This post includes the dates when Luther had his encounter with Butch Cassidy. He doesn't include it in the journal, but has written about it separately.
The story, as follows, in his own words:
I was working on the Oregon Shortline Railroad when Senator Clark had come in to “grab” the grade, the tunnels and so forth that were built by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1888 to 1891. At that time , they had planned to extend their road to Pioche, Nevada, and to the Pacific coast. (The Oregon Shortline was a part of their system.) Senator Clark, of Montana, had paid the unpaid taxes when the plans of the Union Pacific were not carried through. When the Union Pacific learned what Senator Clark was up to, they sprang into action without delay and started extending the O.S. toward the Pacific Coast. At this point, they found parts of the old grade occupied by the Clark forces. At one place they found a large tent that had been pitched on the grade. When the new rails reached position, the tent was not moved. As a result, the O.S. Roadmaster gave the Clark forces ten minutes in which to move the tent. It was not moved, hence ties were laid, rails were extended and the work train was pushed through the tent and on.
Next day the Clark forces had been built up to eighty men. All were armed with pick handles, which they were not permitted to use as they had intended. There were numerous deputy sheriffs and deputy U.S. Marshals present to prevent bloodshed. However, a full day was consumed in an effort by O.S forces to place cross ties on the grade so that rails might be pushed ahead. I had eight ties on a wagon, all chained down, and plenty of men to help, but it was after dark before the ties were near enough to be unloaded. Then a truce was called and officials spent all night in conference. Next day we were ordered to proceed.
I was then sent out ahead to occupy the grade in an important cut. My father (Anson Perry Winsor II) had been sent on down to occupy one of several tunnels through rock projections, in the area leading into Clover Valley, Nevada. I pitched a tent and then cut brush from the old grade and smoothed it ready for ties and rails.
“BUTCH” CASSIDY STAYED ALL NIGHT
One evening a lone rider came in and asked if he might hobble his horse and stay the night with me. I said, “surely. I am lonesome here all alone.” He dragged his saddle into the tent, spread out his saddle blankets, and used the saddle as a pillow while he rested.
I prepared supper, then gave him a large canvas and a quilt to use. He was tired and soon went to sleep. Next morning, his horse was waiting for his accustomed feed of oats which he carried in a nose-bag on his saddle. While we ate breakfast, my visitor asked if by chance I knew Lily Parker. I replied, “Yes, I do know her. In fact, I took her to a dance down in Washington. She is now attending school at the Branch Normal in Cedar City.” He answered, “I am pleased to know about her. She’s ma sista”. My eyes became big as saucers. When I could speak I said, “Are you Butch Cassidy?” I had spent the night with a most notorious bandit. But he was one who had many friends for he took from the rich only, and gave liberally to the poor. He spent most of his time in southeastern Utah at the “Robbers Roost” near Hanksville. In fact, he used to leave his “loot” at Hanksville. At one time, he came into the log post office, out of breath, with two bags of gold and said to the postmaster, “Gib, please take care of this for me. I have to go very fast.” He was talking to Mr. Gibbons. This I was told by Mr. Gibbons in 1950 when I was boarding with his daughter Mrs. Ecker and building two steel bridges there.
To get back to my former experience, I had asked my visitor if he was Butch Cassidy. To this he replied, “Yea, that’s whut they call meh.” When he was on his horse ready to leave, he reached into the watch pocket of his “Levis”, took out a $5.00 gold coin and flipped it to me and said, “Here, kid, you wunt be telling’ anyone I wuz here fer mebby two hours.”
It was the next day before I saw anyone.
~Luther Murkins Winsor
Uncle and I went over to the head.... of the ditch to see about working it.
March 1st Cleaned field ditch on the other side of Santa Clara.
2nd Worked in lot putting in garden, etc.
Sun 3 Went to S. S. and meeting also evening meeting. After which Gran Snow and myself got a buggy and team and took some of our lady and gent friends for a ride.
Worked around the house the rest of the week.
Sunday 10 Attended Sunday School and meeting then went for a ride with my associates up around the red point. Went to night meeting and spent the remainder of the evening at Mr Lou Atkins home.
11th Started with father out south after hay sled posts for Frank Coats.
12th Reached the timber and got part of our logs.
13. Finished loading and came part way home.
Mar 18th Spaced and helped unload ties.
