The two brothers dreaded the walk they knew they must take. Leaving the relative warmth of the log cabin, they trudged outside into four inches of wet spring snow. The softness and beauty the snow would normally lend to the land now lay eerily upon shapes unknown. They stepped across Spring Creek’s small meandering flow and headed up the sagebrush covered slope. It wasn’t long before the stench reached their noses. Death. The wet smell of fire dampened by the overnight snowfall.
A look passed between them. As twins, they didn’t need to speak much, but now as they stood and looked before them, they could smell each other’s nervous sweat, and they both knew what they were going to find. Dead sheep lay scattered, contorted forms now covered in snow. Bleating here and there of the wounded ones, suffering, and huffing red drops of blood onto the snow. The odor of wet wool compounded the sense of dread. A few more steps up the hill and they finally saw what they had not wanted to witness.
A human form lay on his back, staring up at the grey blue sky. Curled on his chest, lay a black and white collie pup. Nose tucked under tail, trying to seep more warmth out of the now cold corpse. The pup heard their approach and bounded to them. Confused about his surroundings, the pup was eager for more normal human actions… the comfort of a scratch behind his ears, a sweeping move up into solid arms that would steady the little dog.
The sheepwagon lay smoldering – most of it had been destroyed in the fire. Sagebrush had been piled to the side to add to the inferno. Inside were two more bodies horribly mutilated by the fire’s power. Burned flesh was more than the twins could bear and they stepped back and away, seeking to pull clean Wyoming air into their lungs. They gasped at the air. If only they could rid themselves of the sight of deformed torsos of men they had laughingly shared a meal with only hours before.
Their gaze turned to the opposite hillside where the other sheepwagon was camped. Surrounded by what was left of the great band of sheep, that sheepwagon also was burned. Dread mounted as they feared more bodies would lay in it as well.
This morning and its preceeding evening would never leave their memories. A friendly supper. Speaking the simple words of thanks and good night and see-you-agains. Then the rifle shots came. Shots fired over their heads as unmistakable warnings. A fitful night of pitiful rest until the dawn came to release them.
Practicality was rearing its head. Someone needs to check on the other men in the other sheepwagon. Authorities need to be notified. A need to find a place above where the new fangled telephone line was cut and call the sheriff. A wife needed to know her husband now lay dead in the snow.
The brothers stood quietly for a minute. Their eyes sweeping from the snow capped Big Horns down to the sagebrush slopes they stood upon. The day they had looked forward to… the first day they would be on their new ranch with all their belongings… had irreparably been turned into the day they would stand as the first witnesses to an infamous day in Wyoming history. Where cattlemen attacked sheepmen, and forever changed the outlook of cattle versus sheep. The Spring Creek Raid, April 2 and 3rd, 1909.
The following are photos I took yesterday at the centennial “reenactment”. Fred and Frank Greet were the witnesses I wrote about. Frank was Vernon’s grandfather.
The North Sheepwagon camp.
The seven raiders approach.
Joe Allemand (aka Clay Gibbons, a local historian) throws up his hands, but is shot dead by the raiders. His body is the first to be found the next morning.
A collie pup rests by the sheepwagon’s wheel.
“The Night Riders of Nowood” leans against the north monument.
For more information on the Spring Creek Raid, I recommend the book, A Vast Amount of Trouble by John Davis. Below is an actual photo of Joe Allemand, his sheep, and his dogs.
Stupid thing won’t let me rotate it, sorry!
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Hello Carol,
Unfortunately my books are written in French. I’m trying to get a translation in English for the second one in which i talk about twins Fred and Franck because they were witness as neighbors of the Raid on April, 2sd at night. But it needs more time to do it !
Hello,
I just get today your address and comments on the SCR. In advance, please excuse my poor English (I’m French and a Pete Cafferall’s grand nephew, Pierre who was involved in the Raid on April, 2sd, 1909 and testified at trial with young “Bounce” ) I’m very interrested in that topic more than ever. Recently I wrote two books : The emigration of Champsaur people to America (2016) and an historical novel intitled “Sur la route de Ten sleep” or ” On Ten Sleep road” (2019).
My grandfather :John Caffarel worked for a long time as sheepheard with Joe Allemand in CA and then in Wy.
If you want or share more info about that topic, you can contact me with my e-mail address.
Best regards
Patrick
Thanks so much for reaching out to me! Are your books available in English?
Unfortunately, my books are only written in French. Today, I’m trying to get a translation in English for the second one (2019) in which I talk about twins Fred and Franck because they were witness of the raid as neighbors on April 2sd at night. But it needs time !
Unfortunately my books are written in French. I’m trying to get a translation for the second one in which I talk about twins Fred and Franck because they were witness of the raid as Neighbors on April,2sd at night.
Joe Allemand Jr was my Grandpa and my family is interested in any information you might have to share on the spring creek raid thank you
Hello Richard,
My name is Patrick Caffarel. I’m living in Gap, France, 10 miles from the village where the Allemand family have their roots in Saint-Bonnet- en -Champsaur. My grandfather and also my granduncle worked for a long time with your great grandfather Joe in Wy. Pete ( my granduncle) was the camp tender of Joe Allemand during the Sprink Creek Raid. He is survival of the raid with Charles Helmer “Bounce” and he testified at trial in Basin in november 1909.
Recently (july 2019), I had written a book intitled “Sur la route de Ten Sleep” which explains the wild life in Wy and in France ( Joseph Allemand, Pierre Caffarel and Jules Lagier were French recent immigrants) , the SCR and their aftermaths…….
Don’t hesitate to contact me il you wish more info about that event or your french roots.
That’s Awesome! Reading this takes me back to when I was 10 of So imagining these things happening somewhere out west as I sit on a rock…just dreaming.
Joe allemand is my great grandfather my grandpa frank is his son we have the spring creek raid picture with grandpa frank and clay gibbons I would love to come and see the history my family has back in Wyoming
My name is Patrick Caffarel, I’m living in France (county of High Alps) not so far away from the village in which Joe (Joseph )Allemand was born. My grandfather John (Jean) Caffarel worked some years as sheepherd with your great grandpa in Wyomins since 1898… My grand uncle Pete (Pierre) Caffarel was camp tender for Joe Allemand and Joe Emge during the Spring Creek raid.
Last year I had written a book (as an historical novel )on the topic of SCR with a lot of details;
If you want more explantions, Don’t hesitate to contact me.