The Hays Daily News from Hays, Kansas • Page 29

DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY, JfcLV 1M1 ft tfcgftged In work At that it ounding Of Hays (Continued from Page 2) iiftie killed two em ye'ftl of the Butterfleld Singe pftlty and burned the buildings Lookout Mollowt about 6 miles Hh of Rome, The depredations some time were entirely direct- 'against the different stage tt About the middle of June tl Indians, however, reappeared al the line of the grade and cc mmeneed active hostilities by at- ticking Parks' Fort, the extreme stern camp on the line. The time arrival, the day before, of a ci mpany of the 38th Infantry fit ved the frfle of the camp. One atfldier and a teamster employed Parks were killed in the fight. rks himself with two re looking for some mules that strayed away from the herd tile day before. The party was re- tiirnlng with the stock nbout the tifne the fight terminated nt the fcfrt.

The Indians discovered their proach. Pnrks quickly realized tre critical situation and rctrentcd bi ck down a ravine toward the to a high cliff 'of rock that olfered them some protection. Parks was killed in the fight that followed and both soldiers wound- e(. A rescuing party was dispatch- et as soon as the firing was heard, resulting in the retreat of the In- djans arid the recovery of the body oij Parks and the wounded soldiers. Fferks and his two men had no Imimation of the attack upon the fqrt by the Indians, owing to the wind blowing from the north, until he came in sight of his camp and tHe loitering Indians, the main body hiving moved cost nlong the grade, continued their fiendish work.

Mes- sejigers arrived from the different camps asking for assistance. Ttoops were hurried forward from tlje camp of the. 18lh Kansas in response to the appeal and the Indians completely routed. The body of Parks was taken to the end of tHe track and sent to Wyandottc for burial. The wounded were cared fqr at the camp of the 28th Infantry.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Indians were defeated and scattered, the men at the different grading camps refused to continue at their work. The result was a general stampede to Rome, swelling the population to several thousand people. The fiendish yell of the savage costumed in his scalp lifting regalia, had instilled a fear. The ample protection assured by the several camps of troops had little, if arty, influence with many to quiet and allay this fear. Many working for Malvern Shaw had been in Ainerica only long enough to Jtyake the trip from New York to the camp of their employers.

They could not be Induced to halt at Rome, any other point in the United States, if the statement jtiade by themselves could be re- lijid upon. Nothing but the knowledge of the Atlantic Ocean being between them and the American Indian, could establish the equani- niity of their fear-distracted minds. This sudden influx of frightened people presented a problem in the flcult of solution. The town was without organization of any kind or character. Each Individual was a law unto himself.

Fortunately no restraining or guiding influence was required. Everyone was orderly and quiet. To the stampeded element Rome was accepted as a haven of rest and safety which they fully appreciated after the excitement of the hurried retreat to Rome. The day following the arrl'val of these frightened people was numbered among the lively days of the town. The majority, at least, If not more, of those who came from the front engaged In celebraling their escape from the vengeance of the savage by Indulging in excess in stimulating nourishment.

To the peculiar quality of stimulation Imparted by the stuff on tap at the lime, must largely be attributed the final wind-up of the celcbralion wilh a contesl to determine who was Ihe best man on the dump. The fight terminated, the drunk, after a day of ribald disorder and confusion the town dropped back to her normal stale of order at nightfall. Nearly every branch In the mercantile line was represented in the stocks from a few thousands in value, lown, wilh hundred to Those engaged in the liquor traffic being numerically in the ascendency, ranging in dignity frc a small tenl with one half do: bottles and as many glasses to Lie more pretenllous resort with a display of bar fixtures on up to the wholesale, dealers. The re- lall dealer usually selected inviting and catchy names to designate his place of Lone Star," "The Occidental," "Dew Drop Inn," "Grader's Retreat" and the "Last Chance" were the signs under which captains, majors and colonels did business, Saloons Always Open Some of these distinguished titles were not assumed, but actually won upon the field of battle. The saloon business was thriving and continuous all day, all night, no halt, no intermission.

The fully supplied customer was pushed out into the street to make room for Ihe thirsty one. This apparent ill treatment of customers touched the sympathies or speculative nature of one Joe North, a conspicuous character among the saloon element who construclcd a small annex lo his place of business to be used especially as a stow away for all who had lost the power of locomotion, Some ot North's competitors circulated the report that all who enjoyed the advantage of this special hospitality would depart humming the refrain "not a penny in my pocket." The report however did nol affect his business; his victims always had a good word for Joe. He was generous, kind hearted by nature, but so thoroughly imbued with the high heeled boot and Ihe brimmed hat idea, that only what was reckless and tended toward desperate deeds would satisfy his amjbition to be known as wild, woolly and hard to curry. Before of government that was dif- he fully established the reputation ItOMANITK: The late Simon Motz, one of thn first to arrive at Rome 1867. After the demise of Rome, Motz moved to Hays City, became the first mayor of the city and established a businerr hero.

