USA > Kansas > Sedgwick County > History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas, past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county, Vol. I > Part 2
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CHAPTER XXXIX. BENCH AND BAR.
The Sedgwick County Bar in the Early '80s. Early Incident of the Bench of Sedgwick County. The District Judges of Sedg- wick County. Sessions of the U. S. Court are Convened in Wichita. The Courts of Sedgwick County, Kansas. District Court. Probate Court. Juvenile Court. City Court. United States District and Circuit Courts. The Sedgwick County Court House. Odds and Ends of County and City News.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XL. A DYING RIVER.
The Arkansas the Largest River in the State. A Navigable River Prior to 1880. The Great Flood of 1867. The Change Has Been Brought About by Modern Civilization.
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CHAPTER XLI. THE INDIANS IN KANSAS ..
525 Struggles of Various Tribes on the Plains. The Story of War aud Peace Among Indians First and Later Between the Indians and the Whites. The Osages. Increase of Tribes. Land Valued at Seven Cents Per Acre. The Santa Fe Trail. The Reservation Indians. Indian Names. The Wichitas. Real Barbarians. The Grass Houses. The Big Chief. The Head Trading Post. Visited by Wild Tribes. Left Their Names. In War Times. Loyal to the Union. The Trouble of '67. Ravages of Cholera. Then it Snowed. Again Scattered. Life of James R. Mead.
CHAPTER XLII. THE G. A. R. IN KANSAS. 539 The Veterans of Sedgwick County. Woman's Relief Corps, No. 40. Eggleston Post, No. 244. Anson Skinner Camp, No. 49, Sons of Veterans.
CHAPTER XLIII. THE COLORED SOLDIER OF SEDGWICK COUNTY IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.
543
CHAPTER XLIV. CLAIM THAT KANSAS MAN IS ORIGINAL "BUFFALO BILL"
550
Friends of Reticent Resident of Wichita Say He Was Known by Appellation Years Before William F. Cody Succeeded to Title- Fed Starving Plainsmen with Spoils of the Chase-Was Indian Fighter of Renown, Saving a Train of Immigrants Who Were Attacked on the Santa Fe Trail. Trading Post on the Arkansas.
CHAPTER XLV. PAYNE'S DREAM CAME TRUE.
554 A Short Sketch of Capt. David L. Payne. The Oklahoma Boomer. The New Country South of Us. The Cherokee Strip.
CHAPTER XLVI. RAILROADS OF SEDGWICK COUNTY.
558
Boosters Brought in the Railroads. Making Railroads in the Early Days. First Train on the Santa Fe. The Santa Fe Rail- road. Early Railroads Had to Struggle for an Existence. Santa Fe Tonnage. The Santa Fe in Wichita. The Missouri Pacific. A Million and a Half in Terminals. The Missouri Pacific Begins Rebuilding of All Its Lines. The Wichita & Colorado Railway. The St. Louis, Fort Scott & Wichita Railroad. The Wichita, Anthony & Salt Plains Railroad. The Wichita & Western Rail- way. St. Louis & San Francisco. Personnel of the Frisco in Wichita. The St. Louis, Wichita & Western Railway. The Orient Railway Company. Orient Brings in Trains of Stock. Arthur E. Stillwell, President Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railway Company. The Rock Island Railway. The Kansas Mid- land Railway. A Crying Need. Surveying a New Route to Wichita. Proposed Railway Lines. Wichita Is First as Railway Center. Central Point for Railroads.
CHAPTER XLVII. THE UNITED STATES WEATHER BUREAU. Local Forecaster, Weather Bureau, Wichita, Kan. Institution and Expansion of the Service. Establishment of a First-Class Observ- ing Station at Wichita, in the Heart of Sedgwick County. Climate of Wichita and Sedgwick County. Accepted Scientific Views Regarding Change of Climate. Scope of the National Weather Service. Forecasts. Spurious Forecasts. Practical Uses of the Forecasts. Research Observatory. Climatology of Wichita and Sedgwick County. Location and Equipment of Station. Climatic
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CONTENTS
Data. So-Called Change of Climate. Relative Stability of Climate. Superiority of Scientific Records Over Memory in Mat- ters of Climate. Insignificance of Man's Influence Upon Climate. Quantity of Moisture. Temperature. Conclusion.
