HOSPITALITY AND INDIANS. 385 



the evening is fine, which is the case generally, croquet is 

 played by lantern light. 



HOSPITALITY AND INDIANS. 



Ranchmen are generous almost to a fault. They feed and 

 lodge, without charge, every person who comes to the ranch ; 

 high or low, rich or poor, black, white or copper-colored, all 

 are provided for alike. By this kindness the copper-colored 

 murderers got the advantage in the Fall of 1878. They had 

 been in the habit of coming to the cattle camps or ranches to 

 get food, and the generous ranchmen, not only gave them plenty 

 to eat while they were there, but also provisions to carry away 

 with them. The few white persons who escaped assassination, 

 bear witness that the Indians came, apparently as friendly as 

 they ever were, asked for something to eat, as usual, and when 

 the whites were off their guard drew their revolvers from 

 under their blankets and began firing. Some of our best men 

 were thus murdered in cold blood. Murry, a young man, be- 

 loved by all who knew him, for his steady habits, his attention 

 to business, and his gentlemanly deportment, was murdered by 

 those whom he had fed when hungry and liad given shelter 

 from cold and storm. If these had been white men, they would 

 every one of them have been hung, as they deserved to be. 



Ranchmen are true friends; there are few hardships they 

 will not endure for a friend, and their assistance can be relied 

 on in time of sickness or trouble. They assist each other in 

 putting out fires, gathering their cattle, branding and blabing, 

 and never think of making a charge. 



They dress in common business clothes, under leather over- 

 alls that are well greased, carry with them an overcoat and oil 

 coat, wear the indispensable broad-brimmed hat, and have a 

 six-shooter strapped around the waist. 



STOCK ON THE RANGE. 



The stock interest is so large in this hilly portion of 

 Kansas, that a short account of it will, I think, prove interest- 

 ing to say the least. Some stockmen have cattle here on the 



