History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time, Part 17

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > Nebraska > Custer County > History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time > Part 17

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LASSOED AN ELK

James Farley tells this elk story: "Toward the end of my cowboy career I worked for the Bar-7 ranch, of which David Rankin was prin- cipal owner. This ranch was located on the Middle Loup.

"Large herds of elk roamed over the coun- try at that time. While on the round-up in 1881 we sighted a large bunch, which had winded us. The boys off with their ropes and after them. C. W. Stern. John Carney. Bert Wilder, Charley Peterson (a green hand at the cattle business ), and six or eight others were in the chase, and there was enacted one of the most thrilling incidents ever witnessed on the plains of Nebraska. Peterson singled out the biggest buck in the bunch, and as soon as Charley began to press him hard, he left the

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bunch and ran in another direction, Peterson close at his heels. I knew that Charley would never let up until he had secured the buck, and I knew full as well that he would have trouble when he threw his rope over the powerful beast, as he never carried a gun. I followed him as fast as my horse could carry me. I lost sight of him for a while in the chop hills, but soon discovered him again as I rode up a little hill. He had the elk at the end of his rope about eighty rods from me. The first move I saw was the elk making a run on the rope. and when he came to the end of it he fell heavily to the ground. He then jumped up and charged Peterson's horse. As he came on. head down, at the rate of about fifty miles an hour. Charley spurred his horse to one side and let the elk pass, and gave him another tumble as the rope tightened up. I waited to see no more but galloped as fast as my horse could carry me to his assistance, as I knew that it was only a question of time when the infuriated brute would catch the fearless boy in one of his charges. As I rode up. the elk was making his third charge, but Peterson evaded him again and gave him another ttin- ble at the end of his rope. When about 300 feet from Peterson the elk had again regained his feet, lowered his head for another charge. his eyes flashing fire, and with terrific bounds - made for the phuicky boy. It seemed to me that it would be impossible for him to get out of the way of those terrible horns. But again he let the elk pass by without touching him and again he brought the brute to the ground at the end of the rope, pulling him square over on his back. Quick as lightning l'eter- son reined his horse backward, tightened the rope, jumped out of the saddle, whipped out a big jack knife, and slashed it across the throat of the prostrate beast. 1 shouted to him with all my might to desist, as I expected to see him killed every second, but he heard nothing and saw nothing but that elk and before I came up Peterson was back in his saddle. 'What the devil did you do that for?' I shout- ed. as soon as I reached him. I did na want loossee ma rope - da boys da laugh at ma.' The other boys followed the bunch and C. N.

Stern succeeded in roping two of them at one throw, but one of them got away. None of the boys that saw the sport will ever forget it."

LOST IN THE SAND ITILLS

"Once seventy-five men started from Ray- mond lake, fifteen miles west of the head of Middle Loup river to go to the Newman ranch on the Running Water. We were driving 1.500 head of cattle for the northern ranches. We missed our course and traveled for two days in a circle, among the sand hills. We had water for neither horses nor cattle, and on the third day the poor brutes became frantic with thirst. It took the utmost efforts of the men to keep them from breaking away, and their bellowing was something absolutely heart- rending. Men could be seen on every hill around us trying to see if water could be dis- covered. At last I saw two men standing on a hill some distance off motioning in such a way that I knew they had found something. rode up to them and found the nicest little lake of pure water I have ever seen among the sand hills. We all filled our kegs before let- ting the cattle into the water. After the re- joicing at our find had somewhat subsided we discovered that we were within half a mile of the place from which we had started three days before. We had a good compass, but all the men had declared the compass was no good. Stern had told them of an old trail which led to the Running Water, and they expected to follow that, but it was so dim they crossed it without noticing it, and kept traveling in a circle for three days. After a good breakfast and all the water we could drink. John Darr, two other cowboys, and myself, were sent out to find the old trail, which we soon did. and led the party out of the wilderness, reaching our destination safely in due time."

