, 1921-05-26
Difficulty Notes

tReceived at Republican Office May

tReceived at Republican Office May
"a. 1920
Difficulty. Wyo.. May 16. 1921.
FOrty-five years ago. while in pur-
suit of a band OF Indians. who had
forcibly confiscated a small herd OF
horses from an old nan who was
travelling through the country, Jack
Watkins discovered an ideal location
for a home. Nestled among the
foothills at the base OF Bald Noun
tains. and covered with many var
ieties of trees and shrubbery. was a
plot OF natural meadow land. The
grass waved in the winds and many
varieties of wild flowers grew and
blossomed In p%rofusion. A grove
Of %shivering quaking asps formed a
beautiful background for a dwelling
house. Charmed with the location,
Mr. Watkins returned to Carbon,
and gave a glowing description OF
his discovery to Charles Smith, who
like himself. was a miner in the then
flourishing little town, which at this
time is only a reproduction OF 1.-THE
Deserted Village" The two men
decided to take their families and
move to the new land. The Watkins
family comprised father. mother and
eight children, and the Smith fam
lily was composed OF father. mother
and five children. All were delight
ed with their new home among the
hills. as they. one and all, struggled
to improve the place. Pages would
not describe the adventures and
hardships that were encountered dur
ing the first few years hat followed
IN u,hof TO nnNv tho 7 nn0 Nina rnnoh
The few stragglers who inhabited
obscure dwellings amid groves and
cliffs were principally refugees from
law and Justice. and they. together
with hard winters and lack OF feed
for stock, only added to the griefs
Of the early settlers. and. consequent
ly. the Watkins and Smiths suffer-
ed losses untold, for with their lin
tied wealth a small herd of cattle
had been purchased. Proudly, the
two men guarded and cared for
them as best they could. Mr.. Wat
kins owned a mule, which through
some misfortune had lost the sight
Of one eye. but despite his imperfect
vision was the most important fac
tor in both families. The mule was
ridden to look after the Bar 6 cat
tie. and used on every other occa-
sion where a beast OF burden became
necessary. During their first autumn
in their new home. both men and
women worked most diligently, cut
ting hay with a moving scythe. and
raking 1t with an old fashioned wood
en- rake. later hauling 1t to the little
stable in the wagon box. The hay
they got from the mountain parks.
and the tiny meadows on the flats.
would at this date seem quite insig-
nifcient. but was at that time CON
sidered lots Of feed. With autumn
came thoughts of school advantages
for the children. and accordingly, ar
rangements were made for them to
return to Carbon, work for their
board, and attend school The older
children went to Carbon and only
the five smaller and younger ones
remained on the ranch with the par
ents. Autumn faded into winter,
trees were bare and grass brown.
snowflakes filed the air and drifts
piled high before the cold blasts Of
old Wyoming's wintery winds. The
reflled with mud. wood piles replen-
ished and many precautions taken.
Cold and stormy days dragged slowly
Ny IL GO u q oSSH
winter was disagreeable. Christmas
came and all expectations among the
little one were blighted by the infor-
nation that Santa Claus did not know
where they lived and. of course. he
could not visit them. Who will ven
ture to say there was not a pang Of
regret in the hearts OF those parents
when Christmas Eve must be forgot
ten and likewise Christmas Day?
Who knows what their thoughts were
on realizing that their food supplies
were steadily shrinking. and that the
funds were smaller than in previous
months-for many children to sup
port and a small income are not con-
genial companions. Every day the
snow piled higher. Mr.. Watkins.
riding the mule. day after day look
ed after the cattle which were starv-
ing for existence among the drifts OF
snow. which were fast assuming
huge dimensions over the entire coun-
try. Tunnels were made to get In
and out of stables and houses. The
world assumed the same aspect In
evrey direction as Tar as the eye
could reach-snow, snow, snow.
Mr.. Watkins and the mule struggled
on, and many times MI. Watkins had
not the remotest idea a. to where he
might be, but when the mule became
tired and disguised with struggling
through the world of snow. he went
home, taking his rider with him. One
morning It was discovered that the
little stack Of hay hat had seemed
so great six months before. had fad
ed away and now there was nothing
moro to feed the mule. He was,
therefore. turned out to rustic for
himself. Unable to understand why
he should thus be thrust aside after
being such a faithful companion to
his human comrades for so many
stormy months. he refused to leave
the buildings, and with sore regrets,
all the members of the families were
forced to combine against him to
chase him away.