Fights, Gunfights & Murder In The Old West 1896 to 1904 -- Part One

Report by The San Francisco Call on July 8, 1896:

MURDER AT OAKDALE.

James Brady Shot and Instantly Killed by a Discharged Ranch Employee.

Oakdale, California, July 7 — James Brady, a laborer on Eugene Threlfall's Ranch, was murdered here this evening by Peter Simsmelish. The two quarreled on the ranch this morning and Simsmelish was discharged.

They met in town this evening at a day camp, and Simsmelish, who carried a shotgun, walked up to within ten feet of Brady and said: "Are you going to take that back?"

Brady was slow in answering, and the murderer leveled the gun and fired, the charge taking effect in Brady's face and breast. Brady staggered a few feet away and fell dead. The murderer dashed away, but was captured an hour later in an old barn. He was brought to Oakdale.

When a San Francisco Call correspondent interviewed him, he was very cool and said he was glad he killed Brady and would do it again if he could. The murder had been planned by Simsmelish several hours before he met Brady, as he had offered a storekeeper $20 for a gun and ammunition with which to commit the crime.

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Reported in The San Francisco Call on November 19, 1900

TWO MEN STABBED DURING SALOON ROW

Albert Heins, a Marine, was Arrested on a Charge of Assault to Murder. 

San Francisco, California, November 18 —  Albert Heins, a Marine, got mixed up in a fight at 443 Bush Street early yesterday morning, and is now in the City Prison on a charge of assault to murder. Both his eyes are swollen and blackened, and he shows other signs of having been severely punished. 

His recollection of what happened is very hazy, as he admits he was considerably under the influence of liquor. It appears that Heins got into an altercation with F. Courser and H. Frazler, and words led to blows. 

Heins opened his pocketknife and succeeded in stabbing Courser five times and Frazler once before he was knocked out. Heins was arrested and booked on the charge of assault to murder. Courser was sent to the Receiving Hospital, where his wounds were stitched and dressed.

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Reported by The San Francisco Call on March 1, 1900

OLD INDIAN MURDERED FOR HIS MONEY 

Attacked in a Lonely Spot and Beaten to Death With a Club.

Special Dispatch to The Call. 

Chico, California, February 28  — The body of "Billy" Simpson, an Indian who has for many years been a resident of a rancheria on Rancho Chico, was found at about 6:30 o'clock this morning. That the murder had been done was evident at a glance, and that the motive which prompted the cold-blooded murder of an inoffensive Indian was robbery was recognizable immediately after the body and clothing were examined. 

Some brutal thug or thugs, for a few dollars Simpson might have in his pockets, literally beat the Indian to death, carried the body into the dense shadows of the trees near General Bidwell's mansion, and rifled the pockets. How much the murderers secured will probably never be known, but it is sure they only left a couple of keys and a dime, the latter being caught in a fold of the trousers pocket, which had been turned inside out. 

As to who committed the murder, there is very little for the officers to work upon, although there will be a search made for a stranger who appeared at the rear door of the Bidwell mansion at 8:30 o'clock and asked to see General Bidwell. The stranger appeared to be somewhat under the influence of liquor, and ho was told that General Bidwell was busy but to call again and he could see the general. The man went away but did not return. 

About a half or three-quarters of an hour later, one of the women employed there heard the dog growl fiercely and jump from the porch. The woman was quite nervous after the visit of the drunken man and called the dog back to the porch. This morning the tracks of the dog show that he had started straight for the spot where Simpson's body was found and it is confidently believed that he was aroused by the scuffling of the two men. 

There are numerous theories regarding the murder. Some are of the opinion that the murderer was lying in wait for some other person and when Simpson came along, attacked him, believing him to be the intended victim. It seems to be generally known, however, that Simpson always had from $10 to $20 in his pockets, and some thugs, knowing this, may have waited for him. 

Sheriff Wilson, with Deputy Sheriff Goe and Constable Potter, are making a thorough search of the grounds in the hope of finding the weapon used to commit the murder, and in the meantime effort will be made to locate the man who called at the Bidwell mansion about 8:30 o'clock.

Follow-up report on the above murder in The San Diego Union and Daily Bee on March 10, 1900

INDIANS CONFESS MURDER.

Chico, California, March 9 — Johnny Richards and Steve Thompson were today ordered held to appear before the superior court on charges of murder. These are the Indians who, on February 27, killed Billy Simpson, another Indian. near the residence of Gen. Bidwell. The murder was a particularly brutal one. Both confessed to the crime and gave the object of the murder as robbery.

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Reported by The San Francisco Call on May 7, 1900

"COLEY" MORRIS CAPTURED.

Believed to Have Been an Accessory to a Double Murder.

Phoenix, Arizona, May 6.— Sheriff Ed Beeler of Apache County passed through here today en route to his home in St. Johns, Arizona, having in custody Bill Morris, alias "Coley" Morris, arrested near Globe, on May 2 on a charge of being an accessory to the murders of Gus Gibbons and Frank L. Lesseur in Apache County on March 27. 

The gang that did the work is supposed to consist of seven men intent on robbing the Santa Fe Pacific train, but the plot was nipped in the bud by the Sheriff pursuing them for stealing cattle, and the murder was committed in the flight. 

It is believed that members of the same gang killed George Scarborough recently in Cochise County. "Coley" Morris admits being an acquaintance of members of the gang, but says he was not and can prove an alibi, though his description answers perfectly to one of the men wanted.

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Reported in The Inyo Independent on June 21, 1901:

A BOLD ROBBERY HALTED

Bodie, California — A bold attempt to rob the retort house of the Standard Consolidated Mining Co. at Bodie was made about 3 o’clock Monday morning. One bar of bullion, valued at $3,000, had been secured, and the thieves were trying to open another retort when they were interrupted by the appearance of Joe Beck, the night watchman.

A gunfight ensued, and Beck received a bullet in the shoulder. The thieves escaped, leaving their plunder behind. The Standard Company offers a $500 reward for the capture and conviction of the guilty parties.

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Reported in The Sausalito News on September 6, 1902:

DESPERATE GUNFIGHT IN COLORADO

One Man Killed and Two Others Receive Fatal Wounds.

Winfleld, Colorado — A revolver and rifle duel to the death was fought here on Main Street, and, as a result, Sjonstron, aged 35, Swede miner, was instantly killed. Sim Amsdon, aged 30 years, also a miner, was shot through the left breast two inches above the heart and mortally wounded, and Chauncey Bennell, a bartender, was shot in the groin and fatally wounded.

The shooting was the direct result of Amsdon's insane attachment for a pretty fifteen-year-old girl. The girl did not reciprocate Amsdon's feelings. Amsdon learned that Andy Maloy had called at the young girl's home and was seen in the girl's company.

Amsdon secured a rifle and went on a hunt for Maloy. He saw Maloy on the street and fired two shots at him, but neither reached its mark. Maloy escaped and during the remainder of the day kept under cover, fearing Amsdon would kill him if he appeared on the street.

Sjonstron, who was a friend of both Maloy and Amsdon, met the latter on Main Street and attempted to make peace between the two men. Amsdon became greatly excited and told Sjonstron to mind his own business. Sjonstron, in turn grew angry at Amsdon's manner. High words followed and both men began to shoot, with the above result.

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Reported in The San Francisco Call on May 21, 1903:

THREE MEN DIE IN A GUNFIGHT

Texan Slays Two Foes And Is Himself Killed.

Shoots With True Aim While In The Throes Of Death

EL. PASO, Texas, May 20 — News reaches here of a pistol fight at Sanderson, Texas, on the desert, 300 miles east of El Paso, which resulted in the killing of H. S. Biggs, magistrate and schoolteacher; Ed Bell, a citizen, and R. C. McMahone, a Deputy Sheriff. Only meager details have reached here.

As far as learned, the quarrel arose between Ed Bell and H. S. Biggs over a letter received through the post office. Bell had been working for McMahone. Biggs was a very quiet man and was not known to have had any previous trouble. He had been a schoolteacher in Sanderson for eight or nine years.

The story is that when Biggs and Bell quarreled, McMahone tried to separate the contestants. Biggs put up a brave fight against the two men, as McMahone, it seems, turned on him during the fight. Biggs shot Bell through the head, killing him, and was in turn shot through the body by McMahone, while breathing his last on the floor of the post office. He took deadly aim at McMahone and fired one shot, fatally wounding the Deputy Sheriff, who died a few hours later.

