Darren J McMannis

Deadly Encounters Darren J McMannis

Eyewitness newspaper accounts recall scenes that took place when Harvey County was little but unbroken prairie. It was accounted nothing strange in the halcyon days of the festive cowboy that a man should die without being put to the trouble of removing his boots before doing so. That useless point of etiquette was overlooked in numerous cases during the early years of Harvey County's existence. In the early days Harvey County passed through scenes of riot and of bloodshed such as no other frontier town was compelled to undergo. While it generally takes two to make a quarrel, in those days there was but one left to put on the finishing touches. These were put on by means of the unerring revolver in the hand of a cowboy. Before 1900 nearly every man in the area carried a revolver and knew well how to use it, often out of necessity more than desire. During this period when it was said "going to Newton is all the rage just now," you will read 100 fascinating tales of those who were not fortunate enough to leave town alive.