
do upon his arrival, he enlisted in the Sd
Try nd ri dr
He fought hard and frequently and was
wounded several times. The most valua-
bic article in his possession, which he
would not trade for all the sheep In the
county, Is medal of honor won at the
Thornburg massacre for bravery. When
he was mustered out he worked a band
OF sheep on shares for Miller & Hunt in
Colorado. and after three years, by saw
ing his money the rest OF the Irish
boys have done, bought flock of his
own and pastured 1t near Rawlins on the
government ranges. Now he has a flock
of 10000 sheep, a herd of 1000 cattle
and two large ranches, one for each
kind Of stock. near Casper and Rawhide
Butte.
He imported his herders from County
Cork and the parish he came from, and
his most valuable importation was Pat
Sullivan. to whom / have already al
luded.
The boys came young and formed their
habits here: most of them started out as
herders with a band Of sheep, first for
wages and then for shares. They saved
their money, and. buying few head at
hoA he o. bofr nd