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Show Volume XIV Issue XIX The Ogden Valley news Page 11 July 15, 2007 By Sherman LeMoyne Hislop Today, Ant Valley is one of the choicest places in the United States to snowmobile. It is situated high in the Wasatch Mountains, in between Blacksmith Fork and Hardware Ranch, which has numerous elk feeding in the wintertime, and Mont Cristo. Further north into Idaho is Bear Lake. And at the north end of Bear Lake are several small towns and farming communities, which makes a very pleasant environment for camping and such things. A hundred years ago, there were no roads or trails in Blacksmith Fork. When going today, there is the Hardware Ranch, which is a favorite place for people to visit in the wintertime as there’s a rather large herd of elk. You can actually ride a bobsled pulled by a team and go within a very few feet of the elk. But it was not always so. The north end of Bear Lake was used in the wintertime by Butch Cassidy and his compatriots because it was more habitable than Robbers Roost. Robbers Roost was located east of Rock Springs, Wyoming, and was rather a desolate place where the gang could rob and hold-up the Union Pacific Railroad as it traveled west to Ogden. Temperatures at Robbers Roost during the wintertime frequently sunk to over 50 degrees below zero. It was most uncomfortable and not a place to spend a winter. The Robbers-Roost gang would frequent the area north of Bear Lake. This particular spring day in 1899, the Robbers-Roost gang, which consisted of five riders, was crossing Ant Valley and trying to get back to the “roost.” They evidently became a little disoriented and missed the turn where you cut southeast to Evanston and then east to their hideout. They crossed where the Hardware Ranch is currently situated today where the Blacksmith Fork River, which was really a small stream, is located. It crossed Ant Valley where they were using Skunk Creek as a way to cross over or around Monte Cristo. They rode up Skunk Creek through a rather narrow canyon so were traveling single file when they came upon a place where the canyon became even narrower. It had huge boulders numerous pine trees on both sides. They were climbing an especially steep and rocky area on their horses when they came around a bend in the canyon. There sat Henry on an old saddle horse with a rifle across the saddle. Butch Cassidy was leading the group that came upon Henry. He asked, “Where are you going Mister Robbers Roost at Skunk Creek Cassidy?” Butch answered, “Well, I was trying to get back to our camp east of Rock Springs, but I think we may have gotten lost.” Henry said, “Well, I could show you how to get over there pretty quick, the fastest and easiest way. My spotters tell me there’s a posse at least ten miles back down across Ant Valley. It will take them about four or five hours to get this far.” Butch replied, “I don’t know your name, mister. But if you could steer us back over to Evanston, I would appreciate it.” Henry said, “We can not only help you, we can also provide a right meal and water—Mulligan stew made with young elk. It will be just up this trail there to Dry Bird Pond. Your horses can feed a little and get water.” “Sounds good to me, mister. You say your name’s Hislop?” Henry replied, “Yep. I have to take into consideration the man behind you. I want your guarantee that he will not try to use his guns on me or my help.” “Help?” said Butch, “Where’s the help? I don’t see any.” Henry said, “There’s myself and Dad Young hiding over behind those boulders. Because his eyes are a little weak, he uses a double barrel shot gun. If anything is to start, I’ll take care of you and Dad will take the second man and probably the third one. Paiute Pete, sitting up in the pines, will get the others before they ever get off their horses. Just to show you what I mean, look at that pinecone over you head. Hey Pete!” Henry hollered, “Shoot the cone!” The pine cone was shot and fell onto Butch Cassidy’s saddle before the sound of the rifle was heard. “That’s just to emphasize that Paiute hits what he’s shooting at. Your friend there, who I don’t trust, I want your guarantee that he will leave his gun holstered, and we’ll provide you direction to go around Monte, and we’ll feed you some Mulligan stew. Then you backtrack slightly, and go around that big rock, and you’ll get to Evanston. How to get from Evanston to Rock Springs will be your problem.” Butch shifted a little in his saddle and said to the other men, “Keep your hands off your guns. I trust this man.” With that, Henry started up the trail telling Cassidy, “Follow me. We’ll get you some water, some rest, and some Mulligan stew.” Note: Sherm has written four colorful books where he tells of this stories of growing up in Ogden Valley: “Grandpa’s Stories,” true incidents in the lives of Valley resident from Great Granma Smith getting her husband drunk, killing the last grizzly in the Wasatch, Boozier, and others; “Eight Brothers Served for Peace,” the story of eight brothers from the Hislop family who served their country during WWII; “AMAP – According to Mom and Pop,” a book about the author’s mother and father who taught their 12 children to serve; and “Musings from Common Folk,” a collection of musing and poems written mostly by the author. All books are $9.95, and proceeds are being used to build a Service Memorial in Huntsville Town. To order by mail, send check to: ERINN SA PO BOX 454 HUNTSVILLE UT 84317 Historical Photo Eden School Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grades 1939-40. Back row: Haynes Fuller, Donald Guthrie, mack Fuller, Eugene Wilson. Front row: Beulah Lindsay, Vera Chambers, LuJean Fuller, Teacher - Howard Stallings, Ned Clark, Sylvester Lindsay, and Renee Burnett. Photo courtesy of Ned Clark. Celeste C. Canning PLLC Attorney at Law 2590 Washington Boulevard, Suite 200 Ogden, Utah 84401 Local: (801) 791-1092 Office: (801) 612-9299 Email: ccanninglaw@aol.com Meeting the Legal Needs of Small Business and Their Owners FREE Initial Thirty Minute Consultation. Appointments in Ogden Valley upon request. |