THE CONQUEST OF ARID AMERICA 



found conveniently at their cabin doors and promptly 

 despatched, though they died with their guns in their 

 hands and were able to make a feeble response to the 

 overwhelming numbers. But beyond these two assassi- 

 nations the expedition was unsuccessful. The small 

 settlers throughout the region were in sympathy with the 

 men marked for death. The news of the " invasion " 

 spread with incredible swiftness, and before the expedition 

 could reach the homes of other intended victims the 

 "rustlers" and their farmer allies, under the aggressive 

 leadership of Jack Flagg a noted character in the neigh- 

 borhood rallied in large numbers. They surrounded 

 the "invaders" at a farm-house, and would have exter- 

 minated them to the last man except for the timely ar- 

 rival of a troop of United States cavalry from the nearest 

 fort. After several months of delay, the powerful politi- 

 cal influence of those who had organized the expedition 

 succeeded in setting its members free without serious 

 punishment. 



Public opinion differed much as to the justice of this 

 bold effort to dispose once and for all of the annoying and 

 costly evil of cattle -thieves. By some it was regarded 

 as the irrepressible conflict between the irrigated farm 

 and the free range. These thought that the real animus 

 of the affair lay not in the just complaint ii-gainst a few 

 thieves, but in the fixed determination of those who 

 profited from the unrestricted use of the public lands to 

 prevent, at any cost, further settlement by honest farmers. 

 On the other hand, there were many good citizens, men 

 who had not hesitated to risk their fortunes in construct- 

 ing irrigation works for the very purpose of opening 

 certain valleys to settlement, who did not hesitate to 



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