Omaha daily bee., 1918-06-16
Views, Reviews and ImterweaOs
Realistic "reminiscences of Pioneering IN Nebraska Related
an Charles f. MorriWs Autoboqrapblcal Volume.


Wild West show. The stages left Sidney
every afternoon at o'clock and were run
day and night until they arrived at their
destination. We were told to get our
tickets early When the time arrived for
the departure Of the coach which l was to
take there was one passenger more than
could possibly be. crowded in. Who was
to be left behind soon became a burning
question. Several of the men declared that
if they did not go the stage coach should
not 60. Presently Stephenson appeared
and informed the party that the men
should draw cuts to see who would be left
until the following day. Several swore
that they were going to go and that they
would never draw cuts. For a time it
looked like war, as nearly every man in
the crowd had two large revolvers hang
ing from his belt, and gave evidence of
being ready to use them if occasion de-
manded. But presently one man volun-
teered to wait for the next stage, and we
were soon off.
"The stage was drawn by six horses of
the broncho type. l remember that at
some of the relay stations the drivers
were obliged to throw some of the horses
in order to place the harness on them
When we got Strengthened out and on the
ROAD WIFI lIcSH HOlScS, VIC Wetc ScHeIdlly
going some for few miles. The sta
miles apart At each roadhouse fresh
horses were supplied. Everything went
on merriy and about S in the afternoon
we reached Clarke's bridge on the North
Platte river, where the town of Bridge
port now stands. H. T. Clarke of Omaha
was the builder and owner of this bridge.
He had also a store near the bridge, both
of which were under the management of
Mr. White, who now lives in Bridgeport,
/ believe. This was the only bridge across
the North Platte river west of North
Platte.
"On the opposite side OF the road from
the store there was a saloon, which | was
informed, however was not the property
of Mr.. Clarke and was at that time out
of commission The front door of this
saloon was riddled with bullets and in the
place where the door knob should have
been there was nothing but a hole about
the size of mans fist Upon inquiry I
found that when the cowboys got so full
that they wanted to fight, the saloon
keeper would lock the door, and they would
then use the doorknob as target In
time, the doorknob was entirely shot away.
After stop of about an hour at this
most interesting place we were off again.
Just before dark the stage stopped, and
Stephenson, who was riding on top with
the driver, came to the door and said:
Now boys, during the night you had better
have your revolvers handy, as some of our
stages have been attacked by Indians The
road, as you see, is very rough and bron-
chos are not so very easily managed Once
in a while we have tip-over. In such a
case, don't get excited or make any noise,
as nobody ever gets hurt The horses
were changed twice during the night. No
Indians appeared and we had no tip-over.,
The next day we arrived at Fort Robinson"
1t was at Fort Robinson that the attention
of Mr.. Morrill, was called to the fossils oi
prehistoric animals embedded in the bat
lands, for whose collection and preservation
and exhibit in the state museum he, fol-
many years, contributed a fund to pay the
expenses of the field archaeological work
done under DR.. Barbour as head of the
department of geology. The discoveries Of
fossil animals, mammoths and other ce-age
types brought credit to Mr.. Morrill, through
the reports on them in government docu
ments and scientific periodicals and are un.
questionably what Mr.. Morrill, himself feels
the most enduring of any accomplishment
of my life" 1t was this, too, that brought
him in close touch with the University ot
Nebraska whose business administration he
largely directed for II years as head of the
board of regents. Mr.. Morrils book con
tains reproduction of the group photo.
graph taken of the board while l was Z
member along with Chancellor MacLean ane
Secretary J. S. Dales IF asked" ventures
Mr. Morrill,, what Office is specially desir
able and honorable for young man to hold
| should answer to be a regent of state
university without pay for services"
I find one statement which, either by mis-
calculation or typographical mistake CALI
for correction, placing his choice as mem
ber of the republican national committee il
the latter part of 1894 when in fact it oc
Cured in 1904. As illustrating the extent tc
which | enjoyed Mr.. Morrill's friendship ant
confidence | remember attending meeting
of the committee during his term as hi
proxy. need hardly say it is friendship
greatly value and hope may yet long con
tinue.