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Reported in The Ventura Daily Post on March 23, 1904:

ANAHEIM RANCHERS HAVE GUNFIGHT

Anaheim, Calif., March 22 — A few miles southwest of town J. W. Hart and F. Pallas fought a desperate duel over a dispute concerning the boundary line of the Hart and Roy ranches. Hart was shot through the hand.

In the rapid exchange of shots, which took place at short range, the marvel of those who know the two men is that one of them was not killed. Hart had emptied his revolver and was reloading when Pallas, his antagonist, turned his back and walked away. Hart refused to take advantage and fire, though he reserved the right to do so.

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Some of what was taking place from 1896 to 1904 around the West!

Tom Correa

Is Beef Tea Making A Comeback?

Beef Tea Advertisement c. 1900 

First, before talking about Beef Tea making a comeback, let's talk about how to make it.  Below is a recipe from The Modern Housewife magazine, 1851, by Alexis Soyer:

Soyer’s New Way of Making Beef Tea.

"Cut a pound of solid beef into very small dice, which put into a stewpan, with a small pat of butter, a clove, two butter onions, and a salt-spoonful of salt, stir the meat round over the fire for a few minutes, until it produces a thin gravy, then add a quart of water, and let it simmer at the corner of the fire for half an hour, skimming off every particle of fat, when done pass through a sieve. I have always had a great objection to passing broth through a cloth, as it frequently quite spoils its flavor."

Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean beef
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 whole clove
• 2 pearl onions
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 quart of water

Instructions:

• Cut 1 lb of lean beef into 1/2 inch pieces. 
• Place the cut beef pieces, 2 tablespoons of butter, 1 whole clove, 2 pearl onions, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a pot with 1/2 quart of water.
• Cook over medium heat.
• Stir for a few minutes until the meat releases its juices.
• Add the other 1/2 quart of water and bring it to a simmer. 
• Reduce the heat to a very low simmer.
• Cover and cook for 30 minutes.
• After the 30 minutes, pour through a strainer. 
• What is strained out can be used however you like.
• Let the beef tea cool. 
• As it cools, the fat will solidify and rise to the top. 
• Skim off the fat. 
• If allowed to chill, more fat will solidify and can be skimmed off.
• Reheat the skimmed beef tea to the drinking temperature and serve.

A Basic Recipe:

• Simmer beef on the stovetop for 30–45 minutes.
• Fry beef with butter. 
• Add onion and a clove just before adding water.
• You can flavor it with spices, herbs, butter, pearl onions, and carrots to your taste.
• Boil it with some salt in water.
• Distill the concentrated liquid beef.

I'm told it's not really like a beef bouillon or beef stock because it's much lighter in flavor and color. Supposedly, it differs from beef broth or bone broth because it's made by steeping meat and not the bones. But, several articles on Beef Tea also refer to it as "Beef Broth." Also, since it is not considered a soup, it should not be served in a soup bowl. It should be served like coffee in a cup. 

Was Beef Tea Served In Old West Saloons?

So now, if you were in the Old West, could you have seen someone sitting in a saloon drinking Beef Tea, and maybe thinking they were simply drinking coffee? Yes. That answers the question that I've gotten from several of you. Yes, believe it or not, Beef Tea was served in some saloons as a celebrated new option to booze all over the West by the 1880s.  

In the Weekly Calistogian newspaper, the following was published on January 2, 1884:

THE NEW BEVERAGE.

It is not often that saloon fashions can be approved. But one is “taking” like wildfire now, which should be commended by all people. It is the introduction and popular use of a new beverage — but not a new article of consumption. It is nothing less than Beef Tea. 

A few years ago, some fashionable people in the East adopted a custom which was prevalent theretofore in Europe, of offering to guests bouillon instead of coffee, tea, or wine. It was a brilliant idea, for this delicate and stimulating soup, when properly prepared, has no soup-equal as a nourisher. 

Beef Tea, being an own cousin to this rich soup, has seconded its advent into the fashionable world by appearing upon the saloon bar, and thus the custom of the upper ten has found its counterpart in the popular refreshment stand. 

The barkeeper at the East laughed at the idea of his serving anything like soup by the wine-glass full. It was a matter of surprise to himself when, in a brief time, in answer to the demands of the public, he was kept busy passing it over the counter to his customers. It is now the most popular drink known in the East. 

The busnessman has forsaken his brandy and water, and adhered unto Beef Tea; the hasty customer finds time for its service; the toper braces up a weakened system by literal potations of Beef Tea; the friend who drinks because his other friend asks him, takes Beef Tea; the social drinker, the steady drinker, the persistent tippler, the old sot, the juvenile beginner, all take Beef Tea. 

Here is a revelation for the temperance people, a sudden and unexpected recruit for the prohibitionists. King Alcohol, who has so long defied the assaults of the teetotallers, is assailed within his stronghold by his own forces. There has come into his camp an infant David who will slay the Goliath of drink, if the fashion holds out. 

Beef Tea is a stimulant but it does not intoxicate. It gives no headaches and empties no pockets; it does not murder and puts no people in poor-houses; it drives no man to insanity and fills no suicide's grave; it brings no woe to the household and turns no homeless children upon the cold charity of the world; it does not demand an enlarged police force for the care of its victims; it does not fill the air with wailing nor the houses with mourning — it is the fashion, and for its continuance men should devoutly pray.

Reading the article above, it doesn't take much to see that Beef Tea was obviously looked at as a great alternative for anything made with alcohol. And as I said in my other story Old West Treatment For What Ails You -- Beef Tea, the article below is a newspaper article that talked about a drink called "The Beef Tea Tipple" which was being served in saloons in Nebraska. 

The article below is from the Truckee Republican, published on January 12, 1884:

The Beef Tea Tipple.

The beef tea tipple, now all the rage in the East, has reached Omaha on its way West. As yet no Truckee saloon has taken it up. The Omaha Republican says: The seller of drinks informs the reporter to this effect, "Since the early part of last Fall, there has been a demand for beef tea at this bar. At first, we laughed at the idea of going to the trouble of making it, but now we laugh because we do make it. We sell over 100 drinks per day, and as it is a fifteen-cent drink, there is no reason why we should not smile.

Who drinks it, you say? Why, everybody does; the man about town, who has been out with the boys, comes here in the morning and calls for beet tea; the businessman comes in the afternoon and braces his system with beet tea; the temperance man who drops in with a bibulous friend takes beef-tea; and in fact is becoming a slave to the mixed bovine.

The sick even are very sensibly forsaking the drug stores and coming here for beef tea, preferring it to the nauseating mixtures put up by the druggist and ordered by the family physician. Why, if the tea holds out, we will wreck every drugstore in the city.

The possibilities from this are many. Beef tea is at once a tonic and food. It does not corrode the stomach and fire the brain. It does not madden, and yet it exhilarates and strengthens. Hail to the drink of the future! Hail, beef tea!"

So while the only drink that we usually see served in a saloon in a Hollywood Western is whiskey, believe it or not, that really wasn't the case. Besides whiskey, which was most likely made in a back room and aged for at least a day or two, most saloons in the Old West also served beer, wine, and several different fancy drinks along with coffee and even teas of different sorts. And yes, as we know from newspaper reports and magazine stories of the times, Beef Tea was served in some saloons. 

So, Is Beef Tea Making A Comeback? 

Well, even with zero alcohol content, Beef Tea was a popular broth in the 1800s and into the mid-1900s. For many, it was seen as a food that someone would take to restore and replenish, and heal an ailing body by sipping it when you weren't feeling well. Later, it became a staple to many -- especially during the long winter months when a hot drink was called for.

During the Civil War, the military hospitals on both sides, the Union and the Confederacy, used Beef Tea as a staple of the "special diet" to revive and restore health to patients -- especially those with typhoid-malaria fever. This agreed with later reports that stated, "Beef Tea is no doubt a good food, very good in convalescence from acute diseases, when wasted muscular tissue has to be repaired."

Beef Tea became an important drink that provided Civil War soldiers with nutrients and protein without much effort. Beef Tea is a flavorful, concentrated beef stock made with organs, bones, meat, and connective tissue leftovers. Soldiers on both sides made their own or drank Beef Tea that was provided to them. 

In 1863, The New York Times published an article about the care Union soldiers received during the Civil War, citing their "beef-tea diet" as part of "their daily fare in hospital, its excellence and variety, and the admirable arrangements for their comfort."

