The cattle queen of Montana by Collins Elizabeth M. Smith b. 1844

Author:Collins, Elizabeth M. Smith, b. 1844. [from old catalog] & Wallace, Charles. [from old catalog]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Frontier and pioneer life
Publisher: St. James, Minn., C.W. Foote
Published: 1894-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

vices would be to inaugurate a state of affairs which would render most difficult the procuring and keeping of teamsters and other laborers, as all at that time considered these as privileged practices.

Becoming excited and angered over the loss of money, frantic with disappointment upon seeing their last cent vanish from view, or, becoming engaged in a quarrel over some disputed point, these men would oft times engage in the most terrific hand to hand encounters, but were usually separated by their companions before they had done each other great bodily harm.

The initial tragedy of the train of which I was a member was brought about, however, in this manner on the second evening out from Omaha, on our second return trip. As usual, gathered about the camp fire, seated upon blankets, in companies of four or five, with a small board laid on the ground in their midst upon which to lay the cards as they were played, were the men busily engaged in gambling.

Suddenly among the members of one of these little groups a quarrel arose and springing to their feet they engaged in a fierce hand to hand encounter. Amid the curses and confusion there rang out the sharp report of a single shot, and, throwing his hands high in the air, one of the men fell, face downward upon the ground. The man who had fired the shot stepped backward a pace or two, and there, with flashing eye and face distorted with anger, calmly gazed upon his fallen and dying foe.

The dying man was lifted and laid upon a blanket, his brow dampened and his lips moistened with brandy, while

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