98-536: Shirley Basin, Wyoming was a company-owned uranium-mining town located about 40 miles (64 km) south of Casper, Wyoming . The town was established in the 1960s, when Utah Mining, a subsidiary of Utah Construction Company began extracting uranium in the area. The company built a store and a school. After the Three Mile Island accident , the price of uranium dropped, forcing uranium-mining companies to scale back operations. Most of Shirley Basin's residents left in
196-631: A cabin near the Middle Fork of the Powder River when a group of armed men went inside. Only two were able to fit into the small cabin while four others stood by outside. Champion was immediately awakened by the intrusion, and as the gunmen pointed their weapons at him, Champion reached for his own pistol hidden under a pillow and a shootout commenced. Champion successfully shot two of the gunmen, mortally wounding and killing assassin Billy Lykins. The rest of
294-497: A cannon but was turned down. A blacksmith named Rap Brown tried to build his own cannon, but it exploded when he first tested it. He then built a siege engine which the posse referred to as a "go-devil' or "ark of safety" - a large, bullet-resistant wagon that would help the settlers get close to the ranch so they could throw dynamite at the Invaders. Fortunately for the Invaders, one of their members, Mike Shonsey, managed to slip from
392-507: A catch-all allegation of rustling against their competition. Hostilities worsened when the Wyoming legislature passed the Maverick Act, which stated that all unbranded cattle in the open range automatically belonged to the large ranchers. The cattle barons also held a firm grip on Wyoming's stock interests by limiting the number of small ranchers and grangers who could participate, including in
490-542: A former army air base built during World War II. The runways are large, having been built for bombers. It replaced Wardwell Field north of Casper which later became the town of Bar Nunn, Wyoming . The airport is located west of the city just off of US Highway 20/26. In July 2004, the airport facilities were renovated. Passenger service at the airport is offered by United Express ( SkyWest Airlines and GoJet Airlines ), and Delta Connection (SkyWest Airlines). FedEx Express and FedEx Feeder provide cargo airline service to
588-557: A generating capacity of 16.5 MW. Energy Transportation Inc. is headquartered in Casper. This logistics firm transports overweight and outsized components used in the wind power industry. The Casper landfill is also a disposal site for windmill blades. Casper is home to Casper College , a community college that offers bachelor's degrees in sixteen areas of study from the University of Wyoming through their UW/CC Center. Public education in
686-568: A homemade bomb in the cavalry's barracks. Noted officer Charles B. Gatewood was seriously injured by the bomb blast in the barracks, shattering his left arm and ending his cavalry career. The Ninth Cavalry of " Buffalo Soldiers " was ordered to Fort McKinney to replace the Sixth, commanded by Major Charles S. Isley. In a fortnight the Buffalo Soldiers moved from Nebraska to the rail town of Suggs, Wyoming , where they created "Camp Bettens" to quell
784-509: A male householder with no wife present, and 37.5% were non-families. Of all households 30.3% were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age in the city was 36 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 12.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of
882-502: A railhead, survives to the present day. This rail presence also made Casper the starting off point for the "invaders" in the Johnson County War , since the chartered train carrying the men from Texas stopped at Casper. In more recent history, the city received a significant influx of visitors during the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 , due to its position along the path of totality. Interstate 25 , which approaches Casper from
980-535: A range detective and member of the Invaders, mysteriously disappeared. In the fall of 1892, as the aftershocks of the stand-off were still being felt throughout the county, two alleged horse rustlers were gunned down by range detectives east of the Big Horn River . The killers escaped the law with assistance from Otto Franc , a rancher who had sided with the large cattle company faction. On May 24, 1893, Champion's brother, Dudley, came to Wyoming looking for work and
1078-449: A reputation as a lethal gunman. At a young age he had worked as a cowboy in Texas, and in 1871 he started a career in robbery and cattle rustling, as well as killing a Buffalo Soldier on October 10, 1874. Historian Harry Sinclair Drago described Canton as a "merciless, congenital, emotionless killer. For pay, he murdered eight—very likely ten—men." On July 20, 1889, a range detective from
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#17328585643381176-542: A seminal 1902 western novel by Owen Wister , took the side of the wealthy ranchers, creating a myth of the Johnson County War, but bore little resemblance to a factual account of the actual characters and events. Jack Schaefer 's popular 1949 novel Shane treated themes associated with the Johnson County War and took the side of the settlers. The 1953 film The Redhead from Wyoming , starring Maureen O'Hara, dealt with similar themes; in one scene O'Hara's character
