Cowboy Chaos at the Hog Ranche of Valentine in the Early 1880s

James E. Ducey, ca. 2010. Original interpretive illustrations by Jack Sampson and Copyright 2010 Jack Sampson .

Wild times were the norm during the open range days in the Niobrara country of northern Nebraska. One particular place of repute was the “Hog Ranche” near the Fort Niobrara military post.
 
A post was being established during June 1880, on the south bank of the Niobrara River, Nebraska, opposite the mouth of the Minnechaduza River. J.M. Thacher & Co. were the post traders, evening being established a few months previous.

Cowboys, Indians, desperadoes, settlers and others came to this outpost on the northwest frontier of Nebraska.

A columnist described the strife at the fort, detailing how a soldier of D Company named Castigan or called “Jersey” shot and killed Sergeant Widmer when the he came to order the soldier to respond to the call. Other troubles may have been associated with the nearby hog-ranche establishment.

“On the day previous to the above happenings, the 4th, a row occurred between privates Hurd and Caldwell, of Co. “F,” which will cost the former a “lay-off” at Fort Leavenworth, if nothing worse. A number of the soldiers clubbed together for the purpose of giving a dance. After it was over, the boys engaged in drinking beer, during which time, Caldwell made some remarks, which led another soldier to move his expulsion from the club, and ask who would second the motion. Hurd sprang up, saying he would second it, at the same time picking up a carpenter's mallet and dealing Caldwell a heavy blow on the head. Caldwell fell to the floor, and on being picked up, it was discovered he was struck over the eye, the blow making an ugly gash, and cutting one of the main arteries of the head. He was conveyed to the hospital, where he now lies in a precarious condition, while his assailant wears chain armor, and keeps company with Castigan, the murderer of Widmer.” -- July 17, 1880. Sidney Telegraph 6(35): 3.

In July of 1880, a correspondent named “Philo Elzea” wrote about workers and wages at Fort Niobrara:
“There has been some excitement among mechanics and laboring men at this new post, and I find that many others, as well as myself, have very imperfect ideas in regard to the facts in the case, and hence many are coming and going all the time. Let me say that if the country at large knew the facts, precious time and money would be saved. Mechanics were offered $70 per month and rations, and common laborers $40 per month and rations. The mechanic arrives, and he can get nothing to do as mechanic; perhaps he can get work in the adobe yards, or in the stone quarry at $35 per month. There are quite a number of mechanics now working at these figures on those works, that if they were home, might earn $1.75 per day, and save over their board over $35 per month. Many have gone away in disgust, and more are going. The people nearly all come 175 or 200 mile, and usually take about a week to get here, $1 worth of provisions and $5 passage with some team; all worth about $12; he gets work at the above figures, works a week or two, and goes home at about the expense he came, making $24 in all.” -- July 24, 1880. Valley County Journal 2(17): 4.

In letters written in April 1881, the community column in the May paper mentioned that Company B from Fort Hartsuff was to be moved to Fort Niobrara. Additional comments in the column written by “Bub” said: “Everything is quiet along the Niobrara to-day. Now and then a herd of cow boys runs into the post causing a flutter of excitement, otherwise every day passes as placidly as a stream without a ripple; yet everybody is busy, and the Fort begins to look like a young town and budding into cityhood.” -- May 13, 1881. Valley County Journal 3(7): 4.

Several men garrisoned at the fort had deserted with the coming of spring: “for the gallant Fifth has lost several of her most efficient non-coms lately by desertions. First Sergeant Moqueen, Co. F, severed his connection with the Fifth, taking with him two Government horses, and leaving a shortage of revolvers. Serg't. Hart, Co. D, has also departed, taking with him the company fund-quite an amount, I hear. He departed yesterday for summer climes.” -- May 13, 1881. Valley County Journal 3(7): 4.

 

On May 9, 1881: “Another bloody tragedy occurred near Fort Niobrara on the night of the 9th inst., in which one man was killed outright and two others wounded. Spotted Tail and several of his braves had been visiting the Fort, and with the usual quota of soldiers and citizen bummers, were visiting the “hog-ranch”-a place at some distance from the Fort kept by disreputable persons of both sexes, and were having a drunken carousal. Late in the evening a band of road agents of which Serg't. Moqueen, who lately deserted from the Fort, is supposed to be the leader, surrounded the ranch, and one of their number opened the door and told the inmates to throw up their hands, at the same time leveling two revolvers on the crowd. This they all did except Wade, the barkeeper who dodged below the bar just as the agent fired at him, reappeared immediately with a double-barrelled shotgun, and fired both loads at the agent, hitting him near the hip, and tearing away part of his side. He stepped outside and his place was immediately filled by another agent, who shot at Wade, but not until the latter had put a ball through his pistol hand, destroying his aim and rendering his fire ineffectual. By this time the other occupants of the “ranch” had recovered their presence of mind and “sand,” and the agent was captured and disarmed, and a rush made for those outside. The agents made their escape, and so doing killed the boss herder at the Fort, who had been attracted toward the “ranch” by the firing, and was in the line of their retreat. Several detachments were sent out from the Fort to capture them the next day, but without success.” -- Anonymous. May 20, 1881. Valley County Journal 3(8): 8.