The Marysville Daily Appeal newspaper published an article on August 23, 1868, that mentioned how Beef Tea should be given to children for the prevention of cholera. Cholera is a bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated water. Cholera causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. Left untreated, cholera can be fatal within hours -- even in people thought to be healthy. Its death toll was such that cholera is seen as one of the great scourges of the 19th Century.

Beef Tea Was Very Popular

Beef Tea was so popular and seen as such a welcome remedy that it was even given out in hospitals in the United States and parts of Europe. And no, it wasn't just something for poor people who faced hunger. In fact, when used in hospitals, it was given to patients of all social classes because it was seen as having nutritional value -- even if they didn't know exactly why. 

It became very apparent that it was good for all sorts of afflictions. Of course, when it was first used in hospitals, medical professionals tried to figure out what gave Beef Tea its nutritional value. And even though some newspapers dismissed the idea that Beef Tea could be good for what ails you, there were some who began to research its benefits.   

Of course, unlike these days when a lot of people believe that "science is settled" on different issues, that wasn't the case back in the day. Since science is all about asking questions and seeking answers, some folks wanted to know why Beef Tea worked wonders. 

Let's keep in mind that back in the early 1800s, the word "protein" was brand new. The word "protein" was coined by a Dutch Scientist in 1838. As for vitamins, no one knew what they were until the 20th Century. Medical professionals didn't even know about vitamins and protein at the time. Nevertheless, they couldn't explain why Beef Tea worked so well on patients with a variety of ailments. 

Think about this, medical scientists were just scratching the surface of what's in foods and how they affect the human body in the early 1800s. Everyone knew that people need to eat meat, that wasn't something that only Doctors and Scientists understood. But no one could explain why we needed it. 

It was like Scuvy. Even the Ancients knew that scurvy's symptoms were weakness, fatigue, and sore arms and legs. They knew that as scurvy worsens, there can be poor wound healing, personality changes, and finally death from infection and bleeding. People knew scurvy was caused by not having fruits and vegetables, but they couldn't tell you why that was the case. 

Today, we know scurvy is a deficiency disease caused by a lack of Vitamin C. And by the way, Vitamin C was not discovered for what it was until 1920. That was the same year that Vitamin D and Vitamin B2 were discovered. Vitamin A was discovered in 1913. Vitamin E was discovered in 1922. Vitamin K was discovered in 1929. Vitamin B5 was discovered in 1931. Vitamin B6 was discovered in 1934. Vitamin B7 (Biotin) and Vitamin B3 (Niacin) were not discovered until 1936. Vitamin B9 (Folic acid) was discovered in 1941. Vitamin B12 wasn't discovered until 1948.

In fact, it is believed that at the beginning of the 20th century, there was a belief in the scientific community that there were only three essential nutrients recognised within food -- they are proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. So really, if we consider these facts, we can see how medical professionals didn't understand why Beef Tea or Beef Broth would be helpful for us. 

Today's Revived Interest In Beef Tea

Today, there is a revived interest in Beef Tea because of its nutritional value, which it was once believed to be lacking. Today, researchers are recognizing Beef Tea for its therapeutic and nourishing qualities. 

Some of the benefits have to do with it being soothing. It's true. Some folks swear that Beef Tea is comforting and soothing and gives them strength. So, besides being seen as nutritious and easy on the stomach, Beef Tea is believed to help with digestion for folks with digestive problems, fever, depression, melancholy, a lack of pep, and a lack of strength and vitality. As an appetite suppressant, it's said that sipping Beef Tea or even Beef Broth is recommended as an aid when trying to slim down.

It is believed that regular consumption of Beef Tea can treat anemia by improving one's iron levels and thus improving one's energy levels. Regular consumption of Beef Tea is seen by many, even today, as an overlooked medicinal tea that offers several health-promoting restorative properties. 

Beef Tea dates back to the Victorian Era as a restorative drink for the sick and weak. Victorian cookbooks and even medical journals included recipes for Beef Tea while highlighting its medicinal value. It was recommended for those needing protein and iron to boost energy and regain strength. 

Doctors prescribed it because it is gentle on the system and it's easily digestible. While there is some debate about its nutritional value, there is no way that anyone can say that it does not have an extremely long history as a source of nutrition -- especially as a treatment for patients recovering from illness or having to endure extreme fatigue. 

It was a source of goodness given to Civil War soldiers, taken by Americans making their way West, and drank by trailblazers, miners, cowboys, and many others over a century or more. For those reasons and more, it's believed that Beef Tea helps improve one's general health and gives one an overall sense of well-being. 

So, is Beef Tea making a comeback? Well, it doesn't sound like a bad thing if it does. I'd certainly try it.

Tom Correa

Leonard Mederios -- The Epitome Of An “Old School” Cowboy

Leonard's obituary read, "A longtime Pleasanton and Livermore resident, Leonard Mederios passed away on Nov. 27, 2024, at the age of 86. Born at St. Paul’s Hospital in Livermore on Sept. 27, 1938, to Manuel Mederios and Isabel (Higuera/Bernal) Mederios, Leonard was a seventh-generation Californian, his mother Isabel’s family having arrived from Spain and being a part of the original DeAnza party. 

He graduated from Amador High School in 1957 and was active in FFA and track. He was a hard worker from a young age. Both he and his brother Elton worked at a chicken farm for “the egg lady”. He worked at Castlewood Country Club and the Berry Farm as a lifeguard. He also worked at Amador Valley Mills while still in high school. He was proud to have worked at Gene Caldeira Grading & Paving of Livermore for many years and retired from that position. He and Arnold Caldeira were lifelong friends.

He was a true cowboy and loved competitive roping. He was always well-dressed and the epitome of an “old school” cowboy. He also enjoyed many adventures backpacking on horseback with The Backcountry Horseman of California / BCHC Mid Valley Unit; he enjoyed many friendships from the Mid Valley Unit. He loved his dog Luke, his horses, and caring for sheep.

The family would like to thank the Anastasia Home in Livermore for their kindness and care in his final year. They would also like to thank Diana Post and her daughter, Rhonda Larsen, for their loving support and care throughout that time."

I hadn't heard from Leonard in a while, but I really attributed that to Leonard's habit of always keeping busy. I had no idea that he was in a long-term care nursing facility before he passed. I was sort of shocked to hear about his passing and that he was in such a facility. It was not the sort of news that I expected to hear regarding Leonard. 

I've known Leonard Mederios for about 30 years. And really, I can honestly say that nothing ever held him down. In fact, he fought a lot of adversity throughout his life, and he always made it through. I can remember us talking about that, and him telling me about the time when he was driving a big rig truck and it ended up in a canal. Leonard broke through the glass to get to the surface and survive. 

Then there was a time on a Back-Country Horseman's trip into the back-country when he saved the woman that he was with. Her horse was spoked and went rodeo on her. She actually fell off and ended up under her horse. She was almost dragged and stomped, but Leonard saved her.

Then there was the time he ended up losing the ability to see out of his left eye because of a green-broke horse. He had just bought the horse after being told the horse was trained to rope. After getting the horse home, he found out the horse must have been drugged for the sale. That rank horse ended up slamming him against a barn. It bashed the side of his head against a board. He ended up losing the ability to see out of his left eye from that.

And if you think that's not a big deal, try putting your hand over one eye and test your depth perception. It's almost gone. Losing vision in one eye, having monocular vision, significantly impairs someone's depth perception, particularly for close objects. As a doctor told me once, "God made our bodies to work in stereo for a reason. It's tough not to." But, believe it or not, even the loss of his left eye didn't stop him from roping and enjoying Team Roping competitions.

And by the way, I sort of chuckled to myself when I saw the reference to his "sheep" in his obituary. I remember the day back in 1997 when he called to tell me about buying a few sheep. I remember laughing with him on the phone. Yes, we both exchanged a few sheepherder jokes and then he asked me to come over to give him a hand. He wanted to build wooden panels for a portable pen. Yes, he really bought four sheep earlier that day.

Over the weekend, Leonard was driving by a field or park that was holding Sheepdog Trials. He decided to pull over and check it out. Sheepdog Trails are herding events. The events are competitions more like tests of the working abilities of dogs of herding breeds. The events are usually put on by organizations and associations of sheep and cattle breeders. Leonard said he watched a dog handler put on a demonstration that day where the handler actually had his dog herd ducks into a pen area. And yes, if you're wondering, seeing that was all it took to spark Leonard's interest.