1274-409: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Casper, Wyoming Casper is a city in and the county seat of Natrona County, Wyoming , United States. Casper is the second-most populous city in the state after Cheyenne , with the population at 59,038 as of the 2020 census . Casper is nicknamed "The Oil City" and has a long history of oil boomtown and cowboy culture, dating back to
1372-526: Is land and 0.34 square miles (0.88 km ) is water. Casper, as with most of the rest of Wyoming, has a continental semi-arid climate ( Köppen climate classification : BSk ), with long, cold, but dry winters, hot but generally dry summers, mild springs, and short and crisp autumns. Normal daily maxima range from 35.2 °F (1.8 °C) in January to 89.0 °F (31.7 °C) in July. Snow can fall heavily during
1470-484: Is the state's oldest radio station. For television, Casper is served by the following stations: KTWO-TV (channel 2) is affiliated with ABC , KCWY (channel 13) is affiliated with NBC (with The CW on DT2), KGWC-TV (channel 14) is affiliated with CBS , and KFNB (channel 20) is affiliated with Fox . Casper also has a member station of PBS , KPTW, on channel 8. Almost all of the city's FM stations and all of its TV stations broadcast from Casper Mountain south of
1568-415: Is told, "It won't be long before they're calling you Cattle Kate." In the 1968 novel True Grit by Charles Portis , the main character, Rooster Cogburn , was involved in the Johnson County War. In the early 1890s Cogburn had gone north to Wyoming where he was "hired by stock owners to terrorize thieves and people called nesters and grangers... . I fear that Rooster did himself no credit in what they called
1666-570: The Battle of Suggs . Another two detachments were sent and this time the locals allowed the soldiers to investigate but no one was convicted. Another buffalo soldier, by the name of Brown, was also murdered, when a cowboy shot him while both were in a rifle range. Johnson and Brown were buried next to each other, and these events forced the Army to retire the regiment from the place in November 1892. Phil DuFran,
1764-488: The Beaver Creek Canyon , where a fight almost commenced between the two as Champion suspected that Shonsey was one of the five men who had attacked him in his cabin. He further threatened Shonsey and demanded he give up the names of the rest of the assassins. This event made Shonsey harbor hatred toward Champion and probably toward his brother Dudley as well. Dudley Champion was the last person killed in association with
1862-597: The Bozeman Trail . However, the town itself was settled twenty years later in 1887, and incorporated a year later by developers as an anticipated stopping point during the expansion of the Wyoming Central Railway . A site a few miles east was planned as the original site, where homesteader Joshua Stroud lived prior to the actual construction of the train station for the Chicago and North Western Railway . The site
1960-559: The War on Powder River and the Wyoming Range War , was a range conflict that took place in Johnson County , Wyoming from 1889 to 1893. The conflict began when cattle companies started ruthlessly persecuting alleged rustlers in the area, many of whom were settlers who competed with them for livestock, land and water rights. As violence swelled between the large established ranchers and
2058-615: The Western genre . Conflict over land was a common occurrence in the development of the American West , but was particularly prevalent during the late 19th century, when large portions of the West were being settled by new immigrants for the first time through the Homestead Acts . It is a period that one historian, Richard Maxwell Brown, has called the "Western Civil War of Incorporation", of which
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#17328585643382156-513: The Wyoming Symphony Orchestra . During the summer months, Casper's City Band performs free concerts Thursday evenings at Washington Park, weather permitting. Wyoming National Bank , a mid-century modern tower, was designed by Charles Deaton and is featured in Casper's logo. Interstate Highways : US Routes : Wyoming State Highways : The city has scheduled air service at Casper–Natrona County International Airport ,
2254-530: The telegraph lines north of Douglas, Wyoming , in order to prevent an alarm. While on horseback, Canton and the gunmen traveled ahead while the party of WSGA officials led by Wolcott followed a safe distance behind. The first target of the WSGA was Nate Champion, who was at the KC Ranch at that time. They were tasked to perform the assassination that others had failed to carry out five months before. The group traveled to
2352-415: The 1894 printing; they were rumored to have hijacked and destroyed the second printing as it was being shipped from a printer north of Denver, Colorado . The book was reprinted several times in the 20th century and most recently in 2015. Frances McElrath's 1902 novel The Rustler , took inspiration from the Johnson County War, and was sympathetic to the perspective of the small ranchers. The Virginian ,
2450-480: The 23 hired guns from Texas. To lead the expedition, the WSGA hired Frank M. Canton. Canton's gripsack was later found to contain a list of 70 county residents to be either shot or hanged, and a contract to pay the Texans $ 5 a day plus a bonus of $ 50 for every rustler, real or alleged, they killed. The group became known as the "Invaders", or alternately, "Wolcott's Regulators". John Clay, a prominent Wyoming businessman,
