Birth of a Texas Ghost Town: Thurber, 1886–1933

Appendix

Appendix Fort Worth, Texas, July 5th, 1890 General W. H. King Austin, Texas Dear General As I have always called upon Gov. