Bloomington Courier, Volume 2, Bloomington, Monroe County, 3 May 1895 — Page 3

1

tr

RATTLESNAKE CITY.

A TOWN WHICH HAD A RAPID

RISE AND FALL.

Marked By Five Grave It Sprang Cp . la a Day in Greer County and Vanfelted After the "Bis Killing;" Like a Myth.

Si

im DEATH OP Outlaw Bob Rogers and his wife, Louise, recalls the rapid rise and fall of Rattlesnake City, Greer county, Texas. All that now remains of this place is five grass-gr own mounds, the graves

of the victims of the big killing," and cn a stone in the center of this group is the following inscribed in rude lettering: "Rattlesnake City Grave Yard. A Modern Hell." A mushroom city had grown up in a week down in Greer county, in the fall of 1887, which the government was disputing as to whether this land belonged to the Indian territory or to Texas. First, a big fellow, calling himself "Rattlesnake Joe" had gone through Kansas and Missouri, making speeches to the Oklahoma boomers and inducing them to stop trying to force an entrance to Oklahoma, and go to Greer county, "the paradise of America," as Joe called it Incidentally Joe lectured and took up collections. Somehow the people got the idea that Greer county had unworked gold mines and diamond fields of fabulous richness. Perhaps Joe told them so. At any rate Bob Rogers and Louise, his pretty wife, left the boomer camp at Hunnewell, in Kansas, and, with other homs-seekers, they trundled off down the the old Kansas and Texas trail into the promised land. Once there they found that others had come in from the Indian territory, Texas, and even old Mexico. In some manner peculiar to the west a little shanty, wagon and tent town sprang into existence, and they called the place "Rattlesnake City." By common consent "Texas Ben" Jones became the marshal. No one proposed his name in a convention, nor was there an election held. Ben simply became the marshal because he was bigger, quicker on the draw, and ready to go into a fight any day or night of the year. Rattlesnake was a "daisy" while she lasted, and the boomers were usually law-abiding. Unlike mining camps, there was nothing to keep up the town. No one worked, because there was no work to do. Almost every one had a little money, and gambling became the recognized trade of Rattlesnake. While the men played poker and bucked the tiger, the women pitched pennies for cash. Every shanty and every wagon had a layout for gambling, and soon the desperate bands of highwaymen, moonshiners and cattle thieves that infest this country began to come to play. Quite a Monte Carlo was thus built up. Bob Rogers and Louise had been raised in Ohio and came of good stock. Bob had gone to college long enough to learn to play poker and swear. He soon became a leader in the colony about Rattlesnake because of his nerve, bearing and good looks. Louise was the beauty of Greer county, and .hy virtue thereof the queen of border society. She led in all the dances held in the center of the canvas and shack city once a week. By degrees Rogers won all the money of his neighbors, and as fast as he became broke the unsuccessful player took his outfit and money away. Not always, though, for sometimes he would wager his wagon and team and lose them also. In that case he walked out of Rattlesnake. As Rogers won money he tcok on importance. He opened a big gambling house in a tent and called the place "Rogers' Pavillion." He now virtually owned the city. This tent became the center of attraction for all that part of Texas. Louise objected to the opemng of this house, but her husband, carried away with the fever of gambling, laughed at her fears. "He that lives by the sword shall perish by the sword," she told him more than once, but Bob went right on winning the money of the people who played there. It appeared that he could not lose. One day Texas Ben strode in and took a seat at a table where three strangers were preparing to play poker. Ben was ugly and had been drinking. He picked up the cards and joined inthe game. Ben had money, and so did the other people. By and by, when a big jack pot was in sight, only Ben and a dapper little chap remained in the game. Ben drew one card; the stranger three. Then they went to betting and raising unt'l all the cash the Texan had was in the pot. Every one in the room had quit to watch this play. "111 call you," swore the big marshal, "and, stranger, if yon beat my hand you've got to fight." The little fellow on the other side of the table only glanced up with a sideways glitter in his eyes. Bob Rogers pushed his way through the crowd and declared that the game was on the done in the pavillion he'd have a square and if there was any killing band in it The more peaceful boomers moved away, but the gamblers and outlaws generally remained. Bob tried to get Louise to go away, but she refused to comply unless he would go with her. Still the big Texan glanced across the table at the little player on the other side, and the little one smiled back at him. Every one smelled tragedy In the air. Texas Ben was a

