The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-09-17
BY TACETTA b. WALKER

VIII 11AA4 INV VvOx LII AxAs
ing single-handed 10 desperadoes
Of the McCanles gang in q dug
out where they had cornered him. It
made q good story even though It was
far from the truth. There was never
n real gang and David 'McCanles
though he was q ruffian with inclina-
tons toward outlawry and had he
lived the day would in all possibility
have come. when he would have been
branded an outlaw.
David McCanles was born and reared
in North Carolina. He came of good
family and received a fair education.
He attended several private schools
and q military academy: After his re:
deputy sheriff and later sheriff of his
home county. He was a man Of pow
erful build weighing over 200 pounds
and he delighted in showing off his
strength. He excelled in wrestling, foot
racing, fist fighting. His chief amuse-
ments were horse racing, cock fighting,
dog fights and shooting matches. The
fact that he was a master in all Of
these sports seemed to bring out in
him the disposition of q bully. He be-
came exceedingly ~overbearing in his
demeanor.
When the news OF the discovery of
gold at Pixies Peak reached North
Carolina, McCanles was fired with the
urge to seek his fortunes in the west.
of the sheriff to collect the taxes
and when the gold fever struck Nc
CanleS, he abSconded with trust money.
Prior to this he had married a lady
from of the best southern families
whom he now left behind. Instead,
Sarah Shull with whom he had been
carrying on illicit relations, went with
him. She played a large part in the
drama of his life at Rock creek station.
As they travelled westward, they met
many returning gold seekers disilluS-
toned and broke who warned them to
stay away from Pixies Peak country.
Instead Of going on to the gold fields,
McCanles purchased what was known
as the West Rock creek station on
lished Sarah Shull in the ranch house.
Water Shortage
McCanles found that there was a
lack of sufficient water m his ranch,
so he crossed ver on the east side,
dug a well and put up another house
on that side. He also built a toll bridge
over Rock creek. He was an energetic
man with a head for business and he
was Don making money. He used the
east station for the Overland mail,
stage and pony express while n
freight outfits and emigrant trains
were sent across the creek to the old
station. People estimated that Nc
Canles averaged about $1,000 a month
he exchanged a great part of his money
for gold and kept it hid in an old iron
kettle some place on the ranch. After
his death many searches were made for
the pot of gold" but it was never
found.
The frontier has always brought out
either the best or the worst in a man
and with McCanleS it seemed to bring
out all the hardness of his nature. He
Joined immigrants who were passing
through the station in feats of strength.
He was always the winner in the con
tests and his egotism and brutality
grew. When angered he showed no re-
Straint nor did he have any sympathy
for the weaker man. He began to glory
in mastering men and many a one iel!
the pressure of the tyrant. He treated
his own friends no better than he did
strangers and many are the stories
told Of his punishments melted out to
those who we're unfortunate enough to
incur his d~ispleasure.
Charles Stockwater vas his superin-
tendent at the Little Sandy station,
IS miles distant from the Rocky creek
ranch. Stockwater offended McCanles
wv ItLuIllxls d YUM VI OnSAA - INV
strayed from their McCanles
was planning on keeping the oxen for
himself and according to the custom
could have claimed them after a limited
time. The two men had words over
the affair and in anger StockWater
attempted to use his pistol but Nc
Canles was quicker on the draw. His
BAH hit Stockwater on the forehead
and glanced around the skull and
lodged Just under the skin at the back
of his head. McCanleS now decided to
show Stockwater hat he was the a
ter and throwing a lariat over his sup
erintendent's shoulders, he mounted
his horse and dragged his victim up
and down the frozen road in IRON OF
the station until he was near death.
Still Stockwater would not acknowledge
defeat. McCanles then tied the lariat
to the pommel of his saddle and drove
~Stockwater down the trail the Is miles
to the Rock creek station. There he
continued his torments until he broke
the spirit of the man who had been
his friend. Stockwater left the country
soon after this episode.
A man by the name of Henry Golf
who worked for McCanles likewise, IN.
Cured his anger. Golf could not resist
liquor and though McCanles was a
heavy drinker, he would not permit his
men to be drunk when there was work
to be done. Golf was given charge of
the station for the day but succumbing
to his weakness, was soon drunk. When
McCanles returned he found him sound
asleep by the fire. His eyes cleaned
wickedly as he secured a can of powder.
He poured Goff's beard and hair full
Of the powder and then poured a path
of it to the door, after which he called
his men to witness the fun. He touched
off the powder train and in a minute
the sleeper awoke to find his head on
men threw him into a water trough
and saved his life. Golf did not take the
joke kindly for he was still smarting
from the burns. He threatened to shoot
McCanles, who to show him that he
was the master, had him tied to the
back Of an unbroken horse. The horse
uac then turned 1ooSe m the Drairie