2548-686: The Averells was followed by the lynching of Tom Waggoner, a horse trader from Newcastle, Wyoming, in June 1891. A friend of Waggoner named Jimmy the Butcher, who was once arrested for rustling cattle belonging to the Standard Cattle Company, was also murdered. Range detective Tom Smith killed a suspected rustler, and when he was indicted for murder, political connections to the WSGA secured his release. These killings precipitated more hostilities and violence in
2646-495: The Century , with Henry Brandon as Nate Champion and Jean Parker as Ella Watson. American Heroes Channel presented the Johnson County War in the sixth episode of their Blood Feuds series documentary. The story of the Johnson County War from the point of view of the small ranchers was chronicled by Kaycee resident Chris LeDoux in his song "Johnson County War" on the 1989 album Powder River . The song included references to
2744-695: The Democrat William Jennings Bryan in the 1896 U.S. presidential election , and Johnson County was one of the two counties in the state with the largest Bryan majorities. Historian Daniel Belgrad argues that in the 1880s centralized range management was emerging as the solution to the overgrazing that had depleted open ranges. Moreover, cattle prices at the time were low. Larger ranchers also were hurt by mavericking (taking lost, unbranded calves from other ranchers' herds), and responded by organizing cooperative roundups, blacklisting, and lobbying for stricter anti-maverick laws. These ranchers formed
2842-403: The Johnson County War was a part. In the early days of Wyoming , most of the land was in public domain , which was open to stock raising as an open range and farmlands for homesteading . Large numbers of cattle were turned loose on the open range by ranches . Each spring, round-ups were held to separate the cattle belonging to different ranchers. Before a round-up, an orphan or stray calf
2940-490: The Johnson County War. Emotions ran high for many years afterward. Some considered the large and wealthy ranchers as heroes who had sought what they regarded as justice by using violence to defend what they regarded as their rights to range land and water rights, while others saw the WSGA as heavy-handed outlaw vigilantes running roughshod over the law. A number of tall tales were spun by both sides afterwards to make their actions appear morally justified. Parties sympathetic to
3038-462: The Johnson County War." Films such as Heaven's Gate (1980) and The Johnson County War (TV-movie, 2002) painted the wealthy ranchers as the "bad guys". Heaven's Gate was a dramatic romance loosely based on historical events, while The Johnson County War was based on the 1957 novel Riders of Judgment by Frederick Manfred . The range war was also portrayed in an episode of Jim Davis 's syndicated Western television series Stories of
Shirley Basin, Wyoming - Misplaced Pages Continue
3136-636: The North Platte River in the early 1840s. In 1859, Louis Guinard built a bridge and trading post near the original ferry locations, allowing overland travel to continue through the area. The government also posted the military garrison to protect telegraph and mail service. It was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William O. Collins . Native American attacks increased after the Sand Creek Massacre in Colorado in 1864, bringing more troops to
3234-691: The President was printed on the front page of The New York Times on April 14, and a first-hand account of the siege at the T.A. appeared in The Times and the Chicago Herald and other papers. The WSGA group was taken to Cheyenne to be held at the barracks of Fort D.A. Russell (currently Francis E. Warren Air Force Base ) since the Laramie County Jail was unable to hold that many prisoners. They received preferential treatment and were allowed to roam
3332-508: The President, informing him of the increasingly dangerous "insurrection" in Johnson County. Harrison immediately ordered the U.S. Secretary of War Stephen B. Elkins to address the situation under Article IV , Section 4, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution , which allows for the use of U.S. forces under the president's orders for "protection from invasion and domestic violence". The Sixth Cavalry from Fort McKinney near Buffalo, Wyoming,
3430-568: The Texans was recounted by cowboy John J. Baker, where the Texans ambushed and killed nine trappers whom they mistook for rustlers in Big Dry Creek, Wyoming. They received a $ 450 bonus for the slaughter. Soon, 23 gunmen from Paris, Texas , and 4 cattle detectives from the WSGA were hired, as well as Wyoming dignitaries who also joined the expedition. State Senator Bob Tisdale, State Water Commissioner W. J. Clarke, as well as William C. Irvine and Hubert Teshemacher, who had both been instrumental in
3528-438: The WSGA and hired gunmen to hunt down rustlers, but local farmers resented the ranchers' collective political power. The farmers moved toward decentralization and the use of private winter pastures. Randy McFerrin and Douglas Wills argue that the confrontation represented opposing property rights systems. The result was the end of the open-range system and the dominance of large-scale stock ranching and farming. The popular image of