HUNTERS FIND GAME IN THE BED

Jess Gandy tells the following: "In the fall of 1876. in company with Charles Penn, 1 left York. Nebraska, and came up into Cus- ter county on a hunt. We arrived after dark at Mr. Murphy's place, on Clear creek. On our approach the dogs began a violent bark-

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HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

ing, and suddenly the lights went out. We deffer's the following evening. We hunted thought this rather strange, but proceeded to with Mr. McEndeffer about a week, and had splendid success, having killed several deer. I will say Charley Penn is the only man 1 ever saw who could shoot quicker than I. knock on the door several times before we received any response. Finally a childish voice rang out on the night air with a deter- mined and rather angry accent : 'Who are you and what do you want?' 'We are hunters, and wish to stay all night.' 'That's too thin. Leave or I will shoot through the door.' 'Say, Sis, where is your pa?' 'That's no concern of yours. Leave or I'll shoot."

"We thought discretion the better part of valor, got out of range of the door, and final- ly convinced the two plucky little girls within, who were only about ten and fourteen years old, that we were friends. They had heard the dogs bark, took us for Indians or horse thieves, and had turned out the light, got the gun and proceeded to 'liold the fort.' We learned that Mr. Murphy and his wife had not yet returned from a cedar canyon near by, where they were loading cedar to take to Grand Island the following day.

"There could be quite a romance written about this family. Mr. Murphy had a few cattle and the two children had to do the herding and have had to subsist for three weeks at a time on a small grass nut which they dug while herding their cattle. But to return to our story. Mr. Murphy and his wife came in presently and we were hospitably entertained. The next morning we were di-

rected to Mr. McEndeffer's place, Mr. Mur- phy's closest neighbor, on the Muddy. about

ten miles in a southwesterly direction. We had only proceeded a short distance when we sighted a band of elk, and everything else was forgotten in the exciting chase which ensued. We found ourselves at night over twenty miles out of our course, and in the midst of a gen- uine Nebraska blizzard. We selected a shel- tered place on the banks of the Muddy, where we could obtain fuel, and camped until morn- ing. We lost sight of the elk the previous evening among the hills, not having been able to get a single shot at them at less than 700 yards.

"In the morning it was still storming, and we retraced our steps and arrived at MeEn-

"While on this trip we camped all night in an old deserted sod house and found a large heap of tumble weeds and tickle grass blown up into one corner of the room. Being very tired, we did not stop to investigate what might be hidden under this immense stack of debris, but proceeded to spread our tarpaulins on it and make our bed.

"After a little, Charley was snoring away at the rate of about three knots an hour. 1 felt our bed move, but thought it must be my imagination. After a little the movements beneath became so violent there could be no mistake that there was something underneath our bed. 1 remembered when a boy of hear- ing that circumstances sometimes make strange bedfellows, and I thought we 'had 'em sure.' nudged Charley quietly and whispered, 'Charley, there's something under our bed.' But I might just as well have talked to the sod walls. He kept right on 'sawing wood.' The rolling and tumbling motion continued with still greater violence every minute, until I was beginning to get seasick. I got desper- ate, and, springing up in bed, fairly shouted in Charley's ear: 'Charley, there's something alive under our bed,' and Charley came back from dreamland with a snort and puff just as we began slowly sinking toward the ground and the heaving and surging motion ceased. Looking out toward the door we saw a long procession of little dark-looking objects, with white stripes on their backs, filing out of the door, and then realized that we had been sleep- ing on top of a family of skunks which had taken up their winter quarters in the place."

HAD NO RELIGION

An amusing incident happened in Judge Ford's court one day during a trial in which the Rev. Albert M- (colored) and his wife were trying to enforce claims against an es- tate being probated at the time. Al. Johnson was conducting the cross examination. Mrs.

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M- was upon the stand. It was revealed by the witnesses that the claims of the "Rey- run" and his wife were somewhat antagonistic and at the moment Al. said to Mrs. MI-, "Your husband is a preacher, is he not?" And to the consternation of all present, she answer- ed. "No. sir, he aint no preacher ; dat man aint got no religum." How could he be a preacher? It is reported that the dignity of the court relaxed.

