USA > Wyoming > History of Wyoming, Volume I > Part 17
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He first reached Wyoming in October, 1859, passing over what is now Chey- enne nearly eight years before the town came into existence. In a recent edition
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of the Cheyenne Leader, Mr. Voorhees gives a history of the Overland Stage Company, organized in 1857, which is replete with thrilling incidents. The main historical facts are given elsewhere in this work. Speaking of the perils they encountered, he relates the following incidents :
A BLACK FACE SKINNED
In March, 1862, as if every Indian in the country had been especially instructed (the Shoshones and Bannocks in the western mountains and the Sioux on the plains), simultaneously pounced upon every station between Bridger's Ferry and Bear River (about where Evanston, Wyo., now stands). They captured the horses and mules on that division of the Overland route. The stages, passengers, and express were left standing at stations. The Indians did not, on that raid, kill anyone except at Split Rock on the Sweetwater. Holliday being a little stylish had brought out from Pennsylvania a colored man who had been raised in that state and who could only talk Pennsylvania Dutch. The Indians when they reached Split Rock called on Black Face, as they called him, to make heap biscuit, heap coff (meaning coffee), heap shug. Black Face said, nix come roush. They then spoke to Black Face in Mexican. The colored man shook his head and said, nixey. Whereupon they tried a little French half-breed talk. Black Face again said "nix fershta." In the meantime the colored man seemed about to collapse. Things looked serious for him. After a consultation they concluded to skin him alive and get heap rawhide. Then they said heap shoot. So they killed the poor fellow, helped themselves to the grub and left.
In the year 1857, Mr. Voorhees made the trip from Lawrence, Kan., up the Kansas River to the confluence of the Smoky Hill and Republican and thence west on the plains about one hundred and fifty miles, on a buffalo hunt, and later in 1859, made a trip up the Arkansas River via Bent's Old Fort to "Pikes Peak or bust," camped where Denver now stands and went over the country from the South Platte to Pawnee Buttes. On this trip he saw buffalo herds covering the plains for 200 miles and he says that the word "millions" would not express their number. He saw one of the greatest herds in the vicinity of Pine Bluffs, about forty miles east of Cheyenne, now the Golden Prairie district, where many dry farmers are getting rich raising wheat, oats and live stock. He also on this trip passed over the present site of Cheyenne. His early recollec- tions of the city which are very interesting appear in other parts of this history. One incident is mentioned of a
NOVEL WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT
An important occurrence was the advent of a velocipede on January 23. 1868, which the cowboys named a two-wheeled jackrabbit. About the same time a rather impromptu wedding occurred and it was announced in the Leader in this way: "On the east half of the northwest quarter of section twenty-two (22). township twenty-one (21), north of range eleven (II) east, in an open sleigh and under open and unclouded canopy by the Rev. J. F. Mason, James B., only son of John Cox of Colorado, and Ellen C., eldest daughter of Major O. Harrington of Nebraska."
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STAGE EXPERIENCES
Speaking of the depredations of the Indians and the hold-ups by the road agents on the Overland route from 1861 to 1867, Mr. Voorhees refers as follows to one trip made by Ben Holliday and his wife: "In June, 1863, Ben Holliday concluded to make a personal trip over the line with Mrs. Holliday from Sac- ramento, Cal., to Atchison, Kan. He telegraphed his intention to do so, with strict orders that no one but the division superintendents should know of his trip at that time but to have extra horses at the relay stations so as to make record time. He desired the utmost secrecy for the reason that he was taking $40,000 in gold with him to New York (gold at that time being worth $2.40 in greenbacks). He had a false bottom securely built in the coach where he packed the gold, so that should he be held up, no road agent would suspect the money being in any other place than the treasure box which was always carried in the front boot of the stage. The United States mail was carried in the hind boot.
"At that date it was a rare thing to have any of the Overland stages held up by any one but the Indians. However, on this special trip of Ben Holliday it really happened. For between Green River stage station and Salt Wells on Bitter Creek, Wyoming, three men suddenly sprang from a ravine, each armed with a double-barreled shotgun and two dragoon revolvers, calling to the drivers to halt. which order was quickly obeyed. The road agents ordered all passen- gers-'hands up high"' On seeing a lady passenger in the coach they said she need not get out as they (the robbers) were gentlemen of the first water and never molested a lady. But they warned Mr. Holliday to keep his hands above his head. During the search through the treasure box and mail, Ben Holliday's heavy, bristly mustache began tickling his nose. It became so acute and unbear- able that he finally made a move to scratch it. Instantly the road agent ordered his hands up high. 'My God!' said Ben, 'I must scratch my nose, I can't stand it.' 'You keep your hands up where I told you,' said the agent, 'I will attend to the nose business.' So he proceeded to rub Ben's nose with the muzzle of the shotgun. Thus relieved he held up his hands until the search was finished.