known "killer," and the little cuss facing him had all the indications of a killer" himself. "Three kings and a pah of queens,' roared Texas Ben, laying down his hand on the table. "Pour aces," cried the little man, dropping his cards like hot cakes, and catching a knife from his sleeve drove it through the marshal's hand, pinning it to the table before he could move. There wa3 a howl of rage from the wounded desperado, a shrill chirrup from his opponent, and In a moment a free-for-all fight was in progress. Ben Jones was killed before he could get his hand loose from the table. Louise tried to drag her husband away and was shot through the nose. Bob was bound to defend hia place, and shoot the matter out. The dapper stranger was one of the slain, and proved to be a woman in disguise. In all, five people were killed, and Louise was disfigured for life. Rattlesnake City had net a shock that made the people awake as though from a hypnotic 'trance. They shouted that the place was accursed. The shooting occurred at noon, and by night not even a dog was left to tell where Rattlesnake City had stood. The dead were hurriedly buried, and the wounded carried away in wagons. The tents were folded up and the shacks were burned to the ground. When the United States ofllcers heard of the "big killing," as it was called, they went to the place where the town had once stood, but found nothing but a few heaps of ashes and five newly made graves.

What Ailed Mary. Mistress You are looking very ill. Mary. What's the matter? Mary I think it must have been the goat ma'am. "The goat, Mary? What on earth do you mean?" "Well, ma'am, you see it was like this: We had a goat what's drawed the washin' for a good many years, and as he was getting old, father had him killed and stuffed with artichokes for our Sunday dinner." Amusing Journal.

FARM AND GARDEN.

MATTERS OF INTEREST TO AGRICULTURISTS.

Some Up to Date Hints About Cultivation of the Soil and Yields Thereof Horticulture, Viticulture and lorl-culture.

Farming in Argentine. The London Times says: The eightyfourth meeting of the Royal commission on agriculture was held on Friday, Mr. Shaw Lefevre in the chair. Mr. D. J. Brett, a ranche owner in the province of Santa Pe, Argentine republic, was examined. He stated that he had been in Argentina thirty-five years and had had a long experience in agriculture and stock raising in that country. Wheat growing in the republic was for the most part in the hands of Italian colonists, though Swiss and French immigrants were also engaged in this industry. Some of the best colonists were natives of the Basque provinces. The colonists as a body were a hard working community. They labored over sixteen and seventeen hours daily, including Sundays. The women worked on the land, and the children drove the plows as soon as they were old enough. The soil was easily worked, and no manuring was necessary. Laborers were very little employed in the wheat growing districts except for a few weeks during the harvest. The bulk of the work was done by the colonists and their families. Occasionally laborers went out from Italy to Argentina for the har-

was now beinp directed to the possibility of developing a large exporttrade in cattle and sheep to the United Kingdom. Hitherto cattle rearing in the republic consisted, to a great extent, in the improvement of the stock by the importation of good blood from Great Britain and elsewhere. One great advantage possessed by the Argentina breeder was the fact that his stock never required housing or hand feeding, and in this way the expense of maintaining buildings was avoided. The climate was such that the cattle and sheep could be left out all the year around.

