The following is part of the papers in the Oscar Hoback collection as collected by Edna Greet.
In 1897, Devine, who was a very determined man, gave public notice that he intended to cover that region and recover anything with a CY brand on it. Bob and Al Smith, who were brothers-in-law, with Bob Taylor, put themselves at the head of the army of defense and called out the home guards. The reckless spirit and calm courage of an earlier day on the open range was certainly not lacking, even in 1897, as witness the following notice from Devine, published in the Casper Tribune in July, 1897:
“Casper, Wyoming, July 19, 1897.
“Editor, Casper Tribune.
“I have seen all sorts of reports bearing upon the John R. Smith and Nolan gang stopping the round-up from working the Hole-in-the-Wall country. They will have a hard time of it. Neither the CY boys, the Keystone nor the Pugsley outfits are hunting a fight. We are all working men and only want such cattle as belong to our employers and it is an indisputable fact that the Hole-in-the-Wall is a hiding place for thieves, and has been for years. Thousands of dollars’ worth of cattle have been stolen by these outlaws, brands burned out and their own brands substituted. Their friends then help them to dispose of the burned cattle. Every year I have gotten back cattle from them that were taken from their mothers and lots of cattle on which the brands were changed. I am going to work that country and have asked the sheriffs of Natrona and Johnson counties to work with us and see that everybody is treated right. The time has come for all honest working men to declare themselves in favor of law and justice. And, if those men want to fight us, when we know we are right, I say fight.
“R. M. Devine.”
As a further illustration of the spirit of the times and the nature of this feud we reprint a reply to Devine. It is also a good example of that sharp and incisive literary style so much affected by our “Riders of the Purple Sage.” A lack of this directness and this pro- fanity is what spells failure for all western plays. The hero cannot swear hard enough. To the western listener it all sounds weak and insipid. When in the arena our finest swearers, like our finest wrestlers, find their best holds barred.
The answer to Devine’s letter follows:
“Bob Devine you think you have played hell you have just begun you will get your dose there is men enuff up here yet to kill you. we are going to get you or lose 12 more men you must stay out of this country if you want to live we are not going to take any chances any more but will get you any way we can we want one hair a piece out of that damned old chin of yours you have give us the worst of it all the way through and you must stay out or die. you had better keep your damned outfit out if you want to keep them, don’t stick that damned old gray head of yours in this country again if you don’t want it shot off we are the 12 men appointed a purpose to get you if you don’t stay out of here.
”Revenge Gange”
Find me here!
Wow! That’s some mean reply.