Those competitions are divided into several categories and levels of difficulty with various scoring systems. Rules vary concerning eligible breeds, numbers of dogs, and which breeds of sheep are used. The competition usually involves a handler using his dog to guide sheep through a few obstacles, collecting them in and out of the pen, separating the sheep from the flock, that sort of thing. The event's judges evaluate the accuracy of the dog's work under the guidance of a handler, the handler's cues, and more.

So yes, Leonard told me that he was driving by when he saw some horse trailers and decided to stop to check out what was going on. He said someone asked him if he was going to enter his dog in some sort of an open breed competition. He showed me a Blue Ribbon. It was for his border collie Luke.

Typical for Leonard, just two days later, he found where he could buy a few Barbados sheep. While I didn't know squat about sheep, Leonard explained how Barbados sheep really focus on a dog's movements which makes them easier to use to train herd dogs. He told me how Barbados sheep are a low-maintenance breed. They naturally shed their wool each year, they require no shearing, and they are considered "sociable" and like to be in groups.

According to some paperwork that Leonard had, it said the Barbados breed is known for its quick and fast movements. It said they are a popular choice for sheepdog training because of their "flockability." Yes, "flockability!" They are "flockable" because they tend to stay together as a flock which is important when training dogs to work with a group of sheep. Yes, "flockable!" Who knew?

Of course, when one of his sheep started "bagging up," she became very aggressive and started charging Luke. This was not a good situation when trying to work his dog. Luke was getting sour on the whole thing because of that angry ewe.

"Bagging up" in sheep refers to the udder (milk bag) becoming firm, swollen, and filled with colostrum (first milk) as the ewe prepares for lambing. It's a sign that a ewe's lambing date is coming close. The udder typically starts to "bag up" about 1-2 weeks before lambing.

So yes, one of Leonard's sheep was going to lamb. She separated herself from the flock and was very very aggressive to everyone. In fact, she had to be separated and sold because she was meaner than she was worth. But no, that didn't stop Leonard from finding a couple more sheep -- and another border collie. This time, unlike Luke, Leonard found an expensive pure-bred.

Soon, Leonard was enjoying his time working his dogs, and still going to Ropings, trail riding, moving cattle, going to gatherings and brandings, and of course, he always made time to find a dance or bar-b-q to attend. As for companionship, Leonard was an old-fashion cowboy who loved being with gals who were old-fashion cowgirls. He loved and respected them, and they always loved him and enjoyed his company -- even when he was admittedly ornery and bullheaded.

Yes, I've known Leonard Mederios for about 30 years. He was always a good friend. He was always a great pard. We moved a few cows together. We worked a few horses together. We rode a few trails together. We had a beer now and then, a sip of whisky around a fire or two, been to a few auctions, rodeos, ropings, and I always tried to be there to help him when he needed me.

Leonard didn't make excuses and he lived the cowboy life. He never found the need to apologize for his ways. He was who he was and folks could take it or leave it. Most folks liked and respected him for who he was. I always liked that.

We talked about what it took to be a good hand, what it took to be a good cowboy, what a cowboy was back in the 1940s and '50s, and how there are skills that every cowboy really should know to be a good hand. We agreed that most of the skills needed by cowboys years ago are still important today. Yes, just as they were back in the day long before there were telephones and automobiles, there are some skills that cowboys still need to have.

We chewed the fat and laughed about a lot of things really. There was never a time when we had nothing to talk about. He liked to tell me about how it was growing up in the Pleasanton-Livermore Valley area of California back when his family ran a few head of cattle along with a small herd of sheep along with a pretty good-sized walnut orchard. He talked about watching his favorite cowboy actors making films in the 1940s and even into the 1950s in Pleasanton before the town paved its Main Street.

He told me about his Portuguese father being originally from the Azores. He also talked about how his mother's family heritage could be traced back to when the Spanish first arrived in California. We talked a lot about our heritage.

Of course, we also talked a lot about horses -- especially how breeders were taking a lot of the stockiness and cow-sense out of Quarter Horses. We talked about how some of his horses turned out to be better than he thought they would be when he first bought them. We laughed about how some of his horses turned out to be big surprises. Some were good, and some were not so good. And yes, like that "trained" horse, that rank SOB, that bashed his head against a board at his barn. 

We also talked about how the guy who sold the horse, and had drugged that horse for the sale, should have been held liable for Leonard losing sight in his left eye. That was a trainwreck, and the guy who sold him that horse responded to Leonard with that Bullshit-line, "Well, you bought the horse 'As Is'." It's what shady horse dealers say thinking they can't be sued. In reality, the law does not say, "As Is". The law in most states says, "As Represented." That's a big difference.  

I met Leonard in 1996 when I bought my horse, Tivios Lacy, which I called "Murphy." Leonard and I became instant friends, and he liked the personal attention and care that I put into Murphy -- especially since some folks in Livermore, some old cowboys who dumped a lot of money into hiring horse trainers, didn't think my horse Murphy was worth a damn when I bought him. Later, they sure changed their tune.

After I got him in shape and Murphy filled out, and I worked him a lot, a lot of wet blankets, Murphy ended up working cows better than a lot of cow horses. And yes, there were a few folks in the area who ate crow over what they said about him. Leonard liked the way I trained Murphy and he enjoyed how some of the folks around there had to eat crow. 

Looking back, I can honestly say that Leonard and I agreed on more things than not. In fact, other than me giving out too many dog treats, I can't remember anything that we ever disagreed on. We liked horses, mules, cattle, dogs, well-built saddles, sturdy tack, old spurs, trucks that weren't so high that they wouldn't be good for hauling hay, and yes we laughed when we read that Barbados sheep were "flockable."

We talked and laughed about a lot of things over the years. And yes, I learned a great deal from Leonard. We used to talk about how the people attacking the cattle industry are the same people who are trying to shut down rodeos, how crazy it is for someone to actually think a cow's fart can destroy mankind, how the NFR was always fun, how the price of hay has gone through the roof, and how some folks are Heelers while others will always be Headers.

He once said, "Old friendships are the best, but also tough—especially when they pass." He also used to say, "We need more Jesus Christ today." I believe he was more right than he ever knew.

We talked about cowgirls and women, the importance of family, and how tough it can be to make ends meet, especially during hard times. He liked how I found a wonderful wife and best friend when I married Deanna. He had hoped to find such a woman again, even though it was late in his life. While he sadly didn't, that didn't stop him from looking.

I'll always remember his "can do" spirit, what he called his "Portugy-Redneck" habits, his great sense of humor, his laugh, his smile, and the way he respected others. He was very courteous to others -- especially women. But yes, even to those folks he had nothing in common with. He really did try to understand others -- even if they seemed as "dumb as a bag of nails" when it came to their inability to understand and accept our way of life.

I guess that was part of what I really respected about Leonard. He sowed his oats when he was younger, he didn't back down if I fight came his way, he refused to be looked down upon or treated disrespectfully by anyone -- young or old, he did his share of drinking once upon a time, he was always fun to be around, he enjoyed a good joke, and he wasn't shy to tell me that he'd learned to be a little more understanding of people as he got older -- especially ignorant people who didn't know their ass from a hole in the ground.

He was always a great friend. We enjoyed each other's company and were there for each other. I will always remember how close we were. I will always remember how I looked forward to hearing from him, hearing about the new horse or mule he'd just bought, or about the new gal in his life.

I loved it when he came up to visit. And my place is just the upper foothills, he loved the big trees, the high country, the backcountry, the open sky, riding the BLM land for miles and taking everything in. For us, the tales we laughed about while sitting around a fire was living life to its fullest -- especially on nights filled with more stars than one can ever see in a city.

His favorite place was Kennedy Meadows. Though not part of Yosemite National Park, it is located just north of the park. It's considered the gateway to the Emigrant Wilderness of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. While I think it's a shame that he didn't get a last ride there, I can't help but think that God must have needed a damn fine cowboy in Heaven. And yes, that's the way I'll always see him. He was a damn fine cowboy. Yes indeed, he was the epitome of an "Old school" cowboy.

On January 18th, 2025, yes, earlier this year, I drove down to Livermore so that my wife and I could attend a celebration of life for Leonard. I sat there and listened to his family talk about him. I listened to a few friends talk about him. And yes, his family gave him a really nice send-off. Frankly, as close as we were as pards, and knowing him as I did, I really believe it was something that Leonard would have been both embarrassed by -- and proud of.