A Strawberry That Failed. Mr. Smith has been raising strawberries for ten years or more, writes Mr. Crawford in Strawberry Culturist. He grows all his crops for revenue only, belongs to no horticultural society, rakes no horticultural paper, and takes but little stock in any new fangled notions. He raises the Wilson and Crescent in thick matted rows, and takes as many crops from the same plantation as possible. One of his boys, Johnnie, found some small seedling plants and obtained permission to set them in the garden where early lettuce and onions had grown. This was in July. The boy took good care of them and removed all runners as they appeared. Early in the fall some fine manure was scattered among the plants, and when the first freezing weather came the whole bed was well covered with straw. This was removed early in the spring, and every weed that appeared was pulled up. Just before the fruit commenced to ripen some straw was placed between the plants to keep it clean. There were some fifty varieties, and most of them

SAGE HONEY CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA.

All The Pamo. Thomas Jefferson Look heah, I understan' dat you tuk advantage ob my presence from town an' called on Miss Matilda Snowball last night, sah. George Washington Smith (doggedly) Yo' is mistaken, sah. I done call on her sistah. Thomas Jefferson Well, sah, dat makes no difference. Yo' keep away. I'se got my eye on bof ob dem gals. Brooklyn Life. POPULAR SCIENCE. It Is said a female codflsh will lay forty-five million eggs during a single season. Piscatorial authorities say that were It not for the work of the natural enemies of fish they would fill all the available space in the seas, rivers and oceans. A workman in a limestone quarry at Maquoketa, la., the other day, found imbedded in the rock, , twenty-five feet beiow tne surraee, a fly. The fossil imperfect. The feelers and legs and delicate wings, as well as the body, are as complete as wnen the insect alighted and stuck in the ooze away back in t heupper Silurian period, ages ago. Sir William Thomson has recently calculated that the average size of a chemical atom is not less than six and not greater than sixty billionths of a cubic inch. It has also been calculated that in a cubic inch of air there are three hundred quintillions of atoms. Hence the cubic inch of air Is by no means full, and it is possible for thorn to move eighteen miles a minute and collide against each other 8,500,000 times a second, as has also been lately calculated that they do. The greatest height of any cloud yet measured is 43,800 feet, and the highest velocity is 112 miles an hour for a cloud at 28,000 feet. The most important result thus far reached from these measurements is the fact that clouds arquite regularly distributed in three layers, the mean summer levels for Upsalt being: low clouds stratus, cumulos-cumulo-nimbus, two thousand six thousand feet; middle clouds stratocirrus, cumulo-cirrus, twelve thousand fifteen thousand feet; high clouds cirrus, cirro-stratus, cirro-cumulous, twenty thousand to twenty-seven million feet.

FOLLY AS IT FLIES. Father to young man Sir, I saw you kiss my youngest daughter. You must marry my oldest. Fiiegende Blatter. Northern visitor Any race riots in this section? Old Inhabitant No; but most o' the niggers die a-gettin' religion ! Atlanta Consti tution. "I caught a burglar in my room last night," said the editor. "Indeed?" "Yes; but I only got $6 out of the poor fellow!" -Atlanta Constitution. A sign has been discovered in an old tailor's shop in Pompeii, reading: "Creases ironed in your togas while you wait. Minneapolis Times. Teacher (in Episcopalian Sabbathschool) Can any little boy tell me about Good Friday? Eager scholarHe was the feller that done chores for Robinson Crusoe. Truth. Mrs. Young Mother was here last night. She stayed till after 12. Mr. Young Did she say anything about my being out so la,te? "No. She said she would wait till she saw you to talk about that." Indianapolis Journal. Teacher Miss Fields, you spell well and write nicely, but your capitalization is not in accordance with our modern methods. Miss Fields Indeed? What is wrong with it? Teacher You never capitalize M in money. Detroit Free Press. Magistrate You say he hit you twice. Then I suppose he tried to hit you again. Prosecuting Witness Yes, but it was only a trial; I fetched him one under the Jaw that sent him so far that I am surprised that he is at this trial. Philadelphia Inquirer. "They do tell me," said Farmer Corntossel, "that some o" these here million aires put in an hour a day clippm' coupons." "Dearie me!" exclaimed hia wife. "That goes to Bhow thet rich people is jest like other folks after all. 1 wonder whut they air votin fur; the most popular policeman or the boy thel gits the bicycle ?" Washington Star.

