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Show 2 - OVERDUE TIMES - OCTOBER 15, 1997 HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT OF NORTHERN SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH —from the writings of Frank Silvey ‘ (This continuing series is from the Silvey writings which cap~ ture much of the color and feeling of the eariy settlers in the general Moab area of southeastern Utah.) THE BIG GIVEAWAY (continued) Many cowboys rode "bog" that spring. We would pull out cows all day long trying to get them on their feet then go on and pull out many more. The next day many would be back in the bog again. Some in to their necks and the miserable crows would pick out their eyes as the cows lay helpless. We would shoot all the cows that were helpless to put them out of their misery. Much has been written of Poke and Posey's last stand in recent years. Another Colorado boy was killed in this Piute uprising, Joe Aiken of Dolores, making a total of twenty men killed in San Juan County and just over the line as far as Dolores. Fifteen of those killed in all Indian uprisings have been from Colorado, the miners and prospectors were numerous and were always willing to go. 1895-1896, the drought period continuing with the low price of cattle the majority of the cattlemen sold out their interests and the cattle were shipped to Montana. Among those selling out were the Carlisle Cattle Company (they had been shipping for four years), the Taylor Brothers, Silvey Brothers, the LC. and others. Then sheep started to come in. The first bunch of sheep were put on the north end element of society out of business, as there were few cattle left for them to work on. The Robbers Roost bunch and the majority of all others carrying on this trade disbanded and left the country for greener pastures. While sheep have done considerable damage to our ranges, cloudbursts and prairie dogs have done more. Back in 1898 we had our first cloudburst and this came down Mill Creek, near Moab in which Boren was drowned. This flood cut a wide channel through the lower end of Moab Valley and took away many acres of fine land. Prior to that event, and in early days, this "arroyo" could be crossed in many places with a wagon and was only a few feet deep while the banks were generally sloping and in many places only a few yards across. Today this wash is two hundred yards across in many places, with considerable depth. The flood changed conditions in Hatch's Wash. Over in the Disappointment district, Gypsum, Paradox Valley and all districts there is no bedrock to hold up the surface soil. Prior to 1898 we had no so—called cloudbursts but only heavy rains. The vegetation we had in those days, held the water back so that it generally reached the main washes with little damage. The Colorado River those days, with the exception of the May and June run-off, was as clear as a mountain stream. Other Silvey Anecdotes: ' At Bluff City in the sunrmer of 1886 the old fashioned, good people saw little of the outside world and had few shoes to wear at home. A group of women were discussing a certain young lady. Some said she had never been anywhere except Bluff City. “You are mistaken,” said one of the group, “she has been around and has shoes.” Another incident during the summer of ‘86: Two of La Sal Mountains by the Taylors in August, 1895, under guard of Joe Bush, a United States Deputy Marshall. This was the first bunch of sheep to come into eastern Utah or cowboys, James More, nicknamed ‘Mancos Jim’ and Dan western Colorado. 'Ihey feared trouble with cattlemen, thus obtained a quart of ‘frrewater, from some unknown source, the guard. Soon after this more sheep came and a number of and got to feeling their cats but were good natured. A dance was on at the log cabin school and church local former cattlemen went into sheep so in a few years the sheep outnumbered cattle many times. Today the vast domain in eastern Utah and western Colorado has been invaded by sheep where once cattle were supreme. There were many factors working to bring this great change about. Among them was the extended drought, the low price of cattle and cattle rustlers. Up until about the year 1890, old time rustlers had worked on the cattle companies considerably in catching mavericks, but as mavericks those days were considered legitimate, little attention was paid to that rather shady proceeding. On the outside, the Blue Mountains got a reputation as a tough place, and outlaws flocked in here from several states. The Robber's Roost bunch was organized, many cattle were driven off, many brands were burnt over. Cows were killed in order to get their calves and during the Ute invasion the winter of 1894—1895, we lost nearly half of our cattle through starvation. The outlaw bunch shot up our town many times, endangered the lives of women and children. With much patience the pioneer settlers of Monticello and Moab stood for this abuse, but as they did not want bloodshed, they held out with fortitude. During this period in our history there were a number of killings generally among the outlaws themselves so that this district got a worse reputation than ever. Soon after this the shipping of the greater part of the cattle out of the country, the bringing in of sheep soon put this undesirable Short came to Bluff City on a visit and for a ‘time.’ They house, so the two went to the dance. Waltzes had been in vogue on the ‘outside’ for a couple years and some of the cowboys called this kind of a dance ‘revolving with the gals.‘ The good bishop and others of Bluff City did not approve of this kind of dancing. The Bishop opened the dance with prayer, and remarked that he did not approve of this kind of dancing...especially with ‘outsiders’ meaning the two cowboys. ° This offended both cowboys and Dean Short arose and said, “I have been in high ‘perciety' and low ‘perciety‘ but this is the danrndest ‘perciety’ thatl was ever in!" and drawing hes six shooter, he shot out all the lights and there was no dance that night! Much appreciation to the Times—Independent for giving permission to reprint these selections from the History and Settlement of Northern San Juan County, Utah, from the writings of Frank Silvey, an early pioneer in this area. [The CV Times is looking for someone who enjoys the history of the area and would like to help get more material for our readers. Sources are available, including oral history projects through Grand County. Please contact us if you might be interested in helping] |