So now, while I, and now so do you, know that my old friend Leonard has passed, I'll just go on thinking that he's out shopping for another rope horse, that he's probably out buying another horse trailer, and that he's out looking at another border collie with the hopes of finding another mixed breed like Luke. I'll just go on thinking that he'll be calling me soon, and we'll laugh about some gal he just met or some mule he really wants. Of course, in my heart, I know none of that will ever happen again. No, no longer will that happen. So instead, I will miss him. I will miss him a lot.

Tom Correa

Leonard and Luke

Identifying Sick or Injured Cattle

I was sent the article below with a request from a reader who asked if I would mind posting it on my website. Well, it's good knowledge to have when raising cattle. So here you go. -- Tom Correa

Proper and timely identification of sick or injured cattle helps minimize unnecessary treatment expenses and preventable production losses, write Dr. Jane A. Parish, Associate, and Dr. Justin D. Rhinehart, Mississippi State University Extension Service.

20 July 2009

Accurately pulling cattle needing examination or treatment is difficult but essential in order to treat sick or injured cattle without unnecessarily spending money on or adding stress to healthy cattle. Sick calves can be identified in several ways. The most popular are rectal temperature and visual indications.

Identifying Sick Cattle:

Body Temperature

When properly used, body temperature can be a good indicator of illness. A greater incidence of calf illness can be identified using body temperatures rather than visual observation alone. One common rule of thumb in beef cattle operations is to designate cattle with rectal temperatures of 104 °Fahrenheit or greater as sick. In addition, consider visibly ill cattle sick regardless of body temperature.

Body temperature rises in cattle infected with a disease-causing organism as the immune system begins to fight the infection. Some untreated cattle overcome infection and recover, while others suffer elevated body temperatures and show other signs of illness. 

In cattle that begin to succumb to disease, clinical signs worsen and body temperature eventually falls well below normal, creating a dangerous health situation. Early detection of elevated body temperatures and rapid recognition of clinical signs of illness are important for effective treatment of sick cattle.

To use body temperature properly as a measure of illness, it is necessary to know what is “normal.”

Unfortunately, normal temperatures for cattle rise during the day. Cattle producers must consider this when deciding when to use body temperature as an indicator for pulling sick cattle.

Cattle do not maintain body temperature in a tight range as humans do. Unlike humans, cattle expel body heat primarily through respiration rather than sweating. In fact, body temperature in cattle follows a daily pattern where there is a period of increasing heat load and rising body temperature followed by a period of heat dissipation and falling body temperature.

Cattle body temperatures rise during the day rather than the animals spending energy to get rid of the heat. Minimum body temperature usually occurs early in the morning, then steadily increases during the day. The heat load built up during the day is dissipated at night such that body temperature falls gradually during the night, reaching a daily low early in the morning. This process occurs even on cold days.

Cattle body temperatures tend to increase during daylight hours. Heat load is then dissipated at night. This is the case in both warm and cold weather conditions. It also occurs in controlled environments with a standard temperature, so factors other than the outside temperature have a significant influence on cattle body temperature. Feeding, activity level, solar radiation, and humidity also influence cattle body temperatures. Acute elevations in body temperature occur directly after feeding or exercise.

Fevers are identified more accurately when body temperatures are at their daily lows. For proper identification of sick cattle, make sure that body temperatures are not taken too late in the day when false positives for illness might occur.

While working cattle in the late evening may seem like a good idea, cattle generally need several hours past sundown to dissipate heat and cool down from an extremely hot day. It is critical to take temperatures before mid-morning. Producers measuring cattle temperature in the afternoon, even on a cold day, and letting cattle stand around for three or four hours before processing may identify cattle for treatment that are actually healthy.

Be careful to minimize exercise and stress just before measuring temperatures. Cattle should never stand for more than 20 minutes in alleyways or chutes of handling facilities before temperatures are taken. Once in the chute, measure body temperatures immediately. It may be necessary to divide cattle into small groups that can be worked in a reasonable amount of time instead of trying to work the entire group at once.

Visual Signs of Cattle Illness

When using visual appraisal, one of the most important signals of illness is appetite suppression. Feed consumption of cattle exposed to respiratory disease begins to decrease about 48 hours before increased body temperature is observed.

The most effective time to observe the feeding behavior of cattle is when they are fed each day. Unfortunately, it is difficult to monitor daily feeding patterns of grazing cattle or calves on self-feeders. In this case, observe signs of gut fill. Cattle that have not been eating and drinking properly appear gaunt, and their abdomens often bounce when they walk. Rapid weight or body condition loss also indicates illness.

Other later-occurring signs of illness include labored breathing, deep coughing, eye and nasal discharge, bloody diarrhea, or depression. Depression is noted as drooping head and ears, excessively slow movement, lagging behind the rest of the herd, and reluctance to get up when approached.

These symptoms occur after sick cattle have gone off feed and their rectal temperature has risen. Therefore, it is extremely important to thoroughly observe cattle daily to catch illness early and begin an effective treatment protocol.

Vaccination can produce signs of illness in some situations. Discuss the expected effects of specific vaccines on cattle before administration to distinguish between an animal that is ill or one that is suffering a temporary side effect of vaccination.

Examining cattle manure can also help identify sick animals. Loose manure with large feed particles, mucus, or blood can indicate illness or injury. While it may be difficult to identify a specific animal in grazing situations, producers can at least be alerted to watch the herd closer. Cattle often defecate during handling, so plan to observe manure during this time.

Identifying Injured Cattle

Injuries in cattle may be minor or severe. Some injuries are relatively easy to detect upon observation, such as injuries that result in lameness or inability to stand up or walk (a non-ambulatory or “downer” animal). These types of injuries can prevent marketing an animal or result in market discounts. Other injuries are more subtle, including bruising and internal organ injuries such as hardware disease. Suspect these types of injuries when cattle display behavioral changes such as appetite changes or reluctance to move.

Examine the animal’s environment for potential hazards or conditions that may have caused an injury. Horns contribute to bruising in animals housed together. Injuries to breeding animals often occur during the breeding season as a result of mounting behavior. Inadequate feed trough space increases competition for feed and the chance of injury. Sharp objects such as wire and nails in pastures or handling areas also contribute to cattle injuries.

Inspect cattle closely during feeding and animal handling to identify injuries that are not easily seen in pasture settings. Foot injuries, eye injuries, mouth injuries, minor lacerations (cuts), hematomas (blood vessel rupture and blood pooling under the hide), penis injuries, and biting insect damage are examples of injuries that sometimes require close inspection to identify. By identifying injuries during animal handling, animals can be treated while restrained.
Conclusions

Identify and manage sick or injured cattle promptly. When cattle go “down,” it is often because their initial problems were ignored. A treatment plan should be in place once sick or injured cattle are identified. Consult with a veterinarian to develop this plan. Then follow the plan closely. Seek out veterinary advice for situations that may require treatments not outlined in standard herd health plans. 

For more information on identifying sick or injured cattle, contact an office of the Mississippi State University Extension Service or a veterinarian.

July 2009

Tom Starr -- Cherokee Outlaw And Murderer

It's believed that Cherokee outlaw and murderer Tom Starr was born sometime in 1813. While he was involved late in life with running whiskey into Indian Territory, rustling, and possibly selling "protection" to those who didn't want their homes burned to the ground, he started out his criminal career with the distinction of being declared an outlaw by his own tribe. 

Tom Starr's father was Cherokee leader James Starr. His father was one of the signers of the Treaty of New Echota in December 1835. The Treaty of New Echota was what was used to force the Cherokee Nation to cede all their land East of the Mississippi River to the United States government. In exchange, the Cherokee Nation was paid 5 Million Dollars and given land in the Indian Territory in the West, what is present-day Oklahoma. 

Just a little perspective on how much money that was at the time. The sum of $5,000,000 in 1835 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $179,321,022.73 today. Yes, 5 Million Dollars in 1835 is the equivalent of almost 180 Million Dollars today (2025). As for my opinion on this, I don't think that's really that much money when the Cherokee were forcibly removed from their lands in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama and relocated to Indian Territory out West of the Mississippi River.

Of course, as we know now, that the Treaty of New Echota led to the forced relocation of the Cherokee people and what became known as "The Trail of Tears." While I know that most of my readers know what "The Trail of Tears" was all about, amazingly some don't. 