3626-483: The WSGA named George Henderson accused Ella Watson (better known as Cattle Kate ), a local rancher, of stealing cattle from a fellow rancher by the name of Albert John Bothwell. The cattlemen sent riders to seize Watson before capturing her husband Jim Averell as well. Both of them were subsequently lynched. This gruesome act was one of the rare cases in the Old West in which a woman was lynched, an event that appalled many of
3724-959: The airport. Public transit in the Casper area had been provided by the Casper Area Transportation Coalition but is now offered by the city of Casper as Casper Area Transit . They offer fixed route service called Casper Area LINK and an on-request service called ASSIST from Monday to Saturday. Scheduled bus service once offered by Power River Bus Lines is now offered by ExpressArrow (formerly Black Hills Stages). Johnson County War Homesteaders [REDACTED] United States Army Frank Wolcott Frank M. Canton [REDACTED] Amos W. Barber Nate Champion † William "Red" Angus [REDACTED] Benjamin Harrison [REDACTED] J.J. Van Horn [REDACTED] Charles B. Gatewood [REDACTED] Charles S. Isley The Johnson County War , also known as
3822-420: The annual round-ups. They also forbade their employees from owning cattle for fear of additional competition, and they threatened anyone they suspected to be rustlers. Although at a financial disadvantage, the homesteaders outnumbered the cattle barons significantly, and they tried to use this to win court cases by participating in the jury . However, records showed that they were still not successful. Many of
3920-408: The arrest of all of them." The Invaders, however, were protected by a friendly judicial system, and they took advantage of the cattle barons' corruption. Charges against the men "high in authority" in Wyoming were never filed. Eventually they were released on bail and were told to return to Wyoming for the trial. Many fled to Texas and were never seen again. In the end, the WSGA group went free after
4018-500: The assassination squad subsequently fled. Champion was left uninjured except for some facial burns from gunpowder. In a subsequent investigation of the attack, the names of those involved were leaked to two ranchers: John A. Tisdale and Orley "Ranger" Jones. However, both men were ambushed and murdered while they were riding, which outraged many of the small ranchers and farmers in the county. The WSGA, led by Frank Wolcott (WSGA member and large North Platte rancher), hired gunmen with
Shirley Basin, Wyoming - Misplaced Pages Continue
4116-559: The association such as Frank Wolcott, Frank M. Canton and Tom Smith later left the area. The Johnson County War, with its overtones of class warfare coupled with the intervention ordered by the President of the United States to save the lives of a gang of hired killers and set them free, is not a flattering reflection on the American myth of the west . The Johnson County War has been one of
4214-434: The back door with a six-shooter in one hand and either a knife or a rifle in the other. As he emerged, the Invaders shot him dead. The killers pinned a note on Champion's bullet-riddled chest that read, "Cattle thieves beware". Flagg, after escaping his pursuers, rode to Buffalo where he reported Champion's dilemma to the townsfolk. Sheriff Angus then raised a posse of 200 men, many of whom were Civil War veterans, over
4312-482: The barn and was able to contact Governor Barber the next day. Frantic efforts to save the WSGA group ensued, and two days into the siege, late on the night of April 12, 1892, Governor Barber telegraphed President Benjamin Harrison a plea for help. For unknown reasons, the telegram failed to reach President Harrison, so Wyoming senators Joseph M. Carey and Francis E. Warren visited the White House in person and woke
4410-418: The base by day as long as they agreed to return to the jail to sleep at night. Johnson County officials were upset that the group was not kept locally at Ft. McKinney. The general in charge of the 6th Cavalry felt that tensions were too high for the prisoners to remain in the area. Hundreds of armed locals sympathetic to both sides of the conflict were said to have gone to Ft. McKinney over the next few days under
4508-464: The best-known range wars of the frontier. It has been a popular feature of the Western genre of fiction, which includes literature, films and television shows. The Banditti of the Plains , written in 1894 by witness Asa Mercer , is the earliest record of the Johnson County War. The book was suppressed for many years by the WSGA, who seized and destroyed all but a few of the first edition copies from
4606-584: The burning of the KC Ranch, the capture of the WSGA men, the intervention of the U.S. Cavalry and the release of the cattlemen and hired guns. The Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum in Buffalo featured dioramas and exhibits about the Johnson County War, as well as a 7-foot (2.1 m) bronze statue of Nate Champion. Kaycee, Wyoming, the old site of the KC Ranch, also erected the Hoofprints in the Past Museum to commemorate
4704-472: The charges were dropped on the excuse that Johnson County refused to pay for the costs of the long prosecution. The costs of housing the men at Fort D.A. Russell were said to exceed $ 18,000 and the sparsely populated Johnson County was unable to pay for them Tensions in Johnson County remained high. On May 9, U.S. Marshal George Wellman was ambushed and killed by locals en route to the town of Buffalo. The incident received national attention, with Wellman being
