The Indians then seemed to rise out of the prairie and the surveyors "dug in" making a hole about eight feet square into which they put the provisions and water, then crawled in themselves. The Indians circled about on ponies, swinging over their sides and shooting under the animals necks; but the soldiers heard the firing, returned in haste, and the Indians fled. No one was hurt although a number of Indian ponies were shot by the surveyors.

First Newspapers The Sidney Telegraph came into existence

in May, 1873, and in 1874 was published by Joseph B. Gossage. George G. Darrow joined the force in the spring of 1875. Darrow later went to Denver and Gossage to the Black Hills, and in 1920, was publishing the Journal at Rapid City, South Dakota. The Telegraph was not only the first newspaper published in Cheyenne county, but first in the Nebraska Panhandle.

Toll Bridge axd Death Toll

When Plenry T. Clarke decided to build a toll bridge across the North Platte river at "Camp Clarke," he sent a number of choppers into the Pumpkin creek hills to cut suitable logs for the piles and necessary timbers for the bridge. It was dangerous work as is testified by the killing of a man named Brocklay, and later Webber, in 1876, near the Tusler ranch, by Indians. The bridge was built, however, and was used by the people passing north and south.

SIDNEY'S WILDEST DAYS

Sidney had by this time become a boiling caldron of humanity, some serious and hurried, others serene, methodical and unruffled, all with the one object, gold. The town was wide open, and day and night business houses, saloons, dance halls and theatres were thronged with people. It has been claimed that Sidney introduced to the world, the all-night theatre, with continuous performances.