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was the result of American settlers wanting the Cherokee land in the Southeast. This led to pressure from the United States federal government to remove the tribe. This allowed the United States federal government to negotiate treaties with tribes to remove them from their land in the Southeast. Primarily, the Cherokee were the main tribe affected. But, we should recognize that the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole were also affected by what took place.  

The "Trail of Tears" refers to the devastating journey that resulted in thousands of deaths. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 signed by President Andrew Jackson. The Removal Act was supposed to open up more land in the Southeast for American settlement. 

The forced migration involved a long journey across several states -- most of it on foot. And make no mistake about it, it was backbreaking, grueling, hard, and punishing. The name "Trail of Tears" reflects the high death toll and huge suffering endured by the tribes during this forced migration. It was a journey where thousands of Native Americans died because of disease, exposure, starvation, and harsh conditions.

Of course, most Cherokee Indians opposed the treaty at the time. Some say that those who were against the treaty because they were not adequately represented. Some say, in reality, only a small group of Cherokee made the decision to leave and go to Oklahoma. In fact, only a small faction of Cherokee leaders signed the treaty despite opposition from the majority of the Cherokee Nation led by their Principal Chief John Ross.

The Treaty of New Echota had a huge impact on the Cherokee Nation. Many tribal members disagreed with its signing. James Starr, Tom's father, who was for the relocation, was targeted for assassination by Cherokee Indians who opposed the treaty. Followers of the anti-Removal National Party were led by Cherokee leader John Ross who was almost murdered more than once himself. All of these attacks and killings eventually led to a Cherokee Civil War. 

On one side were treaty supporters, including the Starr family, James Starr and his six sons, who opposed the John Ross faction of anti-treaty members of the tribe. In retaliation for the attempts on his father's life, Tom Starr became a "guerrilla leader" of an especially ruthless band during the Cherokee Civil War. 

Soon, he and his band became known as murderers who would kill men and women and children before setting fire to the homes of those they killed. In fact, Tom Starr and his band were accused of murdering a trader by the name of Benjamin Vore and his family at their home. They set fire to their home after all were murdered by Tom Starr and his men. 

In November of 1845, members of the anti-treaty faction killed James Starr and his son Buck during an attack at their home. The attack was carried out by thirty-two anti-treaty members of his tribe. It's said Tom Starr witnessed what took place. He escaped and vowed "Blood revenge" to avenge his father and brother. 

According to one source, "The blood revenge custom was usually carried out by an older male of the victim's clan if it could not be taken by his oldest brother. Blood revenge was the practice to avenge the victim by taking the life of the murderer himself, however, a close relative of the murderer would satisfy the revenge." Years later, Tom Starr would claim that he killed all of the thirty-two anti-treaty members of his tribe who were involved with killing his father and brother. And no, no one knows if what he claimed was true or not. Many would later simply accept it without proof, just because he said he did it.

John Ross was the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1828 to 1866. He served longer in that position than any other person. The John Ross faction of the Cherokee Nation didn't take the threat from Tom Starr lightly and placed a $1,000 bounty on Starr's head. The John Ross faction also declared Tom Starr, his brothers, and his band of followers fugitive outlaws.

The Cherokee Nation, like other tribes, had a history of owning enslaved people of African descent. Tom Starr and his band were known to raid an enemy who owned slaves. He was also known to either take the slaves to Alabama to sell them, or immediately kill them outright.

In case you're curious, later during "The Trail of Tears," African slaves who were owned by members of the Cherokee Nation also accompanied their Cherokee owners on that journey West. Since they were seen as property by the Cherokee Nation, African slaves were forced by their Cherokee owners to march West on "The Trail of Tears." And yes, many of those slaves also died on the way for all of the same reasons that may have also killed their owners -- disease, starvation, exposure, and the harsh conditions of the Westward migration.

The Cherokee Civil War lasted from 1845 to 1846, although some say it started years earlier. After many deaths, the Cherokee conflict ended with a formal truce in 1846. The resulting peace treaty between the two factions included a special clause pardoning citizens of the Cherokee Nation for offenses and crimes including murder and mayhem. That pardon was extended to Tom Starr and his band of men.  

Tom Starr would go on to settle on a piece of land in the southern portion of the Canadian District of the Cherokee Nation, near present-day Briartown, Oklahoma. He and his brothers, and their extended family, used Tom's home as a known place where criminal outlaws resided. From there, it's said he and his brothers stole cattle and horses and supplies, but also ran an extortion ring that used arson to get people to pay for their "protection." 

Tom Starr was known as a killer, a murderer, a heartless "guerrilla leader" who allegedly killed over a hundred men in his lifetime, both Cherokee and Whites and Black slaves who it's said he especially hated. While some say that figure is exaggerated, and Tom Starr was known to brag and inflate the number of people he killed, he also claimed many times that he tracked down and killed every one of the thirty-two armed men who killed his father and brother. 

Of course, who knows how many people he killed, men, women, or children. After all, Tom Starr also served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He served in the Confederate Army in the First Cherokee Mounted Volunteers, and as a scout for Confederate General Stand Watie. And yes, he supposedly also served with Quantrill's guerrillas. In fact, it's said that after the war, some of Quantrill's former guerrillas frequently visited their comrade Tom Starr at his home. Since outlaw Cole Younger and some of his brothers were known to have visited his home so often, a part of the Canadian River near Tom Starr's property became known as "Younger's Bend."

Tom Starr had multiple wives and eight sons, including Samuel Starr who married Mrs. Myra Belle Shirley Reed, the widow of an outlaw named James C. Reed. We know her as the outlaw Belle Starr. As for Tom Starr, it's said in his later years he enjoyed talking about the people he killed. Supposedly he enjoyed having an audience listen intently to his tales of being a guerrilla leader and how he killed his own brother-in-law -- then got the $2,000 reward after presenting his brother-in-law's severed head to the Cherokee chief and treasurer as proof of death.

While it sounds as though Cherokee outlaw and killer Tom Starr was proud of having killed as many people as he did, we'll probably never truly know just how homicidal he was or how many Cherokee he killed for one reason or another. 

We do know that he was known to enjoy telling young men stories about the people that he killed, including detailed descriptions of killing people like Benjamin Vore and his family before setting fire to their home. And yes, some say he enjoyed making himself look more of a cold-blooded killer than he really was, while at the same time being so paranoid of retribution from other tribe members that he supposedly kept several guns within reach at his home. 

Tom Starr died on October 7th, 1890, at his home in Briartown and is buried in the Starr family cemetery there. Believe it or not, even though people know his bloody past, some will excuse his actions and say he was a good man who simply sought revenge -- no different than what the Earp Vendetta did years later in Arizona. Then again, some refused to make excuses for his murderous ways. They saw Tom Starr back in the day as the devil incarnate and his death as a benefit to all.

Tom Correa

Robert McGee -- Scalping Survivor 1864

Robert McGee was scalped as a boy by Sioux Chief Little Turtle in 1864.
Photo taken in 1890.

In 1890, photographer E.E. Henry photographed scalping survivor Robert McGee. As you can see, his scars were very visible even though he was scalped almost 30 years earlier. This is the story of how Robert McGee was scalped in the summer of 1864 by Sioux Indian warriors and lived to tell the tale of what happened.

The following was published in The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune newspaper on August 10th, 1890:

  

Bob McGee's Scalp

The Sioux Took It and Robert Wants $5,000 Indemnity for It. 

Robert McGee of Easton, Kansas, is but 39 years old, yet he has gone twenty-six years without a scalp, with a bullet in his ribs and the scars of several awful wounds by Indian arrows. It adds not a little to the interest of his case to learn that he was shot and scalped by the once noted Little Turtle, and the ball now lodged between two of his ribs was put there by Little Turtle, with the identical pistol which President Lincoln had not long before presented to the "noble red man."

Senator Plumb of Kansas  has introduced a bill in Congress to pay McGee $5,000 out of the general or Indian fund and presents in support of it abundant evidence to prove the following facts:

In 1864, Robert McGee, 13 years old, was left an orphan and without means, but being quite tall for his age, he tried to enlist at Fort Leavenworth. He was rejected but employed as a teamster, and started with a small train to Fort Union, New Mexico. 

On the 11th of July, near where the city of Great Bend now stands, Chief Little Turtle and his band of Sioux warriors attacked the train. The whites fought long and well, but were overpowered and everyone killed except young McGee. 

It seems that the Indians at first intended to spare him for some reason, but after compelling him to witness the torture of the others not quite dead, they decided to kill him also.

