The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1910-04-16


start grayeyards, and the glad primeyal
lawlessness that prevails when worlds
are new.
Not so many years ago the Panhandle
was distinctly a world apart and
one. With No-Man's Land on the north
Indian Territory on the east and New
Mexico the west, civilization could
come only from the south, and II did not
come very fast. Indeed, there was still
plenty of territory In that direction to
be subdued--two or three tiers of coun-
ties in fact--before the Panhandle would
be reached. So 1t was a place apart
isolated fertile land, justifying the as
serton of tramp that he had lost $780,,
600 there In one year by not having cat
tie to eat up the grass
The cattle came in due time, fighting
back the Apache and the Comanche. pro-
tected by Rangers from Fort Griffin, ac
companed by stockmen of every nation, .
cowboys of every grade and criminals Of
every breed That was a wild epoch
chaotic and picturesque-a time of ind- |
vidua administration and untempered
Justice
1t also a time of mighty domain.
Ranches there were as big as some king
doms. One, the X l. T., covered good
portion of the northern part of the Pan !
nanule. AnOtncr, the MatadOf, spread (
Itself into five ounties. When settle. y q
ment became thicker-whcn there we're IL
ranch houses not more than 25 to 80
miles apart-oGlcia allotment of the LIZ
lands was made Then there was a grand rs
gobble Tho big stockmcn fenced every M
thing with little regard for boundaries
and less for The law.
With such examples as these in high
places, It IS not strange that a general tndif,
ference to legal rights and possessions pre-,
walled Next to cattleraising Cattc-stealng
WIS the chief industry. 'fhe cowboy proper
WAS not concerned in such work lie was like
ly to be a clcanhandcd, straightforward, even
If reckless, individual, honest according to his
lights. True. loyalty to his employer might
render him a trine Indifferent as to brands and
marks when strays mixed with the herd but
II was the employer and not the cowboy who
proilted by such laXity. The cowboy was
retainer who would fight for his ranch. would
die for 1t when circumstances seemed to re-
qHire such sacrifice. and the increase of the
ranch herd by any means short of actual raid
and theft was custom which bore no relation
to dsrepute But individually the cowboy was
likely to be the soul of honor and good nature
troublesome only on holidays when he
moved to ride into the nearest settlement
drink up all the whisky he could buy and then.
with six-shooter drawn so Careering up and
down the streets, shooting In random direc-
tons explaining meantime with noisy and
rapettious adioctives that he was a bad man
a very bad man from very far up the creek,
The Panhandle was full Of bad men in the
early nineties Most OF them had graduated
from other schools of crime and found here
a last resort Some of thcm-a good many OF
them-had obtained official positions and were
outlaws and deputies by turns, or worked con
IL. ., tn
way or another associated with a gang.
Local authorities, even when conscientious,
we're poorly equipped to cope with such an ele-
ment and it was for Company h Ranger Force,
consisting of eight men with quarters at ANA
riUo capt w. J Mcdonald commanding TO
police this vast wilderness, and to capture and
convert or otherwise tame. its undesirable
citizens
Soon after McDonald's appointment he was
notified of a marauding band that across In
Hutchinson county, were committing the usual
crimes They had burned the hay belonging to
ranchmau on Turkey creek-seycral hun.
drcd tons in quanty-they had cut his wire
fences: they had killed COWS for their calves,
butchcrcd beef cattle cut out brands-in a
word they had conducted the bushes of cat
tie stealing and general depreciation ON large
scale
Taking a portion Of his force Capt. Melon
aid went over TO investigate. There seemed
10 be a good deal of mystery concerning the
identity of the offenders; but mystery OF that
sort does not stand very good chance when
# Is operated upon by man with eyes like
those OF Capt Bill and with a nose and pair
OF ears OF his peculiar pattern. nj short time
be had Identified one member of the band in a
young man prominently connected in that sec.
ton This young frlIow--a dupC, NO doubt of
professional COW thieves, whose ghterlnE rcpu