19th Am still holding my cut down. Spaced some more ties.
20th Moved on down the line to another cut.
Delbert Adair joined us in evening.
Sun 21st Grubed brush off the grade.
22nd Cleared grade and spaced ties.
24th Finished spacing ties. Father started for the meadow Vally Wash. to bare a message to one of the Survey engeneers.
25th Rode on a load of rail down to ...tunnel.
26th Hauled ties down to deadline but Clark had about 200 men there to prevent us from getting on the grade and unloading them. After dinner we took a fresh start and succeeded in getting four teams on. There were sherifs from all around us also the U. S. Marshal so that there was not any fighting at 6 o'clock
Mar 27th Went to the farm and dug wire-fence out which had been buried up with the flood.
28th Continued digging fence out.
29th Polled some of the wire out and finished digging the posts up.
30th John and I stretched wire all day.
Sun 31st Did not go to S. S. or meeting. Attended night meeting. After which we had a farewell party for Miss Zella Robins who is going to start for Salt Lake City on the morrow at Mr. and Mrs. Ike Burgess' place of residence.
April 1
Dropped corn in the field for Uncle Dave.
2. Finished planting the corn in the lot. Helped set out 66 trees, 3 dozen berry bushes on the lot from the Pioneer Nursery Co. Salt Lake City.
3. Nothing happened to me worthy of note.
4. Worked half day on the Smelter.
5. Worked half day for Mr. Marshall on Dr. Pikes Cellar.
6. John and I set out one thousand onions and cleared the yards around the house.
Sun 7 Attended Sunday School then went up to the smelter and found father in a skirmish with Burt Andrews, they did not have it out then attended night meeting, then spent the remainder of the evening at Millins Residence.
Apr. 8 John and I finished stretching wire around the pasture.
9 Father had his trial with Bud Andrews which cost them $6 apiece and costs. Father and I started home with Uncle J. Hunt.
10. Reached home in eve. after being all out in a rain and snow storm all day.
11. Set out onions on Nell Terries ranch.
12. Dug ditch in J. Reno ranch.
Had a very nice dance in the eve at home. Mabel and Alice ? also Geo. Plat who were over from Pinto stayed with us the remainder of the night and started home the next day.
Apr. 13. Came over to the R.R. and got a job on the O. S. L. R. Q. C. at $3.00 per day. Andy and Father got on the same place, Ps. with his team at $5.00 and Andy was put in foreman over the cut holders at $3.50 per day.
Sun14th Finds me in a small cut on the summit. Was placed here to guard it from Clark's men. Am all alone today.
In evening was ordered to blockade the wagon road to stop the progress of Clarks men who were on their way to take tunnell no 1. They did not get it.
15 Graded a ways down the cut.
16 Grubed brush.
17 Finished my stint of grade. The ties just reached my cut.
14th Reached home and delivered out timbers.
15 Went down to field and drug off two herfer's of Uncle's that got bloated.
16 Attended Confrence the quarterly Con. of the St. George Stake.
Sunday 17 Attended S. S. and Confrence all day. Also Sunday School and Mutual Confrence in the evening.
18 Watered in the lot.
19. John Empy and I put in 4 head gates in the farm ditch.
20. Walked around taking in the sights.
21 Planted mellons
22 Planted corn
23 Went home after Ethel. A bitter cold wind all day.
Sunday 24th
Brother Andy and I drove to Hebron and back. Brought miss Ada Alger back with us.
25 Miss Ada Alger, Ethel and I drove to St. George reaching there at 10 pm.
26 Helped Father get off for home-
Apr.
the attack was postponed untill next day.
27. Clark gave up the grade about 1 o'clock and we went on hauling ties.
28. Our job came to an end but we get paid untill 30 inst.
Went in to ?Nvada?
29-30 Worked on the section under Jas Latimer Co.
30 Rect. money for work on O. S. L. R. Q.
Shiped out to the front to drive team for the Utah Construction Co. under A. Boeman.
May1st Led the steel car horse on the construction car.
13 Moved from 5 mile stream down to Clover Valley from first up to date run the steel car whenever any track was being laid and at odd times made road crossings, hauled ties and so on.
14-17 Worked at my same old job.
June 10 Finds me still working for the U. C. Co. During the later part of the month of May narrowly escaped serious...
(to be continued...)
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