Chapter VIII

BUFFALO DURING THE “T. A.” SIEGE--GREAT EXCITEMENT, BUT ORDER
PRESERVED--BURIAL OF CHAMPION AND RAY--DEATH OF CORONER WATKINS

When the news of the burning of the K. C. ranch reached Buffalo on Sunday, the 10th of April, and it was learned that the invaders were on their way north with murderous intent, a feeling of alarm and determination at once took possession of the people. Robert Foote, the leading merchant of the town, mounted his celebrated black horse and, with his long white beard flying to the breeze, dashed up and down the streets calling the citizens to arms. A gentleman present tells of the picturesqueness of the scene as almost beyond description. Riding up to the front of a store or residence, he would call out the inmates and in terms as follows address them:

“It is the duty of every citizen to protect and uphold the laws of his country. Wyoming has been invaded. An armed body of assassins has entered our own county and with bullet and fire have destroyed the lives and property of our people. This same murderous gang is now marching on our village with the open threat to murder our citizens and destroy our property. As men and fellow citizens who love your homes, your wives and your children, I call upon you to shoulder your arms and come to the front to protect all that you hold dear against this approaching foe. If you have no arms, come to my store and get them free of charge. Our honor collectively, your honor individually, and the honor of your common manhood demand immediate action. Fall in line.”

The venerable appearance of Mr. Foote, the bold and fearless utterances made in the presence of open and avowed sympathizers of the white caps and friends of the people alike, had the desired effect. In less than one hour a hundred brave men were under arms, ready to lay down their lives in defense of their homes.

They were all sworn in as deputy sheriffs and systematically organized, the city marshal co-operating with them in every detail. Pickets were mounted and stationed well out on all the approaches to the town, and order and discipline everywhere established and maintained. The churches and school houses were opened as quarters for the men, and the good women volunteered their services as in the old Colonial days of our country. As flying couriers carried the news to the country districts the settlers came pouring in, each man with his gun and pistol, and a look of determination on his face that boded no good to the outlaws who dared invade their homes.

Hundreds of men were spared to surround the cattlemen at the T. A. ranch, 12 miles away, but the constant rumor set afloat by the white caps not in the fighting ranks of their friends, that large reinforcements were on the way from the north and the west, kept excitement running high in the town and seemingly made it necessary to keep up an organized force with which to meet any emergency.

Mr. Foote magnanimously and patriotically threw open his store doors to the multitude and supplied every want of the home guards and the besiegers at the T. A. Guns, ammunition, blankets, warm clothing, slickers, flour, bacon, tobacco, canned goods, etc., etc., went out in a constant flow until thousands of dollars’ worth had gone to feed and make comfortable the home defenders. The local community, and the state at large, owe a debt of gratitude to this big-hearted and brave old pioneer that it can never suitably repay, yet he will always hold a warm place in the hearts of all honest residents of the state. As the crime of the invasion will never die, so Robert Foote’s noble generosity will live always.

To add solemnity and deep seated feeling to the situation during the days of the siege the people realized that the dead and mutilated bodies of two of their fellow citizens were being brought from the ill-fated K. C. ranch for a Christian burial. With this burden of anxiety and trouble upon them the people obeyed the law; maintained order in the town and throughout the county, thereby demonstrating in a most striking manner their loyalty to good citizenship. Sheriff Angus, the most thoroughly abused man in the state, proved himself competent, honest and a man of the people.

Two days after the surrender the burial of Champion and Ray took place, as also that of Coroner Watkins, who had died while engaged in holding an inquest over the remains of the K. C. victims. A newspaper correspondent present made the following mention:

“The funeral of Champion and Ray was held at 2 P. M. in a vacant store building on Main Street. The room was full of ladies and but few men could get in. The handsome coffins were beautifully and profusely decorated with flowers. Rev. W. J. McCullom, a Baptist, read from the scriptures and then offered prayer, in which he said: ‘We thank Thee, O God, that there are those who have stood by the law. We pray that the law may be strengthened; that if we cannot get justice here, then in the other world.’

“Rev. Rader then delivered a few brief remarks. He said: ‘These men have been sent to eternity. We know not why. They were not criminals. They were of Christian parents. Ray leaves five brothers and three sisters. His parents could not be notified, as the wires were cut. But the same honors have been paid as if they were here.’

“Many were in tears. Those who had not already viewed the remains were allowed to. A strange sight it was, too. The black and charred trunk of Ray’s with a floral surrounding. The procession then moved up the main street and out to the cemetery. The hearse was preceded by Revs. Rader and McCullom. Then came carriages, wagons, footmen and last, 150 mounted men, three ladies and two boys. There were probably 500 in all. An eight-minute, short service was made at the grave by Rev. Rader.”

This outpouring of the people to participate in the last sad rites for the departed showed clearly that the masses were arrayed solidly against the law breakers and assassins, whatever the executive and his coterie of supporters might represent to the President of the United States and his chief advisers. They were not upholders of insurrection, but protestors against the operations of the banditti.

After the funerals the country people generally went home, feeling that they had done their duty and that the backbone of the invasion had been broken, notwithstanding the continued threats of another attempt on the part of the captured cattlemen. They were all ready to “come again,” however, should the necessity arise, and did not hesitate to say so in very plain English and in the presence of the non-fighting white caps, who were acting as spies.

No greater proof of the loyalty of Johnson County people, or the “rustlers” of the northern counties, could be given than the following incident:

After Governor Barber had ordered R. M. Allen, who was in the jail at Buffalo, turned over to the military authorities and after receipt of an order from the secretary of war to the same effect, Colonel Van Horn telephoned to Sheriff Angus to know if one troop of cavalry would be sufficient to send over for Allen, or whether he had better send three troops. The sheriff replied: “If you send one or three troops, the chances are that there will be trouble. But if you want your man, detail one soldier.”

Accordingly, a sergeant was sent in an open wagon, with a driver. When he drove up in front of the court house there were 200 armed men in line on either side of the walk leading from the street to the court house door. The sheriff met the sergeant at the sidewalk, the men fell back, leaving a five-foot open way to the door, through which the sheriff and detail walked, and entering the house, went directly to the jail door. Allen was brought out, the soldier signed a receipt for him, and the three went to the east door. When Allen saw the multitude of armed men he hesitated and preferred returning to the jail, but the soldier, taking courage from the coolness of the sheriff, ordered and fairly dragged him through the lines to the wagon. No one interfered, or suggested interference, and the city marshal mounted behind the seat occupied by the soldier and the prisoner, they were driven rapidly to Fort McKinney, three miles away.

Knowing that this man had actively participated in the murder of two of their fellow citizens, whose burned and mutilated remains they were then preparing for burial, and believing that his delivery to the military meant his discharge without trial for the crime committed, the spectacle of 200 well armed men standing by and making no protest is a demonstration of the highest type of manhood and a manifestation of supreme respect for the forms of law such as has never before been shown on the frontier, or anywhere else in this broad land. And yet these same men have been called outlaws and a price placed upon their heads by the cattle barons.