The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1921-06-16
THE LAST WEST

THE LAST WEST
1t afforded the writer the greatest
pleasure to mingle with the early day
friends of the late Theodore Roosevelt,
one of Americas foremost citizens, at
Dickinson recently. Among the most
prominent of these men Is DR.. Suck
,1ey, a resident of Dickinson for the
past thirty-eight years, who has been
practicing medicine and surgery IN
Dickinson since that time. Those who
have read the autobiography of Roose-
welt, published since his death, will
recall his story Of the capture Of the
two desperadoes who after shooting
up the town of Medora, near which
place the old Roosevelt ranch is locat-
ed, made their escape down the little
Missouri river in Teddy's boat which
they stole. Roosevelt was forever
sighting lawlessness, and besides his
ire was aroused when he learned that
his own boat had been stolen. Sc
curing another boat, Teddy went
down the river after them and caught
up with them when they went into
camp for the night. He arrested
ed them for many miles thru the Bad
Lands, coming into Dickinson from
the north. At point about forty
miles north of Dickinson, he borrowed
a team and wagon from Jap Holtz,
rancher and completed the journey
on into Dickinson where the bad men
We're turned over to the authorities,
later receiving the punishment they so
richly deserved.
DR.. Stickney, then young physi-
clan, was walking to his office when
young man wearing glasses and old
clothes, including pair Of boots and
overalls, asked him to direct him to
a doctor. DR.. Stickney informed the
young man, who was none other than
Theodore Roosevelt, then a man Of
%, that he was considerably out of
luck, for he, Dr., Stickney, was the
only physician in that western vii
lage. DR.. Stickney took him to his
office, treated his feet for blisters and
secured pair of socks for Teddy.
Later the doctor and Mr.. Roosevelt
became good friends and DR.. Stickney
introduced Roosevelt to crowd which
mad gathered at Dickinson for a
Fourth Of July celebration, at which
time Roosevelt delivered the main ad-
dress. This was the first time that
Roosevelt had spoken to an audience
west of the Mississippi river. Dr.
Stickney not long ago secured copy
Of the Dickinson newspaper that pub
l1shed the address that Roosevelt de-
livered that day. 1t read very much
as do some of the addresses he de-
'iivered in later years. He was for
ever hammering away in advocating
the principles of Americanism.
Dickinson pioneers like to tell about
Roosevelt's remarkable memory of
faces and names. 1t is said that of
the countless thousands Of people he
met, he never forgot a face and very
seldom a name. After he had become
president, he made number Of tours
thru North Dakota, speaking to
crowds at the various cities along the
railway. Frequently out of the vast
crowds. that assembled, he would see
some old time friend, and would stop
in the midst Of his speaking to ex-
change greetings with him. At one
place he saw fellow he had met in
NeGora many years before. 81 can't
recall Jour name, but you are the
fellow that owned Bite Bird, the horse
that wor. race at Medora one time,"
he remarked.
When Roosevelt made one Of his
latter tours thru North Dakota at
The time he was Bull Moose candi-
date for president, he spied his old
Medora ranch foreman, Sylvane Fer
rts, in the crowd that gathered at the
station at Fargo. Ferris was away
tback in the crowd but Teddy readily
picked him out and greeted him in
ltrue Rooseveltian manner.
One visiting Dickinson should not
neglect the opportunity for visit with
DR.. Stickney. The doctor stands
very high in his profession, has
amassed very comfortable fortune,
deos considerable writing and lectur-
ing, and aftho he is far above par
in either capacity, is exceedingly mod
est withal. He loves the west with
its traditions and we doubt not that
he regrets not little the passing of
this picturesque period in which he
has taken such prominent part. His
word picture Of the COW boys of the
days that have passed forever is a
literary gem, fit to be preserved among
those of Americas foremost writer's.
Only few more years and we of the
younger generation will have to get
our information Of North Dakota as
she was in pioneer days. out of books.
Three Meetings Held So Far in Dis