4802-445: The city of Casper is provided by Natrona County School District #1 , the sole school district for the county. The district operates sixteen elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools in Casper. The high schools are Kelly Walsh , Natrona County , and Roosevelt High Schools. A program called CAPS is being added to Natrona County School District, which will provide more space and classrooms for juniors and seniors at
4900-401: The city was $ 36,567, and the median income for a family was $ 46,267. Males had a median income of $ 34,905 versus $ 21,810 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 19,409. About 8.5% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over. Casper is a regional center of banking and commerce. After
4998-524: The city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 49,644 people, 20,343 households, and 13,141 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,073.2 people per square mile (800.5 people/km ). There were 21,872 housing units at an average density of 913.4 per square mile (352.7/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 94.03% White, 0.86% Black, 1.00% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander , 2.04% from other races , and 1.56% from two or more races. 5.35% of
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#17328585643385096-701: The city. Sports teams based in Casper include: Casper is home to a number of museums and historical sites: Casper has three locations offering theater : the Gertrude Krampert Theatre at Casper College, Stage III Community Theatre, and the Casper Events Center where an annual series of touring Broadway shows, Broadway in Casper , can be seen. Casper is home to the Troopers , a drum and bugle corps in Drum Corps International , and
5194-453: The community, making it more difficult for detectives to differentiate the criminals and the innocent homesteaders. Rustling in the local area was likely increasing because of the harsh grazing conditions, and the illegal exploits of organized groups of rustlers were becoming well publicized in the late 1880s. Well-armed outfits of horse and cattle rustlers roamed across various portions of Wyoming and Montana , with Montana vigilantes such as
5292-504: The county as well after a shootout with unknown suspects, and was presumed to be hiding or murdered. Ralph Cole, another nephew of Averell's, died on the day of the trial from poisoning. Enemies of the WSGA soon fought back. Henderson, the range detective who had accused Watson, was murdered near Sweetwater Creek in October 1890. The cattle barons soon tightened their control and hunted down those who tried to oppose them. The double lynching of
5390-513: The development of the nearby Salt Creek Oil Field . Casper is located in east central Wyoming on the North Platte River . The city was established east of the former site of Fort Caspar , in an area that grew for European settlers during the mid-19th century mass migration of land seekers along the Oregon , California , and Mormon trails, where several nearby ferries offered passage across
5488-458: The discovery of crude oil in the region during the 1890s, Casper became the regional petroleum industry center. Oil has figured prominently in its history from nearly the outset. Oil was first discovered in the famous Salt Creek Oil Field in 1889, approximately 40 miles (64 km) north of Casper; the first refinery in Casper was built in 1895. The city has featured a refinery ever since, although various refineries have been built and closed over
5586-504: The employ of the Invaders, including such legends as Tom Horn and "Big Nose" George Parrot . Horn did briefly work as a detective for the WSGA in the 1890s but there is little evidence he was involved in the war. Although many of the leaders of the WSGA's hired force, such as William C. Irvine , were Democrats, the ranchers who had hired the group were tied to the Republican Party and their opponents were mostly Democrats. Many viewed
5684-489: The eventual murder of people as far away as Casper and Douglas. The Times reported on April 23 that "the evidence is said to implicate more than twenty prominent stockmen of Cheyenne whose names have not been mentioned heretofore, also several wealthy stockmen of Omaha, as well as to compromise men high in authority in the State of Wyoming. They will all be charged with aiding and abetting the invasion, and warrants will be issued for
5782-415: The ground for cover and killing the Invaders' horses to prevent them from escaping. The New York Times reported that twenty men tried to escape behind a fusillade, but the posse beat them back and killed three to five. Another Texas gunman, named Alex Lowther, accidentally shot himself mortally in the groin during the fight. As the siege dragged on, a settler rode off to Fort McKinney requesting to borrow
5880-480: The ground, discharging and hitting his knee. He was later escorted by two others to Fort McKinney to seek treatment, but died in the fort one or two days later from gangrene. The sheriff's posse finally reached the remaining Invaders holed up in a log barn at the TA Ranch, but the latter managed to hold them back, resulting in a siege that would last for three days. The posse surrounded the whole ranch, building pits on
