The Dickinson press., 1915-10-16
EARLY HISTORY
Editor PRESS:

AAASS4 L SSSSs
During the first years Of our set
tlement here, we came in contact with
some very interesting personalities
at times, and we were not only in,
structed, but profited some times.
There were people that had been born!
at the antpodes-like the Colgrovc;
family for instance: There was,
Jerry the bum,-a man so wholly
capable, but gone wrong in the matt
ter of being a confirmed drunkard.
This man was a gentleman in every
way even though he had been in his
cups for a length of time. He had
been educated for the priesthood, but
some way had had a crimp put in
him by becoming enamored with a,
rich lady in Ireland, that reciprocated,
his affection, but as he had taken]
orders they did not marry and sol
Jerry was q wanderer. Then there1
was Black Jack John Simmons) al
most capable railroad man. He was
the most distinguished wrecker Of
trains Che was in charge of the N.
P. wrecking outfit at an early day..
At the time mentioned, there were
c~onveniences at every siding for TAX
ing an order from the end of the
division, by going to a certain tele-
graph pole where a wire for attach
ing a suitable machine for taking a,
message depended from the wire,
overhead. This fact enabled men in.
charge of trains to get an order for
their future use as often as they
needed to Il believe that every
train carried some one, probably a
member of the train crew, who was
capable of taking orders.)
Black Jack owned and ran an
eating car, in those days, and he
housed Jerry, the bum, for his COM
partnership, and also for the reason
that Jerry was a most competent
aid in arranging the commissary de-
partment Of Jacks outfit for him.
Then there was Frank Morgan, an
ex-scout for General Merrill. He had
had an excellent education in his
youth, but became enamored of west
ern life, and so drifted to scenes then
being enacted on the frontier, which
at the time mentioned a right here
where the golden grain is being
raised in such quantities.
Frank had left his ancestral home
in South Carolina when the war of
the states began, a mere lad, but had
seen just enough during that momen-
tous struggle, so that he could never
afterward content himself with any
thing less than the stirring life Of
a scout OF plainsman, and SC we of,
Stark county came to know a peri
son with many interesting and valu-i
able characteristics. When Frank
left the western army-that part
under the command Of Gen. Merrill,
the general, in recognition Of thef
valuable services Frank had rendered.
him at times, gave Frank a very|
fine and educated saddle mare. She
was branded on the end of the
nose with Gen. Merrill's private
brand which was a tiny oak leaf. For
purposes of Identification this was
unique, for one would hardly discover
this brand unless instructed where it
was.
Lizzie, the mare, referred to, was
as said, educated. She would lie down
to be mounted if that was desired,
stretch out far, walk on her hind
feet quite a little distance, roll yer
when so ordered and numerous other
stunts. Franks dogs were, however,
his best loved companions and they
were quite as unique in their at
tainments as was the mare, Lizzy.
On one occasion something happened
to the mother dog Of the tribe, that
necessitated the amputation of a
hind leg. This was skillfully done
by Frank, and when the dogs leg was
healed Frank made and attached a
we'll fitting leg to the dog, on which
she managed to run quite well.
Then there was the redoubtable
John Mcmahon of Antelope. This
man was a par excellent hunter and
as tough and wiry as a dog. He could
subsist on meat straight for weeks
and not seem to get any the worse
for it. He seemed Indifferent to
temperature, be it cold or hot, and
he and John Mahony left this country
with the confessed intention of find
ing the Lost Mine, or as it was some
times designated, the Lost Cabin
Mine.
Quite a number of times in those
early days l have grub-staked these
worthless, and l never lost a cent
thereby. I was also interested. in
Miles Vineyards ventures on the
plains, and have nothing to regret
for aiding any Of those old timers.
By way of conclusion will say, that
I am in possession of considerable
data concerning the history of the
"Lost Mine" and the finding o. re-
covering of same that would make
pretty good reading to people that
love the "close to nature life" and it
is worth mentioning that however
%skillfully or often the theme has been
told in stories based on the theme, the
facts are more interesting still.
" G. S. CRYNE.