However, the false bottom in the coach was a success for it saved the gold which Mr. Holliday carried safely through to New York where he changed it into greenbacks clearing the handsome sum of $56,000.
SALT LAKE CITY INCIDENTS
During the winter of 1866, Mr. Voorhees made a trip by stage from the gold camp (now Helena), Montana, to Salt Lake City. At that time he had been gold placer mining for three years in various camps in the Northwest and had about two hundred pounds of gold dust which he took to an assay office to be run into ingots and sold for currency, gold being worth then about $2.40 in greenbacks. It was there he met a notorious western character known as "Yeast Powder Bill" who claimed to be a partner of Sam Clemens ( Mark Twain). He said he and Sam had been prospecting together for silver in Nevada, that Clem- ens claimed to be a pilot (sagebrush pilot) but they had got lost, which proved he was no good and he had quit him.
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After he had got cleaned up, "Yeast Powder" started for a drink. "They brew a native drink out of wheat and potatoes called 'valley tan.' I never tried it but those who did said it was the stuff. It would make a man fight a Sierra grizzly bear or his grandmother. Bill bought one drink for fifty cents and it created such an increase in his estimate of the mines that he and Clemens didn't discover, that he bought another. The world looked brighter after taking the second drink and he wanted a square meal.
"He was directed to Salt Lake House. Bill laid off his belt and two navy revolvers so he could eat comfortably. The landlord said the dinner was $3, pay in advance. Yeast Powder said it seemed steep but he always tried to play the game to the limit so he paid the $3 and entered the dining room. The menu was not a printed one, but verbal. Little Mollie, the waitress, or head waiter, was a very good looking little English (Mormon) girl. Bill told her to call the roll for $3 worth of grub, as he wanted to chaw worse than a California grizzly wanted to chaw a Digger Indian. Mollie called over the grub as she thought of it. She said 'carrots, biled beef, cabbage, taters, turnips, tea, hog meat and beans (Brigham cautioned his people to say hog meat, not pork), dried apple pie, stewed calves' liver and curlew.' 'Curlew! what the hell is curlew?' asked Bill. Mollie said it was a bird that could fly away up and whistle. Well, Bill said, any d-d thing that could fly and whistle and would stay in this country, he did not want to tackle, so he took tea, hog meat and beans, taters, calves' liver and dried apple pie."
Among Mr. Voorhees' thrilling experiences with Indians and stage robbers, were the incidents connected with his starting and managing the Cheyenne and Black Hills Stage Line. He organized the company in February, 1876, and soon had stages running. At that time the wonderful stories of the rich gold placers of the Black Hills caused a stampede to the Hills, most of the rush being by way of Cheyenne. The magnitude of the enterprise of running a stage line to say nothing of its dangers, is shown by his first orders for equipment of thirty Concord coaches and 600 head of horses. The line was kept up till 1882, and the hair-raising experiences with Indians and stage robbers during that time, could fill a volume. He had seven stage drivers killed by stage robbers and Sioux In- dians.
On giving up the stage line business Mr. Voorhees engaged extensively in the cattle business and has made Cheyenne his home. He has occupied the position of state treasurer and other prominent official positions and is enjoying a green old age, in robust health and active life, loved and respected by all.
STORIES OF A FRONTIER PREACHER
The following stories are told by Rev. W. B. D. Gray, who was one of the early missionaries to Wyoming. His biography which appears in another part of this history is replete in thrilling incidents and scenes of pioneer days. Mr. Gray is something of a sportsman, using the term in its best sense. He is one of the best riflemen in the state, and he attained distinction before coming to Wyoming, as a bowman, having won several prizes at National Archery Tourna- ments as the best shot at different distances. He is six feet and one inch in height, straight as an Indian and weighs 230 pounds. Many a ranchman in Wyoming
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and South Dakota has been provided with venison as a result of the preacher's rifle practice.