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CHAPTER XLVIII. TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF SEDGWICK COUNTY .... The Ninnescah Valley. The Big Four. The Township of Afton. Andale. Anness. Bayneville. The Town of Bentley. Cheney, a Good Town in a Good Locality, With Fine Homes and Good Farms. An Early Incident of Cheney. Clearwater. Colwich. Davidson. Derby. Furley. Garden Plain. Goddard. Green- wich. The Town of Hatfield. Huckle. Jamesburg. Kechi. Maize. The Town of Marshall. Mount Hope. Mulvane, Kan.
Farmer Doolittle Is Inspired Over Mulvane. Oatville. Peck. Schulte. Sedgwick. St. Mark. Sunnydale. Valley Center. Viola. Waco. Wichita Heights. Western Sedgwick County.
CHAPTER XLIX. AGRICULTURE IN SEDGWICK COUNTY.
647 The Evolution of the Farm. Kaffir Corn. Alfalfa. The Raising of Alfalfa. Alfalfa an Imperial Forage Plant. Is This a Fruit Country ?
CHAPTER L. FRUIT RAISING IN SEDGWICK COUNTY.
Irrigating Small Fruits Will Pay. How to Improve Apple Orchards. Grape Culture in Southern Kansas. Fruit and Truck Farming Will Pay. Sedgwick Has an Entomology Station. Urges Growing of Onions Here. The Frost Meter in Sedgwick County. Kansas Crop Figures. A Report Recently Issued by F. D. Coburn, Secretary of the Board of Agriculture, Regarding the Products of Kansas During the Past Twenty Years. Yields in Bushels for Twenty Years. This Table Gives the Aggregate Values for the Past Twenty Years.
CHAPTER LI. NATIVE FOREST TREES OF THE STATE OF KANSAS. 675 681
CHAPTER LII. THE LIVE STOCK INTERESTS OF THE INTERIOR WEST .. Largest Receipts of Stock in One Year. Total Receipts of Stock for Seven Years. Total Shipments of Stock for Seven Years. Valuation of Stock Handled at These Yards in Twenty Years.
CHAPTER LIII. HISTORY OF THE WICHITA UNION STOCK YARDS. ..... 687 Largest Receipts in One Day. Largest Receipts in One Week. Largest Receipts in One Month. Largest Receipts in One Year. Record Growth in Live Stock Business. Yearly Shipments by the Railroads. Wichita's Prominence as a Stock and Feeder Market. Stock Market That Satisfies. Development of Packing Industry. CHAPTER LIV. BIOGRAPHY. 704
656
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS, VOL. I
Davidson, C. L. 44
Fairmount College 326
First House in Wichita Frontispiece
Friends University
350
Kimball, E. D .. 100
Main Street, Wichita 182
Mathewson, William 280
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS, VOL. II
Bentley, O. H .. 498
First Episcopal Church. 548
Friends University 648 748 Hatfield, Rodolph
Russell Hall 698
Sedgwick County Courthouse Frontispiece
University Avenue
598
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HISTORY OF SEDGWICK COUNTY
CHAPTER I.
THE CITY OF WICHITA.
By O. H. BENTLEY.
The ardent friends of Wichita are those who live within its borders; those who sojourn away from it long to return. It is always eulogized by its absent friends. Favorably located at the junction of two rivers, it aptly illustrates the saying that large streams always flow past great cities. That Wichita is the city of destiny, was a belief always fondly cherished by its founders. Wichita today is the most prosperous and rapidly growing city in the state of Kansas. It is the second city in size in the state and most favorably located on the banks of the Arkansas river, in one of the most fertile and productive valleys in America.
