White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-01
NEVADA STATE IN THE MAKING;
EARLY DAYS OF CHERRY CREEK

1914 II was not an unusual sight to
see horse race on the principal
street OF the town for $500 a side
with supporters of the animals lib.
orally backing their favorites with
side bets. Pete Weber was one OF
the leading spirits In promoting these
sporting events and he had large
following. particularly among the
miners, who always backed Pcte's
judgment on any game. horse race or
cock fight.
Generally opposed To Pete Weber
and his crowd in these sporting
events were the Keogh brothers. Pat.
Steve. Tom and Jack, who owned o
ranch in Butte valley, twelve miler
west of Cherry Creek, which was
later known as the Keogh ranch
These boys were engaged In stock
raising but made their principal
headquarters in Cherry, and when
IL came to trial of strength or wits
In any game could come as close a.
anybody to a standoff with Pete We
her and his crowd.
One example OF how Pat Keogh
neatly turned the tables on Weber's
crowd along in the early sos sticks
out in the writer's memory The
miners on Star hill owned little
saddle horse that had never been
beaten. Pat Keogh knew of the
speed of the Star hill pony and was
also well aware OF the miners anxi-
ETY. to back him in a race. so he ar.
ranged with Dan Morrison of Hamil-
ton 10 send him on the quiet a horse
which he knew could outrun the Star
hill horse This racer. called Mug
gins. came to Cherry disguised as D
pack animal and carrying a camp
outfit. and keogh soon had It match
ed with the Star hill pony for a small
bet. expecting tc clean up by betting
heavily on the side the next day.
when the race was TO be held.
Pete Weber and his crowd. in or
der 10 play safe, arranged To stea!
Pats horse at midnight u the night
preceding the race and 10 take him
out 10 the track for a trial against
their own Pat. however. earlier
in the evening got wind of this trick
and determined to trump IL. so at Ia
o'clock he took Muggins from his
corral. nailed four-pound shoe on
one OF his feet left the other feet
shoeless and slipped the horse back
in the corral TO await the arrival of
the tricksters. Then. with Bob Mar.
tin and Jim Henry. he slipped down
To the track and the three hid in the
sagebrush TO watch the result OF the
trial race.
The Star hill pony. of course. won
in a walk. and as none OF the trick.
sters became wise 10 keogh's russ
they started out the next morning
with offers To take all bets in sight
When the ponies left the wire about
$1,000 had been wagered on the re-
suit of the race. keoghs horse
loped in an easy winner and the Star
hill boys were sent home poorer but
none the wiser. wondering how il
had happened
Pat later started a drug store
which he operated for several years
finally selling out 10 Billy Gordon.
keogh then went to New York. where
he entered Bellevue and studied med.
icine. After his graduation he re-
turned 10 Salt Lake City. where be
engaged in practice and formed 1
partnership with DIR. Hosmer and the
two physicians established and sue.
cessfully operated the Keogh- -Hosme'
hospital DR. Keogh. by the way
was a brother-in-law OF W s. McCor-
cne of Utah's leading bankers.