Buffalo Bulletin, Heritage 2019 – 5

area earning a salary of $16 annually, according to a story published

in the Buffalo Bulletin.
In 1881 Buell brought on a partner who took co-ownership of
the Occidental, Alvin J. McCray. Three years later in 1884 the
Occidental would finally purchase the land it sat upon from the
widow of Fort McKinney’s commandant, Major Verling K. Hart. It
was also in the year 1884 that the south side annex, a two story rect-
angular building, was constructed to enhance business.
According to Bollinger’s book, the Occidental’s first two cooks
both met violent ends. The first cook, a gentleman named Thomas
Jefferson, was involved in a gunfight with a cowboy named Pat
Ragan. During the initial fight, Jefferson shot and wounded Ragan.
When the two met up again by chance at the Smith Ranch on Crazy
Woman Creek, it was Ragan who would come out on top. After
11 shots had been fired, Jefferson had five bullets in his body and
Ragan was hit once. According to Bollinger, the bullet hit Ragan
in the rib on the right side of his body, and the bullet glanced off
the bone. Ragan recovered from the skirmish, while Jefferson suc-
cumbed to his wounds.
Another cook, a German emigrant Jacob “Dutch” Schmerer, was
beaten to death in 1885 by John Owens (a.k.a. Bill Booth).
Owens was hired by Schmerer to supply the Occidental with ven-
ison. When Owens failed to complete the task, the two argued and
Owens killed Schmerer, then fled the area. Later, Owens was appre-
hended in Montana and extradited back to Buffalo to stand trial for
the murder.
Owens was convicted and hanged behind the Johnson County
courthouse on March 5, 1886. It was Johnson County’s first and only
hanging.
Other incidents of violence took place at the Occidental, mainly
in the saloon. The bar in the Occidental saloon was made by the
Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company based in Chicago, a billiards
supply company that also made elaborate bars and stained glass. The
original bar is still in use today.
During the first years of the saloon, no incidents were reported.
But the Dec. 10, 1887 edition of the “Big Horn Sentinel” reports
Ben Kidwell was stabbed by a man named Lane during an argument.
Admitting his part in the argument, Kidwell asked the authorities
not to arrest Lane, but according to the article Lane was arrested and
held on $200 bond.
It is unknown how many shoot-outs occurred within the
Occidental saloon. But according to director of the Museum of the
Occidental Hotel, Jennifer Johnson, approximately 24 bullet holes
have been found during renovations over the years.
One such famous shoot-out occurred between two major Buffalo
frontier figures, William Galispie “Red” Angus and Andrew
“Arapaho” Brown. Photo courtesy of the Johnson County Library
In his book, Bollinger tells how Angus was involved in the saloon In 1884, a two-story annex was added to the south to enhance
and prostitution businesses, benefitting from the soldiers in the near business and provide more rooms for weary travelers and cow-
by Fort McKinney. But Angus was also sheriff of Johnson County boys. Also in 1884, the Buell family purchased the land that the
for two terms (1889-1893). Occidental sits on from Buffalo’s first landlady, Juliet Watson Hart.
Bollinger’s book describes Brown as a large man, standing over
6 feet tall and weighing 275 pounds. Brown served in the West
Virginia volunteers during the Civil War and came to Wyoming at
its conclusion. He is rumored to have lived with the Arapaho Indians
as a trader and learned their language. During the Johnson County
Cattle War, Bollinger said it was Brown who took charge of the
posse to confront and ultimately barricade the Invaders at the TA
Ranch south of Buffalo.
An article in the Nov. 14, 1893, Buffalo Bulletin reported the
altercation was over an old account. At about 8:30 p.m. Brown
came to the Occidental and called Angus out into the street. Angus
armed himself with a 32-caliber pistol and went to confront Brown.
Witnesses said the incident was finished quickly. Angus fired one
round into Brown and was “caught hold” of by two Buffalo residents
just as Angus let off a second shot, causing it to fire wide.
Brown was treated for his injury. The doctor removed a piece of
wool clothing from the wound but was unable to find the ball. Angus
was arrested, tried and ultimately convicted on reduced charges of
aggravated assault and battery. According to Bollinger, Angus was
continued on page 26