Rock County, Nebraska; Extraction from Bassett Herald USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial researchers, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for presentation in any form by any other organization or individual. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. *************** Extracted by Bev Hopkins, Yellowhawk_51@webtv.net BASSETT HERALD C.P. Wiltse Publisher February 22, 1889 The Newport Advocate has its rooster still up crowing for the County Seat at Newport and denouncing Bassett for fraud and trickery and claims they will see some of her citizens in the pen before many more moons. We don"t know anything about it in particular, but from hearsay we are of the opinion that one town is as deep in the mud as the other is in the mire. BUSINESS ADS Rock County Meat Market Rock Bottom Prices S.H. Likens, Proprietor Bassett Nebr. Flour, Feed and Seed Grainfor for sale. Fresh and salt meat always on hand. BASSETT HOTEL H. Young, Proprietor Bassett, Neb. The Pioneer Hotel Oldest & Best Has recently been fitted up in first class style. Satisfaction guaranteed. B.L. LOOMIS WILSON NOURSE Loomis & Nourse Livery and Feed Stable Bassett ------ Nebr. VALLEY HOUSE Wm. Johnson, Prop. Board $4.00 per Week $1.00 per Day Meals served at all hours. NEWS ALERT A panther or some other wild animal is doing Kirkwood now and when the dogs bark everybody grabs a gun. June 6, 1889 It is now learned beyond all question that George Babcock was taken from the residence of T.V. Smith at 3 o'clock Thursday morning. From Smith's residence he was taken to Billy Lyon's a distance of six miles and was held over Thursday for additional evidence. Thursday evening he was started by the vigilantes toward the banks of the Keya Paha with hands and feet tied, where he was given to understand he was to swing as a penalty for his known connection with cattle theirves. The escort consisted of six vigilantes and a guide, Babcock, being mounted on a horse. The guide missed the road to the bank of the river and a temporary halt was made in which a wrangle occured between the guilde and the rest of the party as to the proper course. During the excitement Babcock put spurs to his horse and succeded in making his escape. The vigilantes supposed that his horse had simply stumbled and before they fully realized what had occured Babcock had disappeared in the darkness. Pursuit was futile. But a delegation are looking for him this morning. He will swing without even a shadow of a trial if captured...........Omaha Herald BABCOCK's STORY George Babcock reports that he was asked to withdraw a suit that he had begun against some members of the vigilantes and was promised by them he could return to Keay Paha and live if he should do so. He accordingly made a trip to Keya Paha county and after withdrawing the suit was followed out of town by four men and taken from the house of V.T. Smith by the Knights of the Noose, who threw a lighted fireball into the house to light it up and ordered him to surrender which he finally concluded to do on account of there being children in the house. He was placed astride a horse and tied to the saddle and his wrists tied together but he managed to reach with his fingers and untie his hands and unbuckling the halter of his horse and leaving it in the hands of his captors he struck his hands simultaneously down the side of his horse which wheeled and started off like a shot. He threw himself down on the side of the horse which being struck by a bullet from the rifles of the vigilantes fell into a ravine. He then made a foot race toward Rock County where he arrived the next day leading an innocent looking cow. Babcock says that he has taken the third degree of initiation and if he lives through the fourth degree he will become a full fledged vigilante! If the vigilantes want Geo. Babcock all they need to do is to offer that cow's calf for about $1.50 and he said he will go over and can be taken in again....Bassett Herald. July 4, 1889 IT'S INDEPENDENCE DAY 100 guns at sunrise Grand Parade at 9 AM headed by the Bassett Silver Cornet Band 10 AM Speaking Afternoon, horse-racing, foot-racing, bseball and dancing Large Premiums offered for the racing Bowery dance in afternoon and evening Baseball game at 4 o'clock between Springview and Rock Creek clubs Fireworks in the eveing. August 29, 1889 AD - a fine display of coffins and undertaking goods for sale by C.J. Yearsley. Prompt attention given to all calls. July 11, 1889 THIEVES The team belonging to A.W. Sampson was stolen from his farm early on the morning of the 9th and taken through the town of Bassett to the Musfelt residence, hitched onto a buggy and the boys Runt Musfelt and Zane Waters got into the buggy and headed for the sandhills to the south, in the meantime retributive justice was at work and the old gentleman whom the theives thought was unable to follow was on their trail before sunrise and sent out postal cards throughout Nebraska and parts of Dakota and Wyoming. The parties set out from Bassett and found the boys in charge of Sherriff Harris who found them wandering in the sandhills (End of File)