The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-03-29


locked in a nom in the hotel He broke
window before morning and promptly paid Tor
1t by McDonald's request
Removing to Hardeman county was the
only thing that saved Bill Mcdonald rom Do
ing drafted into official service where ne was
In the counties bordering on Indian terrnory
and up through the Panhandle man nao 10
stand pat" whatever his hand and nold Ms
own by strength Of arm and quickness OF
trigger Cow thieves and cutthroats aoounoeo
officials often worked in accord with them or
were afraid to prosecute. The man who would
neither cooperate with outlaws nor condOne
their ofrenses was already on the ground ana
would presently be in the field
Hardeman county had lately been organ
lied and the settlers we're cowmen, COWBOY
and gamblers-lawless enough themselves-
and another element. which pretended to be
these things but in reality were outlaws, pure
and simple The latter lived chiefly on the
herds driving on horses and cattle and hiding
them in remote and inaccessible places Often
the cattle were butchered. their hides. which
we're marked with brand and earmarkS. de-
stroyed to avoid Identification and the meat
sold Men who did these things were known
we'll enough but went unapprehended for the
reasons named In certain sections OF the
territory itself and In No-man's Land "a piece
Of disputed ground lying to the north OF the
Panhandle. now a part OF Oklahoma) matters
we're even worse In these places there was
hardly a semblance OF law
1t was In 1885 that Bill Mcdonald disposed
Of his lumber interests in Wichita FAILS, 70
invested In cattle and set out once more for
the still farther west He had filed some
school land on Wanderers creek In Hardeman
county about four miles from where the town
of Quanah now stands the heart Of what was
~r{lA Ho ~ m
mediately. however; he conducted for brief
time lumber business at Harold. Wfllbarger
county-a circumstance hardly worth men
tioning save for incident OF another sort
which occurred at this place and period Nc
Donald whose reputation . man OF nerve
had travelled TO Harold. was one night called
upon by Ranger Lieut. Sam Plat to assist him
in handling gang of outlaws. known as the
Broken band. that infested that neighborhood
The Brookens had ridden into Harold and
were running things pretty much In their own
way. Platt and Mcdonald promptly bore down
upon them and running fight ensued as the
Brookens retreated. About 100 shots were
fired altogether but 1t was dark and the range
700 great for accuracy. Nothing was accom-
plished. but the event marked the beginning
of a warfare between Bill Mcdonald and q
band of cutthroats. the end of which would
be history 1t was soon after this first skir
Harold and set out for his Hardeman county
ranch As on his former migration. he drove
HIS cattle to the new land and after the first
hard DAYS drive camped At nightfall In
nleasant spot where grass was plentiful and
water was handy.
The next morning when preparations for
an early start were under Roadway. II was
suddenly discovered that four of the best
horses and fine Newfoundland dog were
missing Two Of the horses were found astray.
evidently having broken loose from their cap
tors 1t was further discovered that the
r-ooken band had rendezvous In what was
known as the Cedar Brakes. stretch OF rough
country densely covered with scrubby cedar.
located about 10 miles to the southwestward-
Mcdonald naturally felt that It was now his
,urn to move again in the Broken game but
n did not seem expedient to stop the journey
with the herd and undertake the move just
then So bidiug his time he pushed on to his
land on Wanderers creek. where he estAb-
lished his ranch fenced his property. built 4
hah,tation for himself and the wife who was
always ready to follow him into the wilder
moss then promptly he rode over to Margaret.
a, that time the county seat, and asked Sheriff
lin, AIley-a good man with bis hands over
full-to appoint him deputy, that he might b.
Gin the work which clearly must BE- done In
that country before It could become 4 proper
h.hitation for white men" The oommission
~.s readily granted and from hat appoint