 The Chief shot him with the elegant pistol he carried as a Lincoln souvenir, and three spears were run into his back as he lay upon the ground. Little Turtle then tore off his scalp and struck him twice with a tomahawk, fracturing the skull at each blow. 

The savage departed and in a few hours a party of soldiers arrived on their way to Fort Larned. Sorrowfully they gathered the corpses for burial, but perceiving signs of life in McGee they bound up his wounds and took him to the fort. 

The surgeons exhausted their skill upon him; the struggle was long and terrible, but he lived -- as remarkable a recovery as any related in history. The details were laid before President Lincoln, who sent for the boy, and was deeply affected by his account. The western generals were directed to favor him in employment. 

Many years after McGee's uncle acquired wealth in the west and tried to recover the scalp from Little Turtle, but unsuccessfully. McGee is now in robust health, but of course terribly disfigured.  

-- end of story as it appeared in The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune newspaper on August 10th, 1890.

Yes indeed, Robert McGee is one of the few people in American frontier history who survived being scalped. Think about that for a moment and let's remember that in 1864 when that took place, just the infection alone from having his flesh ripped from his skull would have killed someone. Fortunate for Robert McGee, he lived to tell the horrid tale of what took place to him and his entire party that day. 

While some sources say he was 13-years-old and others say he was 14-years-old in 1864, we know for certain that was the year that Robert McGee and his family decided to go West to seek a better life on the American Frontier. As with so many others, his family joined a wagon train heading to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. It's said that somewhere on the trail, the young boy's parents died. Some say it was cholera, some say it was dysentery, either way Robert became an orphan. Once in Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, Robert applied to join the Army, but he was not accepted. He was simply too young even for those days.

In July of that year, a government caravan owned by a Mr. H. C. Barret, loaded with military supplies for Fort Union in New Mexico, left Fort Leavenworth for the long and dangerous journey of more than seven hundred miles over the Great Plains. Barret was a contractor with the Army Quartermaster's Department and he needed teamsters. Barret hired as many teamsters as he could find for the journey, but he found it difficult to talk teamsters into taking on the job since most knew it would be a hazardous trip -- and most were rightfully worried about being attacked by Indians. 

Barret tried to convince men that they would be protected, since he had talked the Army into furnishing an escort. Among those who Barret turned to to take on the perilous journey was a 13-year-old boy, Robert McGee. Hungry and desperate, young Robert took the job with a freight company to take supplies to Fort Union in New Mexico. Young Robert was one of the teamsters working on this wagon train. 

At that time the Indians of the Great Plains, especially along the line of the Santa Fe Trail, were very hostile and in a state of war with the United States. They fought hit-and-run attacks continually harassing stage-coaches and wagon caravans on the overland route. The slow moving wagons only traveled about 16 miles a day. Because of the dangers on the trail, the wagon train's Army escort was to stay nearby. 

On July 18th, overcome by the horrid Kansas heat, the teamsters made camp near Walnut Creek, not far from Fort Larned near present-day Great Bend, Kansas. It is said that with the fort being so close, both the teamsters and their Army escort became lax about security. They were so lax that neither the teamsters or the Army escort thought that the Sioux would attack -- especially if the teamsters camped only a mile away from their Army escort. 

At about 5pm, the wagon train was attacked by about 150 Sioux warriors being led by Chief Little Turtle. Without a moment to rally their defence of their lives, the Sioux warriors rode in and mowed down the teamsters within just a few minutes. While the teamsters were armed, they were no match for the overwhelming number of Sioux warriors who attacked. 

The teamsters were slaughtered. Then they were tortured, ritualistically mutilated, and scalped -- many while still alive. In all, it is said that 14 teamsters were killed that day. Almost every member of the caravan died after being horribly mutilated, in some cases cut open and castrated, before being scalped. 

The Army escort in charge of protecting the wagon train later reported that they didn't even hear the shooting taking place a mere mile away. The Army's investigation into what took place didn't paint a glowing portrait of the Army escort. 

Believe it or not, there seems to be some question about what the Army was doing during the attack. Some reports say the Army escort was bivouaced about a mile to the rear of the wagon train. Another report said the soldiers of the Army escort watched the massacre take place from a vantage point. 

Then there's a report that says on the same day of the massacre, the commanding officer of Fort Larned had learned from some of his scouts that the Brule Sioux were in the area of the Fort. He supposedly sent scouts along with a handful of soldiers out to reconnoitre the area. It's said they found Chief Little Turtle's trail and followed it to the scene of the massacre on Cow Creek. Supposedly, the soldiers arrived there only two hours after the massacre. 

When their Army escort found them, they were greeted by the carnage of what took place. The massacre that took place was one with everyone being scalped and laid open in some way. Everywhere, dead men were lying in the buffalo-grass. All had been mutilated in some manner. All had been scalped. 

Of course, to their surprise, when the soldiers were picking up the bodies, they found that Robert McGee and another boy had survived. Both were brutalized, shot, stabbed several times, speared, and scalped before being left for dead. The other boy died almost immediately after the Army got them back to Fort Larned. 

I find it interesting that the soldiers only arrived on the scene after the fight. A mile is a short distance for soldiers on horseback. Of course, it is said that those same soldiers were ordered to return and examine the site of the massacre. The Army wanted to find out if the teamsters had driven away their assailants before it was done. Supposedly, the officer in command of the escort was later discharged from the Army because he couldn't give anyone a satisfactory reason for not going to the rescue of the caravan that he had been ordered to guard. Some say the Army ordered those men to the massacre site to see what took place as a result of their cowardice. 

As for Robert McGee, the soldiers were shocked to see that young Robert McGee was still alive. He was taken to Fort Larned, where the post surgeon treated his injuries. To everyone's surprise, Robert McGee recovered from his wounds and he lived -- even though he no longer had a scalp, he was alive. 

Slowly, he regained his strength. And soon, he told the story of what happened that day. He claimed he was scalped personally by Chief Little Turtle while face down in the dirt. McGee was hit with several arrows, was speared, then shot in the back, stabbed by warriors as they were leaving, and was tomahawked a few times. 

He said he was conscious, but was too weak and couldn't even fight back by then. Chief Little Turtle cut off sixty-four square inches of his scalp and hair from his head. Starting just behind the ears, the Chief did what the Sioux warriors were known for -- Sioux warriors were known for taking larger pieces of scalp from their victim's heads than other tribes would.

Some sources say that young Robert McGee was later taken in by settlers traveling through. Supposedly, they cared for him, nursed him back to health, and tried to make his life as normal as possible. Then again, how is that done when half your scalp is missing and everyone knows your story. 

As the sole survivor of one of the most horrible massacres in the history of the Santa Fe Trail, Robert McGee became well-known for his resilience and strength of character. Believe it or not, he even got married and had a family. 

And while some say he fought depression and the haunted memories of what took place, that shouldn't surprise anyone. I believe he suffered from what today would be diagnosed as Post Trauma Stress Disorder. Yes, as is the case with someone who has gone through something so ghastly, he probably had scars unseen to the naked eye. 

Here's something else, soon after what took place, the newspapers got a hold of the story and dubbed young Robert McGee "The man with 14 lives." For a little while, he became a side-show attraction at a Carnival for people to see for a dime. In many ways, he became a living legend. Of course, newspapers helped by promoting the legend of him being "The only person to ever survive a scalping." 

It was fiction, he was not the only person to ever survive a scalping. But, needless to say, that didn't matter to the newspapers sensationalizing what took place. Of course, while we need to understand that Robert McGee surviving such a horrific ordeal was amazing in itself --  contrary to how it was being spun in the newspapers, by 1864, he wasn't the only man to ever survive being scalped and live to talk about it.

In fact, a mere 31 years earlier in 1833, Texan Josiah Wilbarger was attacked by Comanche Indians about four miles East of present-day Austin, Texas. He and another surveyor were shot with arrows, stabbed, scalped, and left for dead. While the other man died, Josiah Wilbarger survived and actually lived another 12 years after being scalped. He too demonstrated what true resilience and strength of character are all about.

If you want to read about another man who survived being scalped, take a look at William Thompson -- Scalping Survivor 1867. 

Tom Correa

Let's Talk About The Sam Browne Belt

First, for those who may have never heard of it, a "Sam Browne" belt is a leather belt with a supporting strap that passes over the right shoulder. It is worn by military organizations and police departments around the world. 