He remained in Hays until his death in 1008. he coveted, his career ended at the end of a rope with the other end thrown over the cross beam of a telegraph pole at Wallace, Wallace County. A short time after the trouble with the Indians the contractors re-occupied their camps and resumed work. This depleted the population of Rome and business languished for a short period. The arrival of additional troops and civilian employes in the quartermaster's department was sufficient to continue the activity in the saloon traffic.

At this time Hays had more than doubled in population and three instead of the former one lonely tent, constituted the town. The new arrivals fronted their tents toward the reservation and in order to induce trade from that direction, a foot bridge was constructed across the creek was a species of enterprise inaugurated by the early Haysitc that prematurely disappeared and been allowed to slumber for over a quarter of a century, to the disadvantage and detriment of the property owners and general business Interest of City. The Butlerfielcl Overland Stage and Express Company, about this time was compelled to acklowl- edge the. true importance of Rome and established a way station and express office at the Perry Hotel The arrival and departure of the six horse coaches, express anri mall wagons, was of ho smal significance to the population of Rome. The majority of the Roman lies naturally gravitated toward the Perry House about the time the express was due, same as the population of Hays now goes toward the post office about mail time.

Idle curiosity hajj not diminished among the curiously curious. After this recognition by the Stage and Express Company, a petition was circulated asking the poslmasler general to establish a post office at Rome, with William Rose as postmaster. This move was considered of vital importancejjwing to the commercial interests of the town, the petition was signed by every one and all felt confident of the speedy, favorable action of the Post Office Department. Unknown to the Ro- maniles, however, the Hays City people had forwarded a like application a few days before. Upon Investigation by the Post Office Department It was discovered thai Ihe rival lowns were localed on adjoining sections of land.

The proximity of location without any setllement outside the city limits of either town, the applications were held for further investigation. While this was the reason assigned and so reported by the department, development in the contesl be- Iween Ihe lowns was lo determine the establishing of a United States Post Office. The position was fully understood by the people of the respective towns and became for a time the excitable topic of discussion, which was calculated to increase a feeling that was not as amiable as before. Rivalry Develops The applications for post office had been forwarded during the pending contest which lasted for some time. Hays had received more new arrivals than Rome which was not a pleasant feature for the people of Rome to consider.

M. E. Joyce, who was an active participant in the contests looking to supremacy between the towns, was working with all his might for Rome. He did not hesitate In using the space of the different eastern papers he represenled as special correpondenl in abusing Ihe Hays City people. His native Irish audacity contributed largely toward the extreme tension of feeling that eventually existed between the people of the rival towns.

One evening he and two others made as they described it; a friendly visit to Hays City. While engaged in making the rounds of the different places of resort and general industries of the town, considerable discussion was indulged in, of a jocular nature, about the prosperity of the rival towns, which finally culminated in some trouble of a minor nature between one of the Joyce party and an overzealous Hayslte. Discretion suggested lhal the lime to return had arrived and they immediately started for Rome. When about midway between the two lowns, moving along as sleadily and quielly as conditions would admit Always Build With No other building material compares with Concrete Blocks For ECONOMY DURABILITY VERSATILITY Concrete Blocks HAYS Concrete Products 40 ANTON Jt KLAUS Hays, Ph. MA 4-8716 THE MASSACKKD BURIED HERE: Graves'Ih roadside cemetery'at Victoria where railroad workers massacred by the Indians in 1867 were buried.

of, they were suddenly fired upon someone concealed behind the embankment of the roadbed. Mr. Joyce was wounded in the left shoulder. Several more shots were fired but the others escaped without injury. Fortunately the wound proved not to be of a serious na- though very painful.

This was first and only incident of this character over the rival town question. While the shooting occasioned considerable excitement at the time and cool judgcnt averted 'urther trouble. The matter was 'ully investigated by a committee selected from both towns but noth- ng developed tending to reveal the identity of the guilty party at the investigation. The person, lowever, who was suspected of laving committed the outrage was 'ully acquitted of the charge. Mr.

Joyce was the one man talked ibout for some time, especially by his fellowtownsmen and was regarded by them as a hero. The manifested interest and kindness, was to Joyce a complete recompense for the suffering he endured. He was petted and feasted by his lady friends, which was to him all life was worth. Some of his waggish inclined friends reported that his only grievance was over speedily healing wounds. The Indians, not satisfied wilh the result of their first attack ipon the camps west of Rome, renewed hostilities toward the latter part of June.

