Smyrna times., 1925-05-06
GRAVEYARD HAD ITS
INCEPTION IN JOKE
Mans Testing Proposal Car
ried Out by Companions.

On the great Warner ranch in San
Diego county, Calf, few miles from
the hot springs resort, is a little clus-
ter of seven graves. They are just off
the frequently travelled road leading
to MOnteZuma and San Felipe valleys,
but are not visible from the road and
very few of the residents of that sec
tiOn are aware of their existence. No
fence surrounds them, and but for a
few fragments of a single marble slab
they would not be noticed by a pedes-
trian who might walk over them.
But in the origin of this little bury
ing ground is a story of throbbing in
terest. The graves are on a knoll
few hundred feet back of the old But
terfield stage station in Buena Vista
valley. one Of the stopping places of
what was the longest stage line in the
world, extending from st. Louis to San
Francisco, in operation before the Civil
war.
Through the middle part of the little
Buena Vista valley runs a cienaga with
a line of large cottonwood trees, af-
fOrding water and shade to some Of the
many thousand sleek cattle which
range the big ranch, says the Los An.
geles Times. The stage station. built
of adobe, with wooden "lean-tO' and
pOrches, was not only patrOnized by
crOss-cOuntry travellers but was also
resort for the prospectOrs who
thrOnged that region in the early days,
and the cattlemen who looked after
the herds in the surrounding territory.
Saturday night always found a crowd
of these rOugh-and-ready frOntiersmen
gathered at the station, where they
spent the evening swapping stories,
gambling. drinking and carOusing gen
orally.
On the Sunday morning following a
particularly wild carOusal, when all
were partly stupefied from the nights
orgy, some one remarked:
"Well, we done about everything there
was to do last night, but if anybody
can start anything new we will do il
now"
Said another, stretching himself and
yawning: "Well, the only thing I can
think of that we did not do was to
start graveyard"
That's right" said the first speaker.
I'VE did not do that, but we'll do it
right now. and yOu1l be the one We'll
start II with"
The new idea was welcomed by all
except the one who suggested it. A
! range rider produced a rope, and the
victim was escorted to a large syca-
more tree a few hundred feet from the
house The rope was thrown over q
limb. and, as they thought, adjusted
about the mans neck so as not tC
Strangle him-fOr no one really intend
ed to take his life Then he was
hauled up into the air, and with mucl
hlarity the rest Of the company went
into the house to breakfast, leaving thC
unfortunate victim of their practica
Joke helplessly dangling.
Returning to the sycamore tree afte
breakfast to release their companion
from his uncomfortable position. the!
found him dead. In their befuddle,
condition they had bungled in adjustin.
the rope, and he had been choked It
| death.
After they had cut the body dow
and 1t was evident life could not be re
stored, a consultation was held. and !
was decided. without inquest or Othe
official action, to bury the body I
was taken to the top Of the knoll bacl
Of the stage station, and then and ther
the graveyard was started. as its frs
occupant had suggested.