“About three miles east of the Fort on the prairie is the “Hays Ranch,” sometimes called Three Mile Ranch, a place of ill resort, a dance house which has been doing a rushing business for the last ten days since pay day. Casterline the proprietor had a large amount of money somewhere near a thousand dollars which took the eyes of several suspicious characters which have been around the post,” described an article in the Omaha Daily Bee in May 1881.

Among the gang were “James Read, alias Teddy, and Dick Burr,” and soldiers which were deserters.
 
These men were going to hold up the “resort” near the fort. The night of their attempt a soldier deserted and brought four horses to the establishment. When they approached the place, they shot and killed one man and left another with a scalp wound.

The news article detailed the ensuing gun battle: “While one held a Winchester on him another stepped in the room where the girls had been dancing and ordered “hands up,” and leveled his rifle at the proprietor who was standing behind the bar. He threw up by going down and coming up with a double barreled shot gun loaded with buck shot and emptied the contents at Read, breaking his gun stock in two pieces and wounding Read, it is thought fatally, as blood and flesh was on the remaining piece and his trail was bloody. After Casterline shot Read he glanced around and caught another fellow named Dan Cunningham, alias Wild Bill in the act of firing at him with his six shooter. Casterline dropped behind the counter the second time and secured his six shooter, and as Bill came around the end of the counter he shot him twice. The first shot took effect in Bill's hand and side, the next in the breast above the left nipple, going through his lung, lodged in the scapula, where the doctor found it when he examined him at the hospital.”

Great excitement followed.

“The first knowledge of the trouble at “Hag's Ranche” was brought to the fort by Sergeant Harrington, who was in pursuit of the stolen horses, and stopping at the ranche was informed of the killing of John Bordaux, the head herder of the Rosebud Agency. A note from the agent quickly followed announcing the same news, and Spotted Tail, who happened to be present, volunteered the services of his Indians to pursue the fugitives. Lieutenant Cherry with eight enlisted men and three Indian trailers immediately started in pursuit six hours behind the robbers,” according to a subsequent article in The Bee.

Lieutenant Cherry was soon shot by Tom Locke - one of his own troopers - and killed in Dakota territory, a few miles north of the Fort. A private in the military party was injured.

The miscreant was captured later as he rode eastward to escape, getting nabbed about 24 miles west of The Forks, a postoffice on a peninsula just east of the confluence of Calamus and North Loup River, in historic Wheeler county. The killer claimed he was insane. He went on trial at Deadwood, Dakota territory.

In June 1881, “Bub” wrote about the devastating losses of cattle during the past winter, proclaiming “it is evident the Niobrara country is a decided failure as a cattle growing country. I don't see why either, for we have good shelter, the best of water and an abundance of it.” --
 
Cherry county was created by legislative enactment in February 1883 and was named in honor of Lieutenant Cherry. Valentine was established at the same time and was the terminus of the Sioux City and Pacific railroad. It was the supply point for the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Indian agencies.
It was a growing pioneer town.

“This is the home of the cow-puncher,” wrote an Omaha Bee reporter in July. “Here he stands, tall, well-formed, with muscles of iron and bronzed, generally handsome, face. High boots, always, blue shirt and heavy pants, an immense white hat, at the hip a glistening revolver of the largest pattern, always loaded, and always accompanied by a belt filled with cartridges. This is the cow-boys toy. He plays with this as children play with toy-pistols, and fires it off whenever he feels like it. The night is merry with its gentle fusillade, the cow-boy shoots dogs with it, shoots at stove-pipe hats if they appear on the street, shoots at the ground in front of the “tenderfoot” and scatters the dirt over his polished shoes, he flourishes it in the moonlight, he plays tunes on it, he serenades with it,”

There was a constant rush for land, and in the past week the reported said there had been between 250 and 300 land entries. Two weeks after his first time through, “Gannet” passed through Valentine on his return journey to the east. He noted six new frame buildings on Main Street and several new residences. He commented how the burgeoning town was the supply post for the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Indian agencies.