5978-415: The gunmen opened fire on the cabin, Champion dragged the mortally wounded Ray back to the cabin. Ray died hours later, and Champion was left besieged inside the log cabin alone. Champion held out for several hours, wounding three of the vigilantes, and was said to have killed four others. Another settler by the name of Jack Flagg passed by Champion's ranch on his wagon together with his stepson and witnessed
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#17328585643386076-467: The homesteaders, and believed that the cattle barons were abusing the homesteaders. In March 1892, the cattlemen sent agents to Texas from Cheyenne and Idaho to recruit gunmen and finally carry out their plans for exterminating the homesteaders. This group became known as the "Invaders". The cattle barons had always used hired guns from Texas to take out suspected rustlers and scare away the nesters in Wyoming. One particular act of violence perpetrated by
6174-461: The house like hail. I heard them splitting wood. I guess they are going to fire the house tonight. I think I will make a break when night comes, if alive. Shooting again. It's not night yet. The house is all fired. Goodbye, boys, if I never see you again." The Invaders continued to shoot at the cabin while others set it on fire using a wagon they managed to steal from Flagg. Champion signed his journal entry and put it in his pocket before running from
6272-554: The infamous Stuart's Stranglers declaring "War on the Rustlers" in 1884. Bandits taking refuge in the infamous hideout known as the Hole-in-the-Wall were also preying upon the herds. Frank M. Canton , Sheriff of Johnson County in the early 1880s and better known as a detective for the WSGA, was a prominent figure in supposedly eliminating these criminals from Wyoming. Before the events in Johnson County, Canton had already developed
6370-483: The intention of eliminating alleged rustlers in Johnson County and breaking up the NWFSGA. By that time, prominent names in Wyoming started taking sides. Acting governor Amos W. Barber supported the cattlemen, who blamed the small ranchers and homesteaders for the criminal activity in the state. Former cowboy, Indian War veteran, and Sheriff of Buffalo (the county seat of Johnson County), William "Red" Angus , supported
6468-486: The invaders painted Watson as a prostitute and cattle rustler. They painted Averell as her murderous partner in crime and pimp and Nate Champion as the leader of a vast cattle rustling empir. They claimed that he was a leading member of the fabled "Red Sash Gang" of outlaws that supposedly included the likes of the Jesse James gang. These claims have since been discredited. While men frequently visited Watson's cabin, this
6566-810: The large ranching outfits in Wyoming were organized as the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (the WSGA) and gathered socially at the Cheyenne Club in Cheyenne, Wyoming . Comprising some of the state's wealthiest and most influential residents, the organization held a great deal of political sway in the state and region. The WSGA organized the cattle industry by scheduling roundups and cattle shipments. The WSGA also employed an agency of detectives to investigate cases of cattle theft from its members' holdings. Grangers and rustlers often intermixed with one another in
6664-440: The local population. Reception from the settlers was negative and in one violent incident a gunfight erupted between them and some Buffalo Soldiers who entered the town. After being initially driven off, 20 more soldiers slipped from the camp to exact revenge, but the locals fought back, resulting in the death of one Buffalo Soldier named Private Willis Johnson, and the wounding of two other soldiers. The brief skirmish became known as
6762-459: The local residents and paved the way for future events in the war. County Sheriff Frank Hadsell arrested six men for the lynching and a trial date was set. However, before the trial, threats were sent to the witnesses who were to testify against the aggressors. One of those witnesses was young Gene Crowder, who mysteriously disappeared under unknown circumstances before the trial. Another, Averell's nephew and foreman Frank Buchanan, disappeared from
6860-406: The lowest temperature recorded was −42 °F (−41.1 °C) on December 22, 2022 . As of the census of 2010, there were 55,316 people, 22,794 households, and 14,237 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,056.4 inhabitants per square mile (794.0/km ). There were 24,536 housing units at an average density of 912.1 per square mile (352.2/km ). The racial makeup of the city
6958-463: The mistaken impression the Invaders were being held there. The Johnson County attorney began to gather evidence for the case and the details of the WSGA's plan emerged. Canton's gripsack was found to contain a list of seventy alleged rustlers who were to be shot or hanged, a list of ranch houses the Invaders had burned, and a contract to pay each Texan five dollars a day plus a bonus of $ 50 for each person killed. The Invader's plans reportedly included
7056-627: The next 24 hours and set out for the KC on Sunday night, April 10. The WSGA group then headed north on Sunday toward Buffalo to continue its show of force. By early morning of the 11th however, news quickly came of a large hostile force heading towards them. They quickly rode and took refuge in the TA Ranch in Crazy Woman Creek . During their flight, one of the Texans by the name of Jim Dudley accidentally shot himself when his horse bucked and his rifle fell to
