Craig Daily Press

Craig — Compiled and written by Chuck Mack

special to the daily press

Editor’s note: Below is part 2 of a two-part feature. The article was taken from a July 1922 edition of the Craig Empire.

Even as late as the 1880s, there now and then were Indian uprisings.

The Meeker massacre had occurred late in 1879, and a mess of trouble was stirred after that date in the Uinta basin and threatened to spread to a greater territory. The Negro troops kept on hand in that section to quell such disturbances seemed to receive but little respect from the red men, who termed them Buffalo soldiers.

The ranchers were not so slow and soon had about 300 civilians organized and headed for the scene of trouble.

This had a good moral effect on the turbulent tribes, who on learning of the approach of the riders soon left the country, taking their war paint with them. During that time that he was away from home during this trouble, Mr. Saunders left his family at the Ranney ranch, which was near Craig, as at that time they were living out on Big Bottom.

What is the present town site of Craig once was offered for sale for $1,000, but the price was considered too high as it was nothing but a sagebrush flat with very little grass on it.

In relating some of his earlier experiences, Mr. Saunders states that he came to Denver in 1870 as a boy, but not being satisfied there, he left on foot with a pack on his back for Pueblo.

On this trip, he followed along with a Mexican ox train. Not being able to carry many rations, he attempted to buy some food off the Mexicans, but they were so unfriendly that he could get nothing at first. After a little while, they thawed some and sold him part of their bread which was made by dipping lumps of dough into hot tallow. They also let him ride back of the oxen on the tongue of the wagon.

On arriving Pueblo he was out of money, out of food and worn out. He slept in a vacant lot near the road and the next morning was picked up by a ranchman who sent him on the range as a cowpuncher. Being only a boy he was not paid full wages, but received $100 a month. A man’s wages at that time were $125 to $150, but he had to be somewhat of an Indian fighter to receive top pay.

The Saunders family left Craig in 1900 for Mesa Coun­ty, which is their present home.