The character of the material out of which the nervy, self-reliant men and women of the mountain and plateaus of our great Northwest are made, is shown in the unusual brightness of the children born and reared in the high altitudes of the Rocky Mountains, of which the men and women are the finished product. This is well illustrated by the following incident :
In a little frontier village, nestling close under one of the mighty Rocky Mountain ranges, down which, through a picturesque canyon, came rushing and tumbling a beautiful stream, a Christian lady gathered the children on Sunday afternoons to tell Bible stories and impart to their eager ears some instruction from the Holy Book. One Sunday she told the story of the Good Samaritan, in which the children were very much interested. The next Sunday she asked them if they could remember what the last lesson was about. Hands went up in all directions. In front of her sat a little boy, who, in his eagerness, rose to his feet, holding up both hands-
"I know, ma'am; I know all about it. It was 'The Hold-up in Jericho Can- yon.'"
"No! no! Johnnie," replied the teacher; "it was a Bible story that I told you.”
"Yes, ma'am! I know it; I can tell the kids."
So Johnnie stood up and told the story.
"Why, ma'am," he said, "a chap was goin' up the canyon and some fellers came out of the brush and slugged him, put him to sleep, took away his wad, and left him lying in the trail all covered with blood and dirt. Pretty soon, a doctor feller came along and when he saw him, he said, 'He ain't none of my medicine,' and hit the trail and went up the canyon.
"Then a preacher feller came along, and he saw him, and said, 'I ain't goin' to monkey with him,' and he hit the trail and followed the doctor.
"Then a cowboy came along on his bronc; just a good, honest cowboy. When he saw him, he lit off and felt him. He wa'n't dead! He looked again. They'd got his wad and left him sure in bad shape. So he pulled off his wipe, rubbed the blood off the feller's face, picked him up and put him on the bronc and took him up the trail till he came to a road house. Then he called out, 'Hi, Bill! Come out here ; here's a chap I found down the canyon. They've slugged him, got his wad, and left him in bad shape. You must take him in and take care of him. Here's my wad and if there ain't enough to pay you, when I come back from the round-up, I'll bring you some more.'"
It was in a region of the Northwestern country unsurpassed for beauty and magnificence of scenery. The afternoon's sun was slowly sinking behind the mountains, when suddenly upon the summit of one of the foothills appeared two horsemen, their figures strongly outlined against the evening sky. As they stood there the strokes of an ax could be distinctly heaml coming from a bunch of timber in a bend of the stream below. Evidently the sound attracted the at- tention of the quondam trappers, for after securing their horses in a dense thicket they made their way noiselessly to a point where a good view of the op- posite bank could be had.
Before them lay a secluded plateau almost hidden by the heavy timber sur-
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rounding it. Close to its edge a band of rough-looking men were busily engaged in felling trees and building a long, low cabin and stable of heavy logs. Near by, almost hidden by underbrush, could be seen an opening into a cave of no mean proportions, to which the men could retreat in case of necessity. Tied to trees were a number of horses saddled and bridled for instant use, and the ever ready "Winchesters" were close at hand. This was the James' gang.
"Thar's my game by all that's lovely," whispered Bill. "Now that I've run 'em down, let's get out of here."
As the shadows of a moonless night fell upon mountain and plain the two men might be seen cooking their supper over a camp fire. The younger of the two, evidently the leader, was a man of medium size, with a mass of long, curly, brown hair, black eyes and a pleasant face, dressed in a suit of buckskin, with a soft felt hat placed jauntily upon his head. About his waist was a belt full of cartridges, to which was suspended a bowie knife and revolver of large size, while by his side lay a rifle that showed signs of wear.
His companion, larger in size and less attractive in feature, was similarly armed. The former, though scarcely thirty years of age, was a guide already known and respected in the Rocky Mountain country, going by the cognomen of "Young Bill." His known honesty and bravery had long before attracted the attention of those whose business it was to hunt down criminals, and of late he had added to his profession that of "detective"; though it was not known to any except those who employed him. When the hastily prepared supper was disposed of and'all traces of the fire obliterated, the elder man said to his companion :
"Wall, Bill, I don't know what yer plans ar', but this ere is gettin' too un- comfortably hot to suit me, and I'm goin' to pull over the divide and hunt more congenial companions. If ye want ter gather in that James gang lone-handed, all right ; but as fer me, I prefer to trap varmints which have more 'fur' and less ‘fire'."