7154-495: The next couple of years. The town's last resident left in 1992, and the townsite is abandoned today. There were approximately 200 slab sites for mobile homes. The streets were paved with curbs, sidewalks and street lights. As of 2020 there are a couple of abandoned trailer homes on the site and an old school bus. Very few out buildings remain. 42°17′53″N 106°12′14″W / 42.298°N 106.204°W / 42.298; -106.204 This Wyoming -related article
7252-495: The north and east, is the main avenue of transportation to and from the city. The towns immediately adjacent to Casper are Mills , Evansville , and Bar Nunn . Unincorporated areas include Allendale, Dempsey Acres, Red Buttes, Indian Springs, and several others. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 27.24 square miles (70.55 km ), of which 26.90 square miles (69.67 km )
7350-411: The only marshal to die in the war. Wellman had been one of the hired guns who joined the Invaders, and his death was grieved by a large crowd. The Sixth Cavalry, sent to relieve the county of its violence, was said to be influenced by intense local political and social pressure, and they were unable to keep the peace. One infamous event occurred when a group of men set fire to the post exchange and planted
7448-492: The organization of the State of Wyoming four years earlier, also joined the band. They were accompanied by surgeon Charles Bingham Penrose as well as Ed Towse, a reporter for the Cheyenne Sun , and a newspaper reporter for the Chicago Herald , Sam T. Clover, whose lurid first-hand accounts later appeared in eastern newspapers. A total expedition of 50 men was organized which consisted of cattlemen, range detectives, and
7546-433: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 20,343 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. Of all households 29.1% were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
7644-455: The post, which was by now called Platte Bridge Station. In July 1865, Lt. Colonel William Collins' beloved son Lieutenant Caspar Collins was killed near the post by a group of Indian warriors, and three months later the garrison was renamed Fort Caspar in his son's honor. In 1867, the troops were ordered to abandon Fort Caspar in favor of Fort Fetterman , downstream on the North Platte along
7742-410: The ranch late Friday, April 8, 1892, quietly surrounded the buildings, and waited for daybreak. Three men besides Champion were at the KC. Two men who were evidently going to spend the night on their way through were captured as they emerged from the cabin early that morning to collect water at the nearby Powder River, while the third, Nick Ray, was shot while standing inside the doorway of the cabin. As
7840-465: The rescue of the WSGA group at the order of President Harrison (a Republican) and the failure of the courts to prosecute them a serious political scandal with overtones of class war . As a result of the scandal, the Democratic Party became popular in Wyoming for a time, winning the governorship in 1892 and taking control of both houses of the state legislature in that election. Wyoming voted for
7938-539: The siege. The Invaders recognized Flagg as one of the men on the list and they started shooting at him. Flagg then rode away and, as the Invaders gave chase, he grabbed his rifle and beat them back. During the siege, Champion kept a poignant journal which contained a number of notes he wrote to friends while taking cover inside the cabin. "Boys, I feel pretty lonesome just now. I wish there was someone here with me so we could watch all sides at once," he wrote. The last journal entry read: "Well, they have just got through shelling
8036-551: The smaller settlers in the state, it culminated in the Powder River Country , when the ranchers hired gunmen , who invaded the county. The gunmen's initial incursion in the territory alerted the small farmers and ranchers, as well as the state lawmen , and they formed a posse of 200 men that led to a grueling standoff which ended when the United States Cavalry on the orders of President Benjamin Harrison relieved
8134-450: The stock interests. The WSGA then blacklisted members of the NWFSGA from the round-ups in order to stop their operations. However, the NWFSGA refused the orders to disband and instead publicly announced their plans to hold their own round-up in the spring of 1892. Soon, the prominent cattlemen sent out an assassination squad to kill Champion on the morning of November 1, 1891. Champion and another man, named Ross Gilbertson, were sleeping in
8232-650: The three high schools. Casper has a public library , a branch of the Natrona County Public Library System. Casper is served by one print newspaper, the Casper Star-Tribune , a daily, and until recently the Casper Journal , published weekly. Casper is also home to WyoFile, an online publication focusing on state issues and Oil City News, an online news and media site. Casper is served by 30 radio stations on FM and AM . KTWO 1030 AM
8330-550: The two forces, although further fighting persisted. The events have since become a highly mythologized and symbolic story of the Wild West and over the years variations of the story have come to include some of its most famous historical figures. In addition to being one of the best-known range wars of the American frontier, its themes, especially class warfare , served as a basis for numerous popular novels, films and television shows in
