b'Cattle and Sheep continued from page 9vast numbers of sheep afoot, with only the aid of oneInside the cabin were Ed Tewksbury, Jim Tewksbury, and or two well-trained dogs. What was worse, the fuzzyJim Roberts. As we know, there was no love lost by the white blight could be sold for food and for its otherTewksbury brothers for the men outside. Jim Roberts, commodity. wool. In fact, at times wool was in greaterwho had settled just below the Rim some years before, demand than mutton. In essence, sheep returned 100%had lost numerous horses to thieves. He blamed Andy for every dollar invested. These, in great measure, wereCooper and his gang of cut-throats for the thefts. No the reasons which made sheep appear so inviting to thedoubt oaths were issued and sworn to by both sides just Tewksburys on Cherry Creek.prior to the explosion of gunre.How could they miss? The Daggs brothers agreed toThe rst volley of re came from the cabin. Hamp send a band of sheep into Pleasant Valley under theIn 1887, Martin J. Old ManBlevins was mortally wounded, dead before he hit the protection of Tewksbury guns, and for their services, theground. A rie ball issued by Roberts clipped off one three brothers and Bill Jacobs would receive a share ofBlevins, owned a place on Canyonof Paines ears; another ball dropped his horse from the prots. It was a dangerous scheme at best, one thatbeneath him. A second later Jim Tewksbury killed the might wipe them out if it failed, and no one knew thatCreek. His place was more or less abewildered man where he stood. In less time than it better than the Daggs Brothers, but if anyone in Arizonahome for wayward rustlers, horsetakes to tell the story, Bob Carrington was wounded could carry it through to a successful conclusion thosetwice, once in the right arm and again in his left leg. three half Indian brothers could turn the trick. thieves, and other assorted hardcores. Tom Tucker was hit with a bullet that entered his left side and exited from under his right armpit. Bob The bargain was struck and consummated when thepursuits in outlawdom. During that summer, Old ManGillespie, trying to get his mount turned around to Tewksburys hired a Navajo shepherd. The romance didntBlevins became the second casualty, rst fatality, of thereturn re to the cabin, received a pistol shot to his last very long as the herder was murdered in FebruaryPleasant Valley War.pride and was also knocked from his saddle. With 1887. It was never proven substantially that the Grahamsno further adieu, the wounded riders decided that were guilty of committing the travesty even though theMart Blevins was out searching for horses when hediscretion was truly the better part of valor. They murderers trail led straight to their place. It was rumoreddisappeared. The 3rd day of August 1887 found a grouphightailed it through a hail of lead as quickly as they that Andy Cooper, Mart Blevins son, in league with theof cowboys, Bob Gillespie, Bob Carrington, and Tomcould get their animals to move. Grahams, was responsible. Cooper was known to haveTucker from the Hashknife and Graham ranches, along a deep-rooted hatred for sheep. We may never knowwith Hamp Blevins and John Paine gathered together toThis round clearly went to the Tewksbury brothers and for certain who was actually responsible for the Indianssearch for the elder Blevins. A week of searching provedJim Roberts. However, the ball was open. this was death, but we do know whatever the case may have been,unsatisfactory and they became increasingly frustrated.war. The brothers were forced into hiding from camp all forms of hell were about to break loose. Intense contempt brewed in their minds for theto camp. They gured the cowboys, and whoever else Tewksbury faction. They believed the Tewksburys had towanted in on the brawl would be after them. They knew In 1887, Martin J. Old Man Blevins, owned a placebe involved in the old mans disappearance. The searchfor certain that Andy Cooper, having just lost two of his on Canyon Creek. His place was more or less a homeparty had become little more than a gang on the prod.kin, plus hating anything and anybody that had anything for wayward rustlers, horse thieves, and other assortedWhen they reached Wilson Creek on the afternoon ofto do with sheep, would be hot on their trail. hardcores. The leader of this bad bunch was Blevins son,Wednesday, the tenth, they came upon the Middleton Andy Cooper. Andy Blevins had changed his name tocabin which turned out to be the nastiest hive of angryNext Month, Part 2Cooper to avoid being caught by the law for his variedbees any of them had ever encountered. 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