The hand of the younger man dropped naturally and suggestively to his belt as he softly replied : "Ye'll stay where ye be and help build me a cabin and start a ranch alongside my game, and then ye can get out as soon as ye please. I ain't afeared to play this game lone-handed if I know myself." * * * * * *
Two years elapsed. The cabin the road agents built and occupied as their northern retreat when hard pressed by the officers of the law still stands, but thanks to "Bill" and other daring officers, the gang is broken up. Upon the same plateau stood the detective's cabin and near it a "dugout" in which he spent his nights while hunting down the road agents. Midway between the two cabins a prosperous town has sprung up, comprising a hotei, blacksmith shop, two saloons, and several dwellings known as "Black Canon City."
It was a beautiful day ; our friend, the detective, was just finishing his noonday meal when the sound of a horse's footfall broke the stillness, followed by the usual announcement of an arrival: "Hello, inside." "Hello, yourself," came the quick response.
"Is this town Black Canon City?"
"You bet it are, stranger."
"Do you have any preaching hereabouts ?"
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"Nary."
"I'm a preacher and would like to make an appointment if it is agreeable to the citizens of this growing berg."
"See here, mister, I don't know how much nerve ye've got, or how preachin' will take, but I like yer spirit and I'll back ye in this thing; and when 'Bill' backs a feller he don't have no trouble and the thing goes. Get down and rest yer saddle while yer eat."
When the physical necessities of the preacher had been met the detective con- tinued: "I haint got much of a cabin, ye see, but it's about as big as any in the town ; so if ye can get along with the dirt floor ye can preach here and I'll rustle ye up a crowd."
Thus began a work for the Master in one of the outposts of the Rocky Mountain districts. Later in the season a Sunday School was started in the same cabin, to be removed afterward to a little log schoolhouse which the settlers built. When the day arrived for the removal of the Sunday School from the detective's cabin, a friend of the enterprise went to one of the saloons and spoke thus :
"See here, fellers, the people of this 'ere camp ar' goin' to start a Sunday School today over in the school house. They are goin' over now; money's scarce with them and I propose we give 'em a boost."
"That's the talk," said the saloon keeper, "and this 'ere shop is goin' to close until that ar' thing is over : we'll all go acrost and give 'em a starter ; but mind ye, boys, nothin' smaller than 'cartwheels' (dollars) go into the hat today."
The other saloon would not be outdone. As a result it was a "goodly" if not "Godly" crowd which filled the rear seats of the little log schoolhouse, and the Sunday School had more money that afternoon than ever before in its history.
From these beginnings, and this Sunday School, sprang a Congregational Church which has had much to do with shaping the character of the town and nearby country. The detective still lives, honored and respected; his cabin has been destroyed, but the entrance to both his and the James brothers' caves can still be seen. The old preacher has gone to his eternal reward.
THE COWBOY'S PRAYER
O Lord, I've never lived where churches grow : I've loved creation better as it stood That day you finished it, so long ago, And looked upon your work and called it good.
Just let me live my life as I've begun ! And give me work that's open to the sky ;
Make me a partner of the wind and sun, And I won't ask a life that's soft or high.
Make me as big and open as the plains ;
As honest as the horse between my knees ;
Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains ;
Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze.
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Just keep an eye on all that's done and said ; Just right me sometimes when I turn aside ; And guide me on the long, dim trail ahead- That stretches upward towards the Great Divide. -Author Unknown.
CHAPTER XI
TERRITORIAL HISTORY
EARLY NAMES APPLIED TO WYOMING-THE PERIOD OF SETTLEMENT- OPENING OF THE MINES-INFLUENCE OF THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD-BEGINNING OF CHEYENNE-VIGILANCE COMMITTEE-THE ASHLEY BILL-THE ORGANIC ACT- GOVERNOR FAULK'S MESSAGE- GOVERNMENT ORGANIZED-CAMPBELL'S ADMINIS- TRATION-FIRST ELECTION-FIRST LEGISLATURE-TERRITORIAL SEAL-LEGISLA- TURE OF 1871-THIRD LEGISLATURE-THAYER'S ADMINISTRATION-LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS-HOYT'S ADMINISTRATION- LEGISLATURE OF 1879-SEVENTH LEGIS- LATURE-HALE'S ADMINISTRATION-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE-WARREN'S ADMIN- ISTRATION-RIOT AT ROCK SPRINGS-NINTH LEGISLATURE-CAPITOL BUILDING- PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS-BAXTER'S ADMINISTRATION -. MOONLIGHT'S ADMINISTRA- TION-TENTH LEGISLATURE-CAPITOL BUILDING AGAIN-WARREN'S SECOND ADMINISTRATION-LAST TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE.