8428-411: The war, however, remains that of vigilantism by aggressive landed interests against small individual settlers defending their rights. By 1893, the WSGA was opened to the other small ranchers and farmers, finally ending their monopoly and control over Wyoming business interests. Previous practices of the WSGA, such as vigilantism and confiscation of cattle, were finally stopped. Many prominent leaders of
8526-407: The wealthier ranchers and smaller settlers of relatively modest means steadily aggravated after the harsh winter of 1886–1887 , when a series of blizzards and temperatures of –40 to –50 °F (–40 to –45 °C), followed by an extremely hot and dry summer, ravaged the frontier. Thousands of cattle were lost in the calamity. To protect whatever livestock survived, the cattle barons reacted with
8624-518: The winter and early to mid-spring months, and usually falls in May and October. Precipitation is greatest in spring and early summer, but even then it is not high. Highs reach 90 °F (32.2 °C) on 37.8 days per year and fail to surpass freezing on 41.3. Lows drop to 0 °F (−17.8 °C) on an average of 14.6 nights annually. The highest temperature recorded in Casper was 104 °F (40.0 °C) on July 12, 1954, July 16, 2005, and July 29, 2006, while
8722-478: The years to come. After the lynchings of their prominent competitors, the WSGA's control over the range was undisputed, until a group of smaller ranchers formed the Northern Wyoming Farmers and Stock Growers' Association (NWFSGA) to compete with the WSGA, led by a local cowboy named Nate Champion . Upon hearing this, members of the WSGA immediately viewed the new association as a threat to their hold on
8820-523: The years. As recently as the early 1980s, the city was near or home to three refineries. The surviving one, operated by Sinclair Oil Corporation , is located nearby in Evansville. Development of Wyoming coal and uranium fields in recent decades has helped Casper continue its role as a center in the energy industry. Casper Wind Farm began operations near Casper in Natrona County and has 11 turbines with
8918-408: Was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.94. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males. The median income for a household in
9016-419: Was 92.3% White , 1.0% African American , 0.9% Native American , 0.8% Asian , 2.3% from other races , and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.4% of the population. There were 22,794 households, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had
9114-534: Was because she mended clothing for cowboys as a source of income. While some accounts do note that Champion wore a red sash at the time of his death, such sashes were common. While the Hole in the Wall Gang was known to hide out in Johnson County, there is no evidence that Champion had any relationship to them. Parties sympathetic to the smaller ranchers spun tales that included some of the West's most notorious gunslingers under
9212-504: Was laid out by the Pioneer Town Site Company in 1888 and was known as Strouds, but the name Casper soon prevailed. While the name is derived from Fort Caspar and Lt. Caspar Collins, it is officially named "Casper" due to a typo occurring during the official registration. Casper was an early commercial rival to both Bessemer and Douglas, Wyoming . The absence of a railhead doomed Bessemer in favor of Casper, while Douglas, also
9310-630: Was ordered to proceed to the TA Ranch at once and take the WSGA expedition into custody. The Sixth Cavalry left Fort McKinney a few hours later at 2:00 on the morning of April 13 and reached the TA Ranch at 6:45 A.M. Colonel J.J. Van Horn, the officer in charge of the unit, negotiated with Sheriff Angus to lift the siege, and in return the Invaders were to be handed to civilian authorities. The Sixth Cavalry took possession of Wolcott and 45 other men with 45 rifles, 41 revolvers and some 5,000 rounds of ammunition, before escorting them first to Fort McKinney and then to Cheyenne. The text of Barber's telegram to
9408-443: Was shot and killed in cold blood. 15 miles (24 km) from town, Dudley had come across the ranch of Mike Shonsey, who, after seeing him, immediately grabbed a gun and fired at him. A coroner's inquiry ruled Shonsey's actions were self-defense and he was acquitted of murder. Afterwards, Shonsey left the country before the officials could continue with the investigation. A year before Nate Champion's death, Shonsey actually met him near
9506-441: Was sometimes surreptitiously branded, which was the common way to identify the cow's owners. However, as more and more homesteaders called "nesters" and "grangers" moved into Wyoming, competition for land and water soon enveloped the state, and the large cattle companies, also known as “cattle barons”, reacted by monopolizing large areas of the open range, preventing homesteaders from using it. The often uneasy relationship between
9604-459: Was suspected of playing a major role in planning the Johnson County invasion. Clay denied this, saying that in 1891 he advised Wolcott against the scheme and was out of the country when it was undertaken. He later helped the "Invaders" avoid punishment after their surrender. The group organized in Cheyenne and proceeded by train to Casper, Wyoming , and then toward Johnson County on horseback, cutting
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