ONE OF THE COUNTY "DADS"

In the days when the old court house was in existence there was an antiquity in the dis- trict-court room in the shape of an old, smoky stove. At that time "Scotty" was the super- intendent of the court house and he alone knew how to regulate the stove so that it would not smoke. One day while the county "Dads" were in session in the district-court room the old stove began to "smoke 'em out." and about that time Colonel Cooper came into the room. He punched the fire until he had the room full of smoke and then he put this conundrum to the crowd. "Why is this old stove like the County Dads ?" No one could answer it. "Because it smokes all day and is out all night," responded Cooper.

A PRAIRIE FIRE

We have already mentioned the names of T. W. Dean, Leroy Leep and Gus Cosler. A peculiar incident happened to these parties on November 20, 1875, after the settlement in the precinct. About three o'clock in the morn- ing Mr. Dean was awakened from a sound sleep, and discovered that his room was as light as day - the whole heavens seemed to be on fire. He sprang out of bed, gathered his pants, and proceeded to put them on. At this moment Gus Coster came dashing up shouting "fire! fire! fire!" It was a prairie fire coming from the northwest - a grand and awful sight, never to be forgotten. Property and life were at stake. The head fire was com- ing on in the west of them at the speed of a race horse. A stiff gale was blowing from the northwest. One hundred yards in advance of the main body of fire. Dean had turned his

horses loose, and they proceeded south toward the river. A pony was lariated near the house and Lee Leep, then being present, quickly mounted the animal and followed the loose horses, the only hope being to find them and drive them east across a piece of breaking be- fore the fire reached them. He almost reached the place where he knew the horses were, after having left the strip of breaking which was just mentioned. Just as he came to a deep ravine, he saw the flames shoot twenty feet high and dash madly forward. Being too far from the river to make his escape in that di- rection, he wheeled his horse through the blinding smoke and madly lashed him toward the strip of breaking. Blinded with smoke, burned by fire, and almost suffocated, he reached the breaking, hands and face burned, hair and eye-brows scorched, panting and ex- hausted. After the fire had passed, one of the horses was found on the river bank, so badly burned that it lived but a few days. The other ran into the river and made its way nearly to the opposite side, where it became mired in the quick sand and was found during the day by Mr. Dean. The neighbors were summoned, and an effort was made to save the beast, but it was so bruised and burned that after trying to get it out for half a day it had to be killed.

This left Mr. Dean without a team, but this matter was adjusted, however. Gus Cos- ler had an ox team, but no wagon, so they formed a partnership. Dean furnished the wagon and Coster the team, and thus they succeeded in getting along until they could devise means to do otherwise.

TWIN TRAGEDIES

Ex-Judge H. J. Shinn is to be credited with this recital of a double tragedy which occurred on the table land of Cummings Park in 1883 and 1885, by which two respected citizens of the park met their death in a way so similar that the coincidence is remarkable.

The park is an elevated portion of the pre- cinet. and wells to the depth of 200 feet or more are the rule, while there are some wells that would exceed 250 feet. In the first settle-

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ment of this locality the well or water question was a very perplexing one. It was known that the whole country contained sheet water on a certain level, and of course on hill land it was farther to water than on low land. Settlers were poor and as a rule were unable to bear the expense of a hydraulic or a casting well, as they now have it. As a consequence they resorted to digging wells, even at that great depth, casing them with lumber through the sand and gravel, and drawing or elevating the water by means of a horse, or two horses, as the ease might be, with a rope extending over pulleys, attached to a half barrel, with a valve in the bottom. Among those who had wells as above described were Samuel Abernathy and James Cummings, and by reason of that fact a sad coincidence happened. In the fall of 1883 Samuel Abernathy caused a well to be dug on his premises to the depth of 196 feet, having procured an inexhaustible supply of water. Soon after its construction, one morn- ing, while attempting to draw water, the bucket, or barrel, caught at the bottom of the well against the curb. Mr. Abernathy, think- ing that it would be necessary to go to the bot- tom of the well to unfasten the bucket, there being no rope convenient except the one that the bucket was fastened to, told his brother that he could fasten the rope at the top and twine it around his foot and slide to the bottom of the well. His brother protested against such a hazardous undertaking, but to no avail, and he at once attempted to make the descent. After having proceeded about six feet from the top of the well his hold gave way and he fell to the bottom of the well, 196 feet. To the surprise of his brother he was found to be alive and conscious. Help was summoned, and on investigation it was found that by his falling into the bucket or barrel he had jarred it loose, whereupon he gave orders that he was able to hold on to the bucket or rope until they could raise him from the well. They pro- ceeded to draw him up, and to the surprise of all they were successful in doing this, land- ing him at the top conscious, yet badly bruised and mangled, one arm broken in several places, his legs broken and his body badly bruised.