Sufficient troops to Insure full protection were speed- ly distributed along the line and ocatecl at different camps. Supplies could only go forward now, convoy of troops. Occasionally the Indians would make a dash while the stock was out feeding and succeeded in getting away with some of the animals, but would avoid coming in contact with the soldiers. The trouble and loss resulting- from the stealthy operations of an organized band of thieves was more annoying to the contractors at this time, than the damage of the Indians. The thieves confined their operations! to night work exclusively.

Stock would be missing in the morning, notwithstanding the vigil of the night herders. Strange as it may seem, not a single instance, out of the many thefts committed was the perpetrator discovered in the act of committing the theft. It was the general opinion that the work was being done by white men and not the Indians. This was finally verified by the discovery of some stolen stock near Salina This furnished a clue that resulted in the apprehension of some of the guilty parties who had no further use for mules or horses, soon after being arrested. The quiet disappearance about the same time, of others who had no special vocation that occupied their time, terminated the stock stealing from the camps of contractors.

The heroic treatment administered had salutary effect upon a class engaged to the continual annoyance of the contractors in secretly selling intoxicants to the men employed by them. Not until after their departure did it dawn upon the minds of-the contractors what the real mission of these parties had been among them. Construction Denuded Area The removal of the government stores and property from old Fort Hays to the new site selected for the post was completed and work vigorously pushed In constructing barracks, officers quarters, store rooms, etc. A contract had been let by the quartermaster for several hundred cords of wood for the post. This was the signal for the commencement of the denudation of the timber along the creek, east and west of the reservation boundary lines.

It proved a source of considerable revenue to a number of town people. Wood, fresh buffalo and antelope meat originally Constituted the entire list of marketable native products. Later grass for hay was added and finally the hide of the buffalo was included. These commodities in their respective seasons made money plentiful among those who devoted their time and attention to the exciting pursuit of hunting, and the more remunerative business of furnishing hay and wood to the government under yearly contracts awarded by the quartermaster of the department of the Missouri. Both towns slowly increased in population.

Business was fairly good. While some complained, others were Jubilant over their success in business. Notwithstanding this condition a feeling of uncertainty about the trade in the future and the permanency of the town was strongly in evidence. This was more particularly revealed by the temporary and makeshift nature of the buildings in which the business was transacted with only few exceptions. Where now stands the neat two-story dwelling on the bank of the creek, the brewery was located with a neatly trimmed grove of trees in front.

The patrons, and they were many, nightly congregated and listened to the music of a good or- chestra under iupervuten long-haired Jones, whlll HltM around rustic tables enjoying product of Rome's most prising business Drew. ing company. Their investment represented a larger expenditure of money In construction of place or: business and general improvement than that of any other firm" or individual doing business in the town. The want of confidence was equally conscious in Hays City if hesitation to build was Indicative of their doubt of the final success of the town. The tent was equal to every requirement from a business point of view.

This doubt about the future of either town was not indulged in by the town nies. If the amount of money asked for lots indicated a condition of success and strange as it may seem, neither could give title to the property they sold and offered for sale, or a reasonable assurance of title in the near future. Men speculatively inclined would pay a small bonus, accept a deed at a time stipulated when balance was to be paid. No deed was ever delivered under agreement to any of the many lots sold by Rome town company. The Hayg town company obtained title to the land staked and platted and in due time complied with terms of their contracts to deliver deeds.

A no time during the history of Hays did value of lots approach the sold for originally, except for a short period several years ago when additional railroad facilities seemed assured. The reaction following, however, the final of each of the projected lines more destructive to real values than the reaction following the extortion practiced by town company. Cholera Striked Area During the last days of 1867 the hitherto prosperous career of Rome was suddenly checked by the appearance of cholera. population at the time was composed of people who had met for the first time only a few before, being in reality -strangers to each other in a strange and empty land. The announcement of the presence of the dreaded malady created consternation among people.

The unfortunate and helpless condition that existed is hard to realize. The fact the town was without a representative of the medical profession or a drug store where alleviating antidotes could be obtained or a minister of gospel to console and speak words of comfort to those stricken and helpless will convey a faint idea of the real situation of that mal, gloomy, misty, murky day morning in the town of Rome. It was a condition which made the brave falter in distraction over the pitiful and beseeching implorations of the dying. Men who had ever courted opportunities to engage in adventures full of privations and danger, who had stood in the forefront of battle with indifference, if not defiance of death dealing missiles hurled among them, became helpless in the presence of the rapacious malady. The extreme tension of depression was not in itself a destructive disease but it was condition precedent to fatality with all that were stricken by the contagion.

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