The population of Wichita is cosmopolitan in nature and energetic in spirit ; is enterprising and public spirited. The city, being built upon the plains, had no special advantages geographically over any other part of the state. It so happened, however, that an aggregation of men constituted its first inhab- itants who were wide awake to every opportunity that offered, and embraced them with a full knowledge of their value and importance. Around this nucleus of pioneer heroes came later on other and younger men of the same character, who promptly joined hands with those who laid the foundation of the city, and together, and in harmonious accord, pushed the city to the front and held it there. Whenever a united effort was required to accomplish a given object for the upbuilding of the city, not a laggard or a "kicker" was found within its ranks. Thus, by
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HISTORY OF SEDGWICK COUNTY
reason of a remarkable unity of action and purpose on the part of all, a city has been builded of which its architects are justly proud.
Looking at the city as a whole, it possesses that rotundity not often found in cities of rapid growth.
Its foundation is laid upon the character and extent of the soil and climate of the surrounding territory. No country is blessed with a greater expanse of productive soil than that surrounding Wichita for hundreds of miles, which, as agricultural possibilities are developed, will always insure a most substantial trade for its merchants and consequent increase in the city's importance as a commercial center.
Within a radius of one hundred miles of the city there is already being produced annually 50,000,000 bushels of wheat, twice that many bushels of corn, and other cereals in proportion, together with a live stock production not exceeded in any section of the country of the same area. The jobbing trade of Wichita for the year 1909 reached the handsome aggregate of $30,000,000. Wichita is now making rapid strides as a jobbing center. There are four large wholesale grocery houses, two large and rapidly extending packing plants, with others in prospect, two wholesale dry goods houses, two wholesale hardware establishments, one being one of the largest in the interior West, one wholesale millinery house, one wholesale hat house, several farm imple- ment houses, besides a large number of smaller plants covering every possible line of trade.
Wichita's wholesale territory covers southern and western Kansas, reaching as far east as Fall River, and a large part of Oklahoma and a portion of western Texas. This territory is being rapidly extended.
During the year 1908 the wholesale lumber dealers of Wichita handled 12,000 cars of lumber, valued at $4,000,000, while that manufactured into house furnishings by its five sash and door factories amounts to many thousands more. The city's manufactured products for 1909 sold on the markets for $9,000,000. Wichita is rapidly forging to the front as a grain and milling center. The number of cars of gram handled by members of its Board of Trade in 1908 was 22,600 and in 1909 approximately 25,000. Its milling capacity is at present 4,000 barrels of flour per day. The four splendid flouring mills now in operation have handled during 1909 the immense
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THE CITY OF WICHITA
amount of 9,500 cars of grain and its products, the largest in the history of the city. This amount will be largely increased during the coming year. It is estimated that the wheat tributary to Wichita will aggregate 50,000,000 bushels annually, and by reason of favorable conditions now under consideration by the various systems of railroads serving this market may soon be increased to a greater sum. Wichita's bank deposits for the week closing with February, 1910, were $12,000,000, which is an average month. This volume of business is transacted by eleven banks, whose clearing house reports show an average weekly transaction of business amounting to one and a half million dollars. The volume of merchandise of all descriptions consumed in Wichita and shipped through its jobbing houses to its legiti- mate country trade, when measured in bulk, reaches the enormous sum of 50,000 carloads, not counting grain shipments, which have been given in a separate item. The Union Stock Yards handled in 1909 756,560 hogs, 184,659 cattle, 22,796 sheep and 3,645 horses and mules, or over 14,083 cars of stock. Much of this was con- verted into packing house products by the two packing houses, whose daily capacity is 10,000 hogs, 5,000 cattle and 2,500 sheep. Nine hundred men are employed by these two institutions alone, while their combined products amount to 50,000,000 pounds annually. According to the latest enumeration Wichita has 230 manufacturing concerns of all descriptions, whose aggregate output runs into many millions of dollars. The farm implement trade in Wichita has within the last few years assumed flattering proportions. There are now located here fifty houses and agencies handling farm implements, many of these being branch houses, while others are transfer agencies only.