Although everything was done that could pos- sibly be done for his comfort, he only lived about four hours.

Later on, in September. 1885, James Cum- mings, one of Cummings Park's respected citi- zens, met with a sad and similar fate to the one just narrated. Soon after his settlement he caused a well to be dug after the style of the one mentioned above, but to the depth of 210 feet. This well had been dug for about three years, and Mr. Cummings, thinking that possibly the eurb had become rotten to such an extent that it would be necessary to recurb, said to his wife one morning that he would hitch a team to the end of the rope and tie a stick to the other end, and she might let him down in the well for the purpose of examin- ing it. Thereupon the rope was drawn out its full length, laid upon the ground, one end ex- tending over the pulley and tied in the center of a stick about two feet long, and a team was hitched to the other end, face from the well.

Mr. Cummings, taking a small stick in his hand, and sitting on the stick and astride the rope, directed his wife to back the team and let him down slowly. Slowly and slowly the team backed. The wife conld hear the rap- ping of the stick on the curb until within about ten feet of the bottom of the well she heard the cry of "stop!" Then again she heard the rapping of the stick on the eurb, then instantly came loud and clear a tremend- ous crash. The wife, well knowing the cause, in- stantly screamed at the team, but they could not raise the husband from the earth that had fallen upon him. She hastened to the well and called to her husband, but no response was heard. She called again and again, but everything was as still as death. Excited and terror-stricken, she called for help. Friends and neighbors, hearing her cry, hurried to the rescue. What could be done? Buried alive two hundred feet below the surface of the earth! News of the disaster spread like wild fire. Stout men and sympathizing women hur- ried to the scene to lend such aid as might be necessary. On investigation it was found that the well had caved in for a distance of over twenty feet, leaving a large cavity above Mr.

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Cummings. After examining the situation, it was decided to send for one William Garlock, who was an experienced well man. During this time nothing was done, but upon his ar- rival he took charge of the rescuing. and said that it would be necessary to procure lumber to recurb the portion caved in : consequently teams were sent to West Union, and the work of rescuing proceeded as rapidly as possible. He first directed that it would be necessary to shovel dirt into the well for the purpose of filling up the cavity before proceeding with the digging. After this was done and the curb cut, ready to place in the well, Mr. Garlock, with the aid of helpers, proceeded to uncover the doomed man. At this time he was covered with dirt to the depth of about twenty feet. Soon after the digging began, Mr. Garlock reported that Mr. Cummings was alive, for he could hear him breathing. This was a great surprise to the friends and neighbors who were so anxiously waiting. The work proceeded with more rapidity than before, and report af- ter report came up from the well digger that Mr. Cummings was still alive. AAfter about ten hours of constant work the head of the doomed man was uncovered, and to the sur- prise of all it was found that he was conscious and able to give instructions. Slowly, slowly and persistently. the noble well-digger pro- ceeded. until the entire body down below the knees was uncovered.

At this time everybody was anxiously lis- tening for orders to pull the doomed man to the top, but instead a voice was heard from below: "Let the rope down! I want to come up!" The rope was quickly let down and the well man taken from the well. Everybody wondered what was the matter, and gathered about him for information. He told them that he could do no more : that the man's feet were under the curb, and that he could not extend his curb on account of the dry ground - that if he undertook to dig below the curb, as he would have to do in order to get his feet out, the ground would run in and cause the well to cave, and that it could not possibly be done. Hle further said that the only thing that could be done was to fasten a rope around him and

pull him loose by force; that there was one chance of saving his life in this way, but that he was entirely exhausted, and could do noth- ing more. Another man being present who had some experience in well-making, volun- teered to go down and fasten the rope around him. After this was done, as many as twen- ty-five men took hold of the rope above, and at a command, began pulling gradually, pull- ing harder and harder until the rope broke.