Note. The above illustration shows a plant that is noted as the source of the sage honey of CaVfornia. Th honey production from this source 5 immense. The season is long, as the bees first find the plants in bloom in

the valleys, and as the season advances the plants in the higher regions come into bloom. Sage honey is found in nearly all the markets of the world. The cut is reproduced from "A, B, C, in Bee Culture."

vest and returned home again when the j work was over. The wages were about i $2.50 a day. Most of the old colonists j in the wheat growing sections of the ! republic had purchased their land, but J

in recent years immigrants had usually rented their land, and the majority paid a produce rent ranging from 9 to 18 per cent of the crop they grew. Machinery and implements were generally obtained by the colonists by purchase on a year's credit from storekeepers; and paid for in a certain percentage of the crop to be produced. The

older colonists who owned the land j

they worked were certainly not in debt. As regarded the cost of production, the Italian colonist could grow wheat to be sold on his farm at a price equivalent, at the present rate of exchange, to lis per quarter, and he would gain more by doing this than as a wageearner in the republic. Twenty shillings a quarter in London would encourage the extension of wheat growing in the republic under present conditions. But, although even the present low prices did not represent a loss to the Argentina colonists, many wheat growers had recently devoted more attention to the cultivation of lucern or alfalfa. The crop was a most valuable one, and when once the land had been laid down no further trouble was necessary, as the crop was practically perennial. As an instance of the value of alfalfa, he stated that ordinary wheat land in the republic could be bought for 15s per acre, whereas the same land when laid down to lucern would at the end of a single year bo of the value of 7 per acre. There was a large area in the republic of the extent of about 10,000 square leagues which was specially miitable to the cultivation of this lucern, the soil being particularly good, and having water at about twenty feet, below the surface. The great value of this particular land for the cultivation of lucern hail only been discovered within the last five years, and attention

were as large as the Crescent Mr. Smith was selling. One was much larger. The berry created quite a sensation in the Smith family, and it was their candid opinion that it surpassed all other varieties that the world had yet seen. One day Mr. Smith carried half a dozen specimens to town and gave one to each of as many prominent persons who felt in duty bound to give no end of praise. He was greatly enthused, and when he repeated some of the pleasant things that were said his family concluded that fortune had smiled upon them. From that time on the new berry was the leading topic, and all the friends of the Smith family were informed of its wonderful qualities. After the bearing season the other seedling were hoed up and the runners of the new berry layered all around the parent plant, and carefully hoed and watered. Johnnie's father gave him a nice rich bed in the garden which he covered with manure and spaded and made almost as fine as sand. About the 1st of August there came a rainy night, and the next day while it was yet cloudy, Johnnie took up twenty nicely rooted plants with the garden trowel and about a quart of earth to each one, and transferred them to the new bed. They never felt the change, but continued to grow from the first. These were treated just as the original plant had been the year before except that a liberal amount of ben manure was applied among the plants, and in a dry time they were well watered. In the meantime the old plant was making more runners, and at the end of the season Johnnie had twenty large hills and over 100 good plants. All of Mr. Smith's customers had a chance to sample the new berry the next season and compare it with the Wilson and Crescent. The editor of the local paper received a sample and gave a very flattering notice in the next issue. A nurseryman in the sama