The street railway system of the city consists of thirty-five miles of splendidly equipped road, laid with heavy T rails, and a large share of it paved, two miles being laid in 1907 to the new Wonderland Park and the new fair grounds, with an added equipment of ten new cars. Forty passenger trains daily serve the city, running over fourteen diverging lines of road, and operated by five great systems. The public buildings are excep- tionally fine for a young western town. They comprise the city hall, built of stone, cost $300,000; federal building, of stone, cost $300,000; Kansas Sanitarium, of brick, cost $50,000; Masonic Temple, stone, cost $250,000; county court house, of stone, cost $250,000; new fire stations, of stone and brick, built in 1907 at
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HISTORY OF SEDGWICK COUNTY
a cost of $31,000; Y. M. C. A. building, of brick, built in 1907 at a cost of $110,000. Wichita has fifteen public school buildings, twenty-nine churches, fifteen news journals (two daily), five hospitals, two homes for orphans and indigents, water works, gas and electric light, two telephone systems, libraries, and a parking system comprising in the aggregate 300 acres of lawns and flower beds, forests and ponds. Fairmount College, Friends' University, Mount Carmel Academy and Lewis Academy merit special men- tion, because of their vigorous growth, large attendance and wide influence, and consequent results in advancing the educational interests of the Southwest.
Natural gas conditions in 1908 show a very great improve- ment. Mains and service pipes to the extent of 150 miles are laid to every part of the city and manufacturers are being sup- plied with gas at a cost of 10 to 121/2 cents per thousand feet. In the neighborhood of 350 manufacturing plants and 5,000 homes are at present supplied with gas. The Edison Light and Power Company expended $385,000 during 1907 in its new plant and appurtenances and has the most modern electric light and power system in the United States today ; electricity costing 40 per cent less in 1907 than in 1906. Wichita's hospitals, also, the Wichita Hospital and St. Francis Hospital, deserve the admiration of the citzens for the relief afforded by them to suffering humanity. In these two institutions are treated patients from all parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and even Texas and New Mexico. The city spent in 1907 $100,000 for the storm water sewer now in course of construction, which when completed will cost $297,000. Drainage canal and concrete bridge crossing the same, $120,000. Paving in 1907, 12 miles, 20 miles in 1909 and 50 miles in 1910.
A knowledge of the growth of the city may be gained from the summary given below: The total cost of business houses constructed during 1908 was $800,000 ; public buildings, $200,000; dwellings, $1,000,000 ; thus making a total expenditure in business and residence construction of $2,000,000. Of these gratifying results the Wichita commercial bodies are not only very proud, but feel a deep and lasting interest because of efforts in bringing them about. By united efforts in placing the advantages of the city before the world, inquiries are constantly coming from all states in the Union for further details regarding special lines in which the inquirer may happen to be personally interested. The greatest factor, however. in keeping Wichita in the public eye
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THE CITY OF WICHITA
is the unswerving loyalty of its general citizenship at home and abroad. The 500 "Knights of the Grip" having their headquar- ters and residences in Wichita never tire of singing the virtues of their chosen city, and to them is due much of the credit for its success, and they are still on their way. For the past two or three years another important factor in the upbuilding of Wichita has been the Chamber of Commerce, composed of some of the best business men of Wichita. This is the second commercial body of the city, and without jealousy, in connection with the Commercial Club, works incessantly for the general good of the city. The Chamber of Commerce has already secured new and most commodious rooms on the tenth floor of the new Beacon block, and when located in its new quarters will greatly add to its numerical strength and numerical importance. The Commer- cial Club, the senior commercial body of the city, is now erecting a magnificent structure six stories in height at the corner of Market and First. These commercial bodies are a tower of strength to the city and are its pride, and their endorsement usually carries any fair proposition with the taxpayers. The present outlook for the city, in every direction, far exceeds that of any previous year, and that Wichita will attain a population of 100,000 in 1915 seems more than probable to its people. The Polk-McAvoy directory people, who have just completed the annual directory of the city, place its population at this time at 60,000. Commercial men report a large increase this year over last, and all lines of trade are especially prosperous. The outlook for the future of Wichita as a large and commanding city in the interior West is superb.
CHAPTER II. EARLY HISTORY OF WICHITA.