As quick as thought, some one present suggested that he had at his home a three- quarter rope that he thought was strong enough to pull him out, and accordingly some one was dispatched for the rope, and in a very short time returned with it. Again the well man descended and securely fastened the rope around the body, and again returned to the top of the well. On his arrival, as many men as could get hold of the rope (lid so. and at a command began pulling as before. Steady. stronger and stronger. they pulled until the body was released, every man falling to his knees, the rope having been drawn so tight that when he became loosened he was thrown up several feet. Orders were given to raise him fast, lest the well should again cave. Af- ter he was drawn out of danger, orders were given to go slow. This was done, and in a few seconds Mr. Cummings was at the top of the well, alive, rational, and able to tell his experience. He said that he did not realize that he had been in the well so long, although he was conscious all the time; that he knew when they were throwing dirt into the well. and knew when the well-man began digging ; he thought, however, that the falling of the dirt in the well was a heavy thunder storm.

Dr. Wamsley was present and took charge of the case, but found it a bad one. The body was bruised, and the bowels so badly torn that inflammation set in and in four days the poor victim died. The accident happened about eight o'clock on Saturday morning, and it was two o'clock Sunday afternoon when Mr. Cummings was taken from the well. Thus he remained in the well about thirty hours. eighteen hours of this time being under ground a distance of about twenty feet, and

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his having lived while in this condition was due, doubtless, to the fact that an iron pipe, used for pumping purposes, was hanging in the well and his face was against it, thus af- fording him sufficient air to keep him alive.

This sad accident will ever be remembered by the old settlers of Cummings Park with sadness, as Mr. Cummings was one of our best citizens, and his untimely death cast a gloom of despair over the entire community.

A WATERMELON STAMPEDE

James E. Farley, who was in an early day one of Custer county's cowboys, and later one of our substantial citizens, followed Texas cat- tle and the trail to Ogallala in the spring of 1879 and from Ogallala shuffled into the South Loup country. He was employed for a time on the Finch-Hatton ranch and was familiar with all the famous characters who operated in the days of cattle. Aside from throwing side lights on the difficulty of handling wild cattle, he refers, in a worldly way, to water- melons :

"Cattle generally follow some leader, string- ing out in single file, and they will follow the leader as long as he runs. If we were able to keep up with the leader or head him off we could get the cattle to going in a circle, and after a while to bunch them and get them stopped. Sometimes we were not able to get ahead of the cattle in a stampede. but had to follow alongside, catching glimpses of them when the lightning flashed, strung out a long distance ahead of us. Many of these cattle were five or six years old, had never been near a man since they were branded, and were as wild as a herd of buffaloes. When we started out with them the first week they were on the constant lookout to get away. After suc- ceeding a few times, some of them became spoiled to such an extent that they had to be killed to keep them from demoralizing the rest of the herd. One time there were two cow camps of us holding cattle on the head of Cow creek. Jim Dalzell, a lone settler, had a fine watermelon patch and he told the cow- boys that they could have all the melons they wanted, but some of the boys in the other camp

thought it would be so much nicer to steal them, and our camp, in connection with one of their men. put up a job on them that caused all of us to have three weeks' extra work. We found out the time set by the boys of the other camp to make a raid on the melons, and sta- tioned our men in the patch to welcome them when they entered. They soon made their appearance, tied their horses, and came over into the patch, Billy Kessler, the man in the plot, leading them right up to where we were hidden in a bunch of weeds. We had taken the balls out of our cartridges to prevent any accident in the darkness. 'Come over this way, boys ; here's some fine ones,' shouted Bil- ly, as he led them toward us. We could hear them scrambling. through the melon vines, thumping the melons as they came. When within a few feet of us, we sprang out with a yell and 'bang, bang, bang,' went the re- volvers. Billy bravely held his ground, re- turning our fire, but the other boys took to their heels, dashed through the creek, with us after them, and firing at every jump. In their fright they rushed through both herds of cattle. The cattle stampeded and scam- pered away over the prairie and it took us three weeks to get them together again after this adventure."

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History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time, Part 17

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company
Number of Pages: 1180