county heard of the berry and finally

arranged with Mr. 9mith to introduce it and give a share f the proceeds. Every effort was made to raise a stock and even the twenty nilla were allowed to run. it was put on the market the next spring with a glowing description, accompanied by testimonials from tha preacher, Squire Brown, and other dignitaries, aa well as the clipping from the local paper. Although "the price was $2 a dozen a considerable number of plants wera disposed of, mostly to nurserymen in various parts of the country. Each purchaser felt anxious to increase his stock as fast as posible and, a year later, forty times as many people had a dozen of Johnnie Smith's new berry. Up to this time no one had ever fruited it to perfection but Johnnie Smith. The next year, however over 4,000 people had it growing and ripening in their gardens. With a few it succeeded, but in the great majority of cases it was a disappointment, and many hard thing.? were said of the introducer. Now, who was to blame in the matter. Will some one tell ua? Presidents Who Were Farmers. In those halcyon days of agriculture ten presidents of the United States were called from farms. 1. Washington, the land surveyor and farmer, from Mount Vernon. 2. John Adams, of Qulncy, who, during the last year of his presidency, said: "I am weary, worn and disgusted to death. I had rather chop wood, dig ditches and make fences upon my poor little farm. Alas! poor farm and poorer family, what have you lest that your country might be free!" 3. Jeiferson, farmer, philosopher and statesman, from Montlcello. 4. Madison, farmer and lawyer, of Montpelier, Va. 5. Monroe, farmer, from Oak Hill, Virginia. 6. John Quincy Adams, from the Quincy farm of 100 acrss, near Boston. (It is said that most of the trees were raised by John Quincy Adams from the seeds which he was in the habit of picking up in his wanderings. The most peculiar interest attaches to a shellbark hickory which he planted more than fifty years previous to his death. In this tree he took a peculiar satisfaction, but he was an enthusiast in regard to all the trees of the forest, differing in this respect from his father, who was an agriculturist of the Cato stamp was more inclined to lay the axe to them than to propogate them.) 7. Andrew Jackson, of the "Hermitage," in Tennessee, who, as a farmer, soldier and lawyer, was a most excellent type of the best Americanism. 8. Van Buren, of Kinderhook, N. Y., was called to the presidency from his sheep and wool farm, although he was a lawyer of far above average acquirements and ability. 9. William Henry Harrison, from his farm at North Bend, O. 10. Tyler, of Sherwood Forest farm, Virginia, where he subsequently died. 11. James K. Polk, of Duck River, Tenn., also came from the farm to the presidency. This selection of presidents from rural homes from among the farms of the country illustrates the fact that in those days there was no profession or calling which held a more exalted position in public estimation than that of agriculture. Secretary J. Sterling Morton, in the Forum.

LIFE'S FUNNY SIDE.

Kvaporut stiff Apples. The apple crop of the state has again been disposed of at a fairly good average price, says Maine Farmer. Yet the fact remains all the same that the seconds have as usual been badly in the way to drag down the price to a iower average. Most growers still insist on selling at an agreed upon price "right through." We still claim it would be better not to put the seconds on the market as green fruit. We complain that Nova Scotia and Canadian fruit brings higher prices abroad than our own, yet we still insist; that the inferior fruit shall make up a goodly part of it. We fully believe that the introduction of the evaporator into our state to a much larger extent than it has ever yet been done, and as has been done in the fruit counties of New York, would prove an advantage if rightly handled. The canners now take care of some oi this inferior fruit. Let the evaporatoi come and take the rest. It is estimated that in Wayne County, New York,above a full million bushels of the last crop of this class of apples was evaporated, and that in this form it was worth a full half million dollars. This disposition of the fruit takes it out of the market and puts it into a form of value and out of competition with the green fruit. We are strongly of the opinion that such a disposition of this class of fruit in our state would be greatly to the advantage of the growers.

Success in Agriculture. Success in agriculture, as well as In any other business, depends largely upon the amount of thought bestowed upon it. Energy of brain is as essential to success as that of muscle. Many men who have failed In mercantile and other kinds of business think it is an easy matter to make money on the. farm. In fact, many farmers do not consider farming In the light of a business, but rather as an occupation one may follow without any capital or special knowledge. That is the chief reason, fellow farmers, that the majority of persons having farms for rent want cash rent for them. A good, practical farmer, or one who has that reputation, never has any trouble In renting for crop rent'. In fact, he does not want to rent many years, for he is soon able to buy a farm.