By FRED A. SOWERS.
Wichita was named after the band of Indians called the Wichitas. They came into this valley in 1864 and settled along the Little Arkansas river, between the junction and the old fair grounds. Some of their tepees were still standing on the land formerly owned by William Greiffenstein, north of town, as late as 1871. A chartered company was formed at Topeka, in the summer of 1868, comprised of ex-Governor Crawford, J. R. Mead, W. W. Lawrence, E. P. Bancroft (of Emporia), A. F. Horner and D. S. Munger, the latter arriving here during the same year, when the survey and plat of the original town were made by Mr. Finn. William Greiffenstein soon afterwards bought Lank Moore's claim. It now comprises Greiffenstein's original addition, on which the main portion of Wichita now stands.
At that time the business and prospects were away north of the present business center. Henry Vigus ran the "Buckhorn Tavern," where every class of frontiersman as well as border terror had a home. A music box was one of the features of the hotel, which was in itself most enlivening, often engaging the motley assemblies into a dirt floor dance. On one occasion it provoked the ire of Jack Ledford. While the Buckhorns were engaged at the evening repast he jerked a "Navy" from his belt and silenced it forever. Several of Wichita's citizens still here left the table precipitately to get fresh air outside.
"Durfee's Ranch" was the headquarters; Milo B. Kellogg was postmaster, clerk and bookkeeper, assisted by Charlie Hunter. Henry Vigus was doing the saddlery job work; Charley Garrison was mail rider, afterwards starting the first regular saddlery shop here. A long adobe south of Durfee's Ranch was Jack
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EARLY HISTORY OF WICHITA
Peyton's saddle shop and "Dutch Tobe's" shoe repair. John Gifford kept a saloon and refreshment stand in the log house, afterwards used as a stable by W. C. Woodman; he was the first man who died a natural death among the whites. A great many of the Wichita Indians died here during the cholera epi- demic of 1866 and '67. As late as 1870 many skulls and curiosi- ties were to be found on the prairie north of town, many of which Henry Vigus labeled with outlandish names and sent to the Smithsonian Institution, at Washington, D. C. At that early day there was no lack of amusement, as the soldiers stationed here had formed a negro minstrel troupe out of their numbers, spoken of to this day as being equal to the best shows on the kerosene circuit. Their music also furnished the prime feature of frequent "adobe dances," with no sleep until morning, while "chasing the hours with flying feet."
Then D. S. Munger kept a hotel at which H. C. Sluss was a productive boarder. It has since been converted into a residence by W. C. Woodman. D. S. Munger was likewise postmaster and carried the mail in his hat. He used to empty the mail pouches on a bed and sort 'em over, putting enough in his hat for imme- diate delivery. He would then place one knee on the prairie and look them over; if he met the owner of one he would often call out to Mollie when his memory failed or a letter was floating around the house, or paper gone, if "she knew where Dan or Sam Hoover's or Doc Fabriques's paper was?" Whatever the response, he would look knowing, spit out some tobacco, readjust his cud, re-hat the mail, clinch it with his large red handkerchief, and lay plans for the future metropolis. He is gone, God bless him, to greater rest than he found here; but not without having lived to see Wichita a thriving city and he its police magistrate.
Doc. Lewellen kept the first grocery in the log house just north of Woodman's after Durfee's retirement, afterwards at the extreme north end of Main street. His old, two-story frame was afterwards the adjunct to one of our elevators. Lewellen's hall was over the grocery, and it was in this stately edifice (then) that the court was held after its removal from the sunflower roofed abode of Jack Peyton and Dutch Tobe. It was in this hall that Uncle Jack Peyton delivered his celebrated lecture on "Theology and Theocracy." Uncle Jack was a character as well as a saddler. Nature or an accident had shortened one of his limbs, otherwise he would have stood six feet and was built
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HISTORY OF SEDGWICK COUNTY
in proportion. But as he was he would oscillate six feet or four feet and would rise and fall at his will. He had a most stentorian gift of voice and could out-swear a native Arizonian. He was pedantic and at times given heavily to grog. To these grog periods were we indebted for the first lecture course that ever attracted a Wichita audience. The subject, as above, was given to the public in a small wood type hand bill printed at the "Vidette" office, then boasting of only one wood font. The hall was brilliantly illuminated with six tallow candles held in their own grease, a store box the stand, and boards laid on nail kegs the seats. Quite a crowd of ladies and gentlemen were present ; all kinds, and all expectant. Jim Vigus was present near the speaker's stand. Jim was an uproarious but always repentant bummer, always "full," and always ready to cry because of the lamentable fact, "cheeky," loud and shrill voiced, a lightning talker himself, but a poor listener.
