The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1916-03-31
Second Killing
At EScaIante


This time it is estimated that only
about 100 sheep were killed and Grip
pied, though a herder's horse was
also shot
Early reports said 1t was a horse
belonging to one of. the raiders that
was shot. This was denied later and
the statement openly made that the
horse belonged to one of the Mexican
sheep herders.
Nothing of interest has apparently
developed since the shooting. The
sheriff's men say they know nothing.
The stock inspection agent says he
knows nothing.
The killing of sheep occurred about
on the dividing line between Mesa and
Delta counties.
About three weeks ago the first
raid was made on these sheep. when
a group of horsemen appeared on the
hilltop above the camp and opened
fire. killing and crippling some 200 of
the flock.
Investigations then, as in the latter
case. were. so far as is known, with
out result
This sheep killing is supposed to be
n stand on the part of the cattlemen
of the section against usupation of
their claimed sage brush by sheep
rangers. II is said that Utah growers
have not only been seeking excuse
but passing out threats that they in
tended to drift sheep on Colorado
ranges.
To wantonly butcher the sheep looks
like an extreme measure. and in the
eyes OF the law II is felony and
crime, but IL is the border method,
long in vogue. which the cattlemen
have put in force against the sheep
herds. and. like war. civilization and
progress do not appear to prevent IL
from cropping out again.
Probably both factions are to blame.
There can be no affinity between
cattle and sheep. While each has be-
come a great industry, 1t is commonly
hardly Craze where sheep have drifted.
and II so inclined. there would be very
little left for them to Craze upon. so
the two herds must be kept sep
arate.
The butchery act and property loss
by raids are not to be condoned. They
are perhaps the outcrop of the animal
in man. inherited from our monkey
ancestors. and which should have been
more excusable at the period when
great editors were still In the primae-
val forests. hanging in the shade from
tree limbs by their tails.
There should be, however. some bet
ter way OF adjusting these matters.
The intricacy of the law. its delays
and its contentious by socalled disci-
pies OF law. are. be It said to its
shame, more or less against an appeal
to II and an incentive to use the
border code where aggravated cases
come up.
Presumably there is too much
averice on the part OF both classes OF
stockgrowers over the range, and the
better plan would be to obtain proper
possession. This could be done by
homestead on the part Of the small
owners or by purchase on the part of
the larger ones. Then II would not
be n question of border warefare be-
tween them. or by the stronger upon
the weaker.
Independent asked one sheep grow
er what he thought of the killing.
His reply was: while do not regard
the act as right or lawful, had I run
my sheep on territory where | knew
they had no business. would have
been looking for just that kind of ac-
ton" So II would seem that there
is a rough sort of justice felt in range
matters between at least n part of the
two factions.
with the settlement of the ranges
free grazing will gradually become
thing of the past, and about all the
range there will be left will be that of
the forests under government control.
Then stockraising here will be. as IT,
has long been in the East and Middle
States. confined to the pastures OF
owned tracts.