When the Nineteenth Century was in its infancy, the first fur traders and trappers came into the country that now forms the State of Wyoming. From that time until 1868 the region was known by various names, such as the "North Platte Country," the "Sweetwater," the "Wind River Valley," the "Big Horn Coun- try," etc. During this period of half a century the trappers and traders were the only white inhabitants of the entire Rocky Mountain country. Their occupancy was not of a permanent character, as they migrated from place to place in pursuit of fur-bearing animals. Even trading posts that one year bore all the evidences of stablility were abandoned the next. Official reports of Lewis and Clark, Fremont, and other Government explorers, called attention to the character and possibilities of the Northwest, but even then years were permitted to elapse before the first actual settlements were attempted within the present limits of the state.
THE PERIOD OF SETTLEMENT
"The Utah Handbook of History" says that John Nebeker, Isaac Bullock and fifty-three others settled at Fort Supply, in the Green River Valley, in November, 1853. and credits these persons with being the first actual settlers in Wyoming. The place where this settlement was established was at old Fort Bridger, in what is now Uinta County. Bridger sold his fort there to the Mor- mons, who in 1855 changed the name of the post to Fort Supply, the object being to carry a full line of supplies for emigrants on their way to the Pacific coast. It was abandoned about two years later, when a detachment of United States troops under Col. E. B. Alexander marched against the Mormon fort, and the
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buildings were destroyed by the soldiers. Colonel Alexander's command formed part of the Utah expedition, commanded by Col. Albert Sidney Johnston.
In 1867 a party of prospectors, among whom were Henry Riddell, Richard Grace, Noyes Baldwin, Frank Marshall, Harry Hubbell and others afterward known as Wyoming pioneers, discovered the Carisa lode and made their first locations at South Pass, in the southern part of Fremont County. News of the discovery of gold soon reached Salt Lake City and a party of thirty men, under the lead of a man named Lawrence, left that place prepared to spend the winter in the new gold fields. On the way to Wyoming the party was attacked by Arapaho Indians, with the result that Lawrence and one other man were killed. The others were pursued by the savages for some distance, when the Indians withdrew, probably because they were afraid to follow the prospectors into the Shoshone country.
South Pass City was laid ont in October, 1867, and before cold weather came the town had a population of about seven hundred people. A sawmill was built and a number of houses, of the most primitive character, were erected. Then the Atlantic Ledge, six miles northeast of South Pass City, and Miners Delight, two miles northeast of the Atlantic Ledge, were opened and there was an influx of gold seekers to those fields. Other mines were the Summit, King Solomon's, Northern Light, Lone Star State, Jim Crow, Hoosier Boy, Mahomet, Copper- opolis. Elmira, Scott & Eddy, and the Dakota Gulch, on Willow Creek, each having a population of one hundred or more.
As these miners were miles away from the nearest established local govern- ment, and feeling the need of some authority to enforce the laws, they established a county called "Carter," for W. A. Carter of Fort Bridger. Its western boundary was the present western boundary of Sweetwater County and it extended east- ward for a distance of about one hundred and thirty miles. The action of the miners was legalized by the Dakota Legislature in a bill approved on December 27. 1867, and the county was organized on January 3. 1868, with John Murphy as the first sheriff, upon whom devolved the duty of maintaining order in a com- munity composed in the main of rather turbulent individuals, though there were some who were always ready to assist in enforcing the laws.
About the middle of February. 1868, John Able, Jeff Standifer, H. A. Thomp- son, J. F. Staples, Louis and Peter Brade, James Leffingwell, Frank McGovern, Moses Sturman, John Eaves, John Holbrook, George Hirst, the Alexander broth- ers, William Matheney, Christopher Weaver and a few others left Salt Lake City and struggled through the winter snows, in order to be among the early arrivals of that year in the new mining districts. Colonel Morrow, commandant at Fort Bridger, heard of their coming and published a special order warning such parties that they must not expect to purchase supplies at the fort, for the reason that the stock on hand there was barely sufficient to subsist the garrison until traffic opened in the spring.
In April. 1868, a new mining town of about three hundred prospectors was founded on Rock Creek, some four miles from South Pass City, in the midst of a gold-bearing quartz district, and Hamilton, another mining center, was established about four miles farther north. H. G. Nickerson discovered and opened the Bullion mine at Lewiston a little later in the year. Louis P. Vidal located the Buckeye mine in the early part of the year 1869.
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