Phillips County Museum News for Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Bet-cha Didn’t Know

Life gives us many good neighbors throughout our lifetime. This is a story labeled “They Were Good Neighbors” by Gladys Costello. Two neighboring landowners, one a sheepman and one a cattleman, were on friendly terms, settling their disputes amicably. They both came to Zortman frequently to do a little celebrating. Came a day when they met in Sam Deniff’s Saloon. Both were well on their way to a celebration when the argument broke out. In a flash, each man had drawn his gun and the shooting began. The big back mirror of the bar was shattered by a half dozen bullets, glass and bottles broke, chairs were scattered and windows were broken and the battle raged on. The Justice of the Peace was sent for. Now, the Justice of the Peace suffered from a medical condition that if excitement or exertion came on too fast he was rendered helpless. Heading quickly to the saloon the man had his gun in his hand when the attack came on. He fell to the street and his gun went off with the bullet striking a saddle horse. The animal reared and scattered Zortmanites, who had gathered to see what the ruckus was, as he headed for open range. In the meantime, the uproar in the saloon had quieted down. The fighting cowman was bleeding from a minor scalp wound and his friend the sheep man was solicitously attempting to wipe the blood from his forehead. When the bleeding was stopped and they looked around there wasn’t an unbroken booze bottle left on the bar. So the two men joined arms and wandered off to another saloon! They were good neighbors once again. History can bring a smile to your face.

Stop by the PC Museum and keep on smiling!

Museum hours Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. -5 p.m.