After some delay Uncle Jack got up, six feet high, standing on one pin, announced his subject in a way down voice, started out deep and clear, but drunk and misty in ideas. He said: "Ladies and gentlemen, theology is religion as taught to the ministerial profession, theocracy is the-is the-well, anyhow (getting down to four feet), she defies the moral world." At this point up jumps Jim Vigus and rattled on like a buzzard clock: "Boys, old Jack Peyton don't know what he is talking about. I want to tell you the cause of getting drunk." Here Uncle Jack would rattle the windows with "Set down! Who paid for these candles, who rented this hall?"
In this strain for nearly an hour the lecture continued until nothing but shrieks of laughter and the occasional popping of a revolver through one of the open windows could be heard. In the midst of it all the lecture closed. Uncle Jack went to his shop and bottle, after a promise of what he would do in the same line " 't show 'em soon." Shortly after he and Jim both disappeared. But what they left behind them on this occasion will be remembered to the death hour of those who were fortunate enough to be present. Many other amusing incidents occurred that limited space will not admit of repeating. So we will narrow down to succinct history.
William Mathewson was here at an early date, freighting through Wichita as early as 1860. His wife was the first white woman that crossed the Arkansas river at this point (so far as
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EARLY HISTORY OF WICHITA
known), date 1865. The first sermon was preached in Durfrees Ranch in 1868 by Rev. Mr. Saxley, a Baptist, and the only hymn the boys knew was "Old John Brown." Mrs. Vigus was the first white woman that made Wichita her home, a most estimable and gentle natured lady who died in 1871. Mrs. D. S. Munger, who died in 1893, was the hostess of the Munger house. Mrs. Water- man, Mrs. N. A. English, Mrs. Everts, Mrs. Sayles, Mrs. Hunter, Mrs. Hall, Mrs. J. P. Allen, Mrs. H. H. Allen, Mrs. Abraham Smith and Mrs. Meagher were among the earlier settlers and all possessed of qualities that so distinguishes the unselfish sacrifices of the true pioneer women over all others. The first child born in the county, so far as known, was Sam Hoover's son, Sedgwick, born December 25, 1869, and named after his native county. The first child born in Wichita village was Frank H., son of Joseph P. Allen, druggist, July 3, 1870, surviving only about two months. Maud Teeter was born a few months prior, March 8th, but in the country adjacent to Wichita. The first marriage was that of Perry Eaton in the winter of 1869. Reuben Riggs opened the first law office during the winter of 1869, and H. C. Sluss in the spring. Steeie, Bright & Roe the first real estate office, north of the Ida May house on Main street. Joe Allen opened the first drug store on North Main street; Aldrich & Simmous still further north and near the corner of Main and Pine streets. John Dickey, now of Newton, was postmaster then, and the office was in Aldrich & Simmons' drug store. Jack Ledford traded Hubbard out of his interest with Matsill in the general merchandise busi- ness, getting also the Grand Hotel, then being built (afterwards the rear part of the Tremont). The store stood in an old two- story frame on the corner of Third and Main streets, where the first numbers of the "Eagle" were printed in 1872. Jack Led- ford named the hotel the "Harris" House, to honor the maiden name of his wife. The hotel was not run by him over a month before he was killed in a street fight, almost in front of his hotel, late in February, 1871, by a company of United States soldiers and a band of government scouts who sought to arrest him for one of his past pleasantries (robbing a government train of fifty wagons and running off the stock, besides killing several of the drivers).
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