, 1925-08-20
Indian Uprising

An Indian uprising was response
BILE for increased activity in Rawlins.
In the fall of 1879 the White River
band of Utes taking offense against
indian Agent Meeker, killed him and
some f~reighters who were freighting
from Rawlins to Meeker. The gov
eminent sent a number of soldiers
in command of Major Thornburg
from Rawlins to quell the uprising.
The soldiers had gotten as far as a
place this side of Meeker, named
Milk River, when the Indians am
pushed the soldiers, killing Major
~Thornburg and a number of soldiers,
and w%ounding several civilians and
soldiers. Two of these soldiers were
John Mahoney and John c.. Davis,
both of whom were of the early pion.
GERS of the territory. dating back to
about the early seventies. The
other civilian who took a memorable
part at this particular time was Jo-
seph Rankin, who rode in a day and
night something over "a hundred and
twenty-five miles to bring news of
the occurrence to Rawlins.
Soldiers In Rawlins
This had an immediate effect in
bringing additional soldiers to Raw
Inns and sending part of them to
White River, a part of them remain
ing at Rawlins. Barracks ,a4sfe
erected just west of the old Rawlins
spring and the old government ware
house erected on the north side of
the tracks at the foot of Ninth street.
This also resulted in a stage line
from Rawlins to Fort Washakie, and
the hauling of all civilian and govern
ment freight from Rawlins to Ian
der and FIT. Washable for a number
of years until the Chicago and North
western railroad built into Lander,
when the stage line and f%reighting
vas discontinued from Rawlins. AT
this time Rawlins also had stage lines
to Saratoga, Ferris, and Dixon. The
Dixon line is from Wamsutter,
Wyo.. all Others having been discon-
tinued.
Some Tough Citizens
mentioned before that in the early
law abiding. From 1879 to 1883 I
have heard it said that Rawlins was
the toughest town in the west. l
did not notice anything that seemed
unusual, and if anything happened,
it was SOC forgotten. Just south of
the creek and south of the old I'm
ion Pacific Hotel, n large tent was
erected with a wood floor in it. and
there nightly a few musicians played
and by paying SO cents anyone could
go in and dance. Soldiers and tin
horn gamblers patronized this place
extensively and it kept going for the
best part of the night. Drinks were
also sold in this place. and one night
a soldier imbibed 80 much that he
hoo nm rntc1r I'D ar tho 10000 a.,Il
not stand for anything but good or
der. he was thrown out. This arous-
ed the soldiers ire and he went to
the barracks and got his rifle and
stopping near the old bridge at the
west end of town he got down on one
knee, pointed his rifle - the lights
shining through the canvas walls of
the tent. and got busy. The lights
being located pretty well above the
floor, the only damage done was
numerous holes through the tent.
The e was empty in record time
and remained so until the cause was
located and disarmed.r
No Physician Then
I'm the early days when a person
became sick and required medical
attention II was necessary to have
the post surgeon come from Fort
Steele. a military post located on the
Platte river about" seventeen miles
east of Rawlins. and give the medi-
cal aid required and also furnish the
medicine. When q person died It
was the custom for carpenters to
make "A coffin out Of pine or redwood.
decorate II inside with black cloth,
and stain the outside with some kind
OF paint. There we're no undertakers.
and IL devolved upon the friends OF
the deceased to conduct the funeral.
There was no lack Of friends or kind
liness upon such occasions.