The town also had troubles, with great dangers of getting perforated by a bullet.

“The only evil of importance to the outside world that infests Valentine is the promiscuous shooting, which is of daily occurrence, and will increase during the fall and winter unless our citizens adopt measures to stay such proceedings,” said a July article in the Valentine Reporter. “Already Valentine is considered by the eastern people the toughest town this side of the gates of Hades, and many who desired to locate here and engage in business have been deterred from so doing because of the pistol practice that is carried on to such an alarming extent.”

The Hog Ranch was still a part of the wild times. It was a “saloon, dance-house, and gambling hell,” according to one resident. It brought more trouble.

“On Friday evening last just after dark a cow-boy rode into town with the information that one of his friends had been shot by Sheriff John Key at the Hog Ranche, a house of prostitution which is located a short distance from town on the south side of the railroad track,” wrote an article in the Valentine Reporter in October 1883.

“Immediately everything was in an uproar, business houses were closed, and men stood on the street corners expecting every moment to see a party of cow-boys rush into town to avenge the death of their unfortunate companion. But nothing of the kind happened, and as the excitement began to subside a large number of our citizens accompanied the county coroner to the scene of the tragedy. There lay the cow-boy just outside the door, with his revolver beneath his right arm, but death had claimed him for its victim. The body was at once carried inside the Hog Ranche, a coroner's jury summoned, and it was learned that the man, whose name was Clarence Hann, came to his death by a bullet wound through the heart. Sheriff Key immediately gave himself into custody, acknowledging that he fired the fatal shot, but claiming that it was done in self defense.”

A Town and Country News item in the same issue of the Valentine paper said “A couple of soiled doves were brought up before his honor, Judge Tucker, Tuesday afternoon, charged with indecent exposure of person, and were fined $3.00 each and costs.” The scamps were not welcome.

The Omaha Bee also reported on the shooting affray after an interview with Sheriff Key.

 

“The sheriff said to the reported that his only regret about the matter was that he was found in such a place. A party of 18 or 20 men or cow-boys, from Wyoming, had come down on that day with 1,800 head of cattle for shipment east. Key and Earnest had been at Hog Ranche but a short time when two of these cow-boys came in. They had been drinking and some words were passed between them, the officer and his friend. In order to settle it, Key asked the men up to the bar to drink and after that he and Earnest went back into one of the rooms with the girls and left the fellows standing at the counter. When they came out again they were gone but the bartender told Key what they said.

“They had asked who he (Key) was and what was his business, and when answered one of them said, “Key is a D- s- of a b-, and I had a good notion to take out my pistol and kill him. But never mind, we will go out to camp and we have two or three bad men out there, and we will come out with a crowd tonight and fix him, G- d- him,” or words to that effect.

“Soon after dark Key was in one of the rooms and heard six or seven men ride up on their horses, swearing and cursing, and declaring that they would ride into the house. He heard the bar-keeper beg them not to come in, and then went out to the front room to see what the row meant. As he walked in between the bar and the stove he saw one man with a six-shooter in his hand and another remarked, “Here is Key now, the d- s- of a b-. We will just give it to him,” and thereupon the firing began.

“Sheriff Key got out his pistol as quickly as possible and fired two shots. One of the attacking party fell from his horse and the rest ran around the house. They then charged on the door again and tried to get in, shooting as they came up through the doors and windows. One bullet cut through the sash and glanced off into the frame. But for this it would have killed Key, as the piece of sash was driven right against his abdomen.

“A terrible fight then ensued, which could only be accurately described by one who was present. The Sheriff attempted to escape by the back door, and as he did so was shot at with a Winchester rifle or a heavy calibre revolver. He had no one to help him, being once seized by two of the invaders, but finally wrenching himself loose from their grasp. After getting out through the back door he chased away a man who was sheltered behind a pile of wood and made a hasty retreat to the town, which was about a quarter mile away. Here he went to his room and went to bed, where he remained until next morning and then gave himself up to the authorities. Of course when the news was brought in the evening that a cowboy had been shot the whole town was in an uproar.

“Business houses were closed and men stood on the street corners expecting every moment to see a party of cowboys rush into town to avenge the death of their companion. This did not come, however, and when the crowd followed the coroner to the scene of the bloody affray the victim was found lying just outside the door, his revolver beneath his right arm and his body cold and lifeless.”

It was the death of another ruffian, indicative of the wild times of the first history of the pioneer, range days about the fort in the Niobrara River country.