As a U.S. Marine, I always enjoyed seeing our Marine officers in full dress blues wearing their Sam Browne belts. It just looks sharp and always reminds me of the wonderful history of the Marine Corps. In fact, for Marine Officers, the Sam Browne belt goes back to World War I. 

It's true. During World War I, General Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) approved the Sam Browne Belt. The American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) was a formation of the United States armed forces on the Western Front during World War I. The AEF was established on July 5, 1917, under the command of then-Major General John J. Pershing. It was composed mostly of units from the U.S. Army. 

U.S. Marines fought in World War I as part of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in France. U.S. Marines were actually part of the U.S. Army's Second Division in France. The Marine units in the AEF were the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments and the 4th Marine Brigade. Marines of the 5th Marines were the first Marines to arrive in Europe in June 1917. The 6th Marine Regiment arrived seven months later in February 1918. And yes, the 4th Marine Brigade also served in the AEF. The 4th Marine Brigade was made up of Marines from the 5th and 6th Regiments, and the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion. 

As for the AEF, Americans of the AEF fought alongside the French Army, British Army, Canadian Army, British Indian Army, New Zealand Army, and Australian Army units against the Imperial German Army. Small units of American AEF troops also fought alongside Italian Army units in 1918 against the Austro-Hungarian Army. 

U.S. Marine Major General John A. Lejeune wearing a Sam Browne belt without a sword.

In 1918, U.S. Marine Major General John A. Lejeune assumed command of the 2d Division, U.S. Army, in France, and remained in that capacity until August 1919 when the unit was demobilized. He was the first U.S. Marine Corps officer to hold an Army Divisional Command in combat, and following the Armistice, he led his division in the march into Germany. ⁠

The AEF helped the French Army on the Western Front during the Aisne Offensive which included the Battle of Belleau Wood in the summer of 1918. It was in that battle that U.S. Marines were called "Devil Dogs" by German troops. It's a moniker that has stayed with Marines ever since.

General Pershing authorized the Sam Browne belt for wear by American officers as a rank distinction. During World War I, the U.S. Army didn't accept the Sam Browne belt. In fact, there is a legend of how U.S. Army Military Police (MP) were stationed at the docks to meet the returning troopships. Their orders were to search the duffle bags of the returning Army officers and confiscate their Sam Browne belts so that the belts wouldn't be seen in the states. The returning officers who refused faced disciplinary charges. 

In 1918, the U.S. Army ordered that the Sam Browne belt was to be worn by Army officers only when overseas. The Army called the Sam Browne belt the "Liberty Belt". Then in 1921, the Army changed their mind and ordered that all troops wear it. And yes, the Army changed from calling them "Liberty Belt" to the accepted name "Sam Browne belt". It was discontinued as a standard part of the Army uniform in 1940 when the Army stopped issuing sabers. The Sam Browne belt for the Army was replaced with a cloth waistbelt sewn to the officer's jacket.

As for the Marine Corps, the Corps totaled 13,725 officers and enlisted men at the start of World War I. During the war, the Corps would expand to 75,101 Marines. The Corps adopted a brown leather Sam Browne Belt -- but then changed it to a black leather belt instead of the brown leather belt. The reason for that was that black is actually the official color of all U.S. Navy and Marine Corps leather gear. 

Even today, the Marine Corps black leather version of the Sam Browne belt is worn as part of the Marine Officer Dress Blue A & B uniform and the Class A uniform by Commissioned and Warrant Officers. The Sam Browne Belt is a 2-piece, waist and shoulder belt. And yes, Marine Officers today have the option of wearing the Sam Browne belt with their uniforms even if not wearing a sword. Of course, if Marine Officers are wearing a Sam Browne belt -- they do not need to wear any other belts.

As for other nations, the "Sam Browne" or "Sam Browne belt" has been adopted for military and police use all over the world since World War I. In some cases, it has been modified as a weight-bearing tool to help police officers carry their sidearms and gear. In other cases, it took on a ceremonial use that may or may not have anything to do with sword-bearing. 

So now, let's talk about Sam Browne the man.

British Army General Sir Samuel Browne

Let's talk about General Sir Samuel James Browne, who the "Sam Browne" belt is named after. He came up with the idea of using a supplementary belt that hooked into a waist belt with D-rings and went over his right shoulder to steady a sword scabbard.

He devised the waist belt to securely carry a pistol in a flap holster on his right hip, as well as a binocular case with a neck strap. Other officers saw it and began wearing a similar rig. Eventually, it became part of the standard British officer's uniform. It's said that other troops copied it, and it eventually became standard issue. British Infantry officers wore a variant of it. Their "Sam Browne" belts used two suspender-like straps instead of the cross belt.

So what made General Sir Samuel James Browne see the necessity of having a supplementary belt that hooked into a waist belt with D-rings and went over his right shoulder to steady a sword scabbard? 

Well, believe it or not, this has to do with when General Samuel Browne was a young British Indian Army officer. Samuel James Browne was born in Barrackpore, India, on October 3, 1824. His father was Dr. John Browne, a surgeon of the Bengal Medical Service. Young Samuel was educated in England and returned to India in 1840. 

As most young men did at the time, especially if they had an education, he joined the British Army as an officer. In fact, he joined the 46th Bengal Native Infantry as an Ensign -- which would have been the equivalent of an American Army 2nd Lieutenant. 

During the Second Anglo-Sikh War, he saw action in several engagements at Ramnuggar, Sadulpur, Chillianwalla and Gujrat. Then in 1849, after being promoted to Lieutenant, he was assigned the task of raising a cavalry force. He did as ordered and the unit was designated the 2nd Punjab Irregular Cavalry. The unit would later become a regular force. In 1904, the unit would be re-designated as the 22nd Sam Browne's Cavalry in his honor.

He started out as the unit's adjutant when it was formed in 1851 and then commanded the unit until 1863. During his time as its commanding officer, Sam Browne commanded the 2nd Punjab in several engagements. He was soon promoted to the rank of Captain. And yes, he was decorated with the highest award that the British government can bestow someone who performed above and beyond the call of duty. 

Yes, Capt. Samuel Browne was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions on August 31,1858 at Seerporah, Rohilkhand, Uttar Pradesh, India, during what was part of the Bozdar Expedition of 1857. His citation for heroism reads:

For having at Seerporah, in an engagement with the Rebel Forces under Khan Allie Khan, on 31 August 1858, whilst advancing upon the Enemy's position, at daybreak, pushed on with one orderly Sowar upon a nine-pounder gun that was commanding one of the approaches to the enemy's position, and attacked the gunners, thereby preventing them from re-loading, and firing upon the Infantry, who were advancing to the attack. 

In doing this, a personal conflict ensued, in which Captain, now Lieutenant-Colonel, Samuel James Browne, Commandant of the 2nd Punjab Cavalry, received a severe sword-cut wound on the left knee, and shortly afterwards another sword-cut wound, which severed the left arm at the shoulder, not, however, before Lieutenant-Colonel Browne had succeeded in cutting down one of his assailants. The gun was prevented from being re-loaded, and was eventually captured by the Infantry, and the gunner slain. ( as printed in the London Gazette). 

A "Sam Browne" belt is a wide belt, usually leather, supported by a narrower strap passing diagonally over the right shoulder. The diagonal strap stabilizes the scabbard of a sword when worn. General Sir Samuel James Browne's Victoria Cross medal (the equivalent to our Medal of Honor) and his original "Sam Browne" belt are on display at the British National Army Museum.

So let's think about this for a moment. Sometime after losing his arm in that battle, he began to wear the piece of equipment which now bears his name. He created it to compensate for the difficulty that his disability caused him when wearing his officer's sword. If that doesn't sound like a big deal, think about it. British Army Captain Sam Browne lost his left arm when he was hit with a sword cut that severed his left arm at the shoulder. The loss of his left arm, and hand, which he needed to steady his scabbard, made it difficult for him to draw his sword.

Because he still wanted to lead his men into battle, he created what became known as the Sam Browne belt just so he would still be able to draw his sword in battle. Imagine that for a moment. Imagine what sort of a person does that just to keep leading his men into battle. I find that absolutely incredible!

He needed to find something to help him steady his sword scabbard if he wanted to lead his men into battle, so he created what is known today as the Sam Browne belt. Friends, no matter what folks say, when you are concerned about finding a way for you to still lead your troops into battle, and that's your incentive to invent a piece of equipment to do so after you've lost your arm at the shoulder, you definitely qualify as a hard-charger. You're definitely a great example of how not to feel sorry for yourself.  

Tom Correa