Good Tools. Good tools are a requisite to successful farming. But taking proper care of those tools and housing them are the points that most farmers are wholly deficient in. The slipshod way farmers have of leaving their tools in field where used last, until the coni-

i ing season, will not make the farm pay. ! More farm implements rot and rust J out in Kansas in one year than are 1 worn out in two years by use. In fact. : I am well acquainted with a man who ; used to claim to be a farmer, who ; bought a new cultivator, used it one j season, left it where last used until the : next season, and because it would not i scour the next spring, he said It was ; no account and bought a new one. Ii i f,-oes without saying that the man did j not farm many years. He is now workj ing by the month. Ex.

WIT. HUMOR AND SATIRE FOR LEAN FOLK.

Th Lady of My Heart" et Chicago One of the WMkMWHM of Htg-h Society FioUam and Jtat from the Title.

S M I I, F MY sweetest, when by chance I find myself beneath h?r glance,

IS I speak In chosen voice and

phrase. And lose no time t speak her praise

If service 1 can render her I'll not delay nor yet demur. r hang upon her lightest word. Ac fhnno-h 'twere wisdom newly nearu.

Her gowns I note in compliment. And flatter to her heart's content. With pretty speech my head is stored I'm owing her for two weeks' board. No Escape. Mrs. Getthere (enthusiastie workeu at church fair) Now. Mr. Slimpurse. you really must take a chance in this beautiful pipe; you really must. Just think, the pipe is worth $20, and tha chances are only $1 each. Mr. Slimpurse (edging off) Very sorry, madame, but I don't smoke. Mrs. Getthere Oh, but you can learn, you know. Mr. Slimpurse Tobacco does not agree with me. i would have no earthly use for a pipe. Mrs. Getthere (struck with a bright idea) Well, there isn't the slightest probability of your drawing it, you know.

Wanted a Pleasant Expression. Mr. Grumps Good morning. Do you take pictures by the instantaneous process? Photographer Yes, sir. Mr. Grumps Well, this Is Mrs. Grumps, my wife, you know. I want her picture taken. Photographer Certainly. But are you particular about having It instantaneous.

Mr. Grumps Of course. When you get things ready, tell her to look pleasant, and then snap off the machine before the expression fades away. You've gotter be quicker'n lightning. Romance. The merchant prince knelt at her feet. "And could you really love a poor orphan girl?" The faint tremulousness of her voice touched his heart "Could I?" He raised his head up and his eyes flashed. "Well, try me a few!" She did, and they lived happy together ever after, no cloud marring the bright skies of their love. He had no female relatives living, either.

Signatures on Cheeks. Lawyer Is that your signature on the back of this check? Merchant I don't know, sir. It may be. Does it look like your signature? Not a particle. Doesn't It bear the least resemblance to your signature? Not the least. Then why do you think it may be your signature? Tell me that. I might have written it with a bank pen. She Did Not Mean Tt. A couple of neighboring women on Cherry street quarreled recently and abused each other over their respective porches. At last one or the women retorted hotly: "You must think I am a fool!" T think you are next door to one," came the Incautious reply,"Free Press.

Iu High Society.

Debutante In . order to attract th most attention in an opera box what sort of a pose would you suggest? Mrs. Gotthere Oh, the pose doesn't count so much. It's the expose that will make your fame.

One of His Minor Miseries. "Hold up your hands!" sternly commanded the footpad. "I'll throw up one of them," said the sour-looking man, suiting the action tfl the word. "If you want the other on up you'll have to raise it yourself. X can't. Say do you know of anything that's good for rheumatism?"

Too Personal. "I believe I should like to be cremated after I die," remarked Mr. Greateets. "I always supposed." said Mrs. Hashcroft, "that you would want to be stuffed. Tl.ui; it was that she lost a boarder.

Not Ouito the Same. Sounder Why do you drink so nv.ich whisky? Rounder A fellow must sow his wild oats, you know. Sounder Yes, but you're doing nothing but planting rye.