The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-01-21
HAVE often been asked for sto.

west in the early days. | am go
ing to tell now Of my first run In"
with the worst kind of white men that
then infested the frontier. These were
horse thieves. And horse stealing In
those days was crime that camo
close In ranking with cold bloOded
murder.
Once I wanted II grizzly bear skin, or
rather. one Of my sisters wanted 1t for
Il rug. had promised as soon as
should have time to get her one, for
even in those times Il big grizzly could
not be shot in ones dooryard. 1t meant
n long trip through the hills and more
than little danger.
After shooting bear and sklnning
him started back. but the going was
bad. BY sunset | saw ! couldn't hope
to get back to camp that night So
looked about for n good, sheltered spot
to camp Just then my horse whin'
MED. His call was answered from
hollow just behind the creek bed along
which was riding. dismounted,
fastened him and, rifle in hand. went
on to investigate.
There, hidden in n little gulch, were
about twenty horses. They weren't
guarded, Looking around IN the dusk,
l saw dugout about n hundred yards
up the hill. Lights appeared through
the cracks | clambered up to learn
who was there.
| knocked at the blanket door. The
voices | had heard rs l climbed the
slope were hushcd all Mt once. Then !
heard half dozen sharp clicks That
meant the cooking Of rifles "r rcvoly-
ers. began to wonder what company
had stumbled into. Before l could
move back some one called:
Who's therc:"
"A friend and a white man." ! re-
piled.
The door opened. aud big. ugly
looking fellow stepped forth and said:
Come In
accepted the invitation with some
degree Of fear and hesitation, which !
cndeavored to conceal, as ! thought II
was too late to back out and that 1t
would never do to weaken ut that
point. whether they were friends or
foes. Upon entering the dugout my
eyes fell upon eight rs rough and vii
famous looking men as | ever saw
In my life. Two Of them instantly
recognized rs transfers who had been
driving In Lew Simpsons train few
months before and had been dis
charged.
They were charged with the murder
Ing and robbiEg of n ranchman, and.
having stolen his horses, 1t was sup
posed that they had left the country.
! gave them no signs OF recognition.
however, deeming It advisable to let
them remain in ignorance as to who
! was. 1t was a hard crowd. and !
concluded the sooner ! could get away
from them the better it would be for
me. l felt confident that they were
band Of horse thieves.
where are you going, kid, and
who's with you:" asked one Of the
men, who appeared to be the leader OF
the gang
Il am entirely alone. | left Horse
shoe Station this morning for bear
anu, hOt "Hs CeoASt
had determined to camp out for the
night and wait TIL morning." said l,
land just as l was going into camp
few hundred yards down the creek l
heard one Of your horses whlnnylng.
and then came to your camp"
"Whcres your horse!' demanded the
boss thief.
tnft Inn J.V "a II n
swered.
They proposed going after the horse,
but thought that would never do, as
1t would leave me without any means
of escape. and | accordingly said In
hopes TO throw them off the track,
Captain. III leave my gun here and
go down and get my horse and come
back and stay all night"
But my clever little game did not
work ut all, as one Of the despcradocs
spoke up and said:
'Jim and l will go down with you
after your horse. and you can leave
your gun here all the same, rs you'll
not need IT,"
"All right" replied. for | could
certainly have done nothing else.
"Comc along" said one Of them, and
together we went down the creek and
soon came to the spot where my horse
was tied. One of the men unhtchcd
the animal and said. "l'll lead the
horse"
Every we'll" said I. i've got cOu-
pie OF sage hens here. Lead on"
picked up the sage hens which ]
had killed few hours before and
tv!lpwc1 w man who was leading the