The men committing these offenses were "Three-finger Jack," "Hold-'em-up Johnny" and others of their kind. Jack made a tactical blunder in a storm and held up a citizen of the town, following which he and some of the worst citizens "dusted," as a result of public sentiment. A number of incidents, some tragic, and others nearly so, and some of boisterous humor, are here chronicled, which indicate the life of the time and place with historic accuracy.

"Squire" Newman's Narrow Kscape

All kinds of life had its zest because of the danger involved. Henry Newman had been elected Justice of the Peace, and thereby was called "Squire" or "Jedge" as occasion prompted, but that is not the story.

There were several men engaged in the work of capturing wild horses, and breaking them for domestic uses. Murshied and Pashon, two of the old-timers, had roped a wild horse near Callahan & Murshied's ranch, and had him in a corral. A number were looking him over, this being an especially fine animal,

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

but of the fighting kind. Newman was nearby in the corral on a horse when the wild animal attacked him, knocking horse and rider down. It then reared, and was on the point of setting his forefeet down on the prostrate man and stamping him to death, when R. S. Van Tassell seized the rope which was trailing from the wild horse's neck, and '"set on it," swerving it from its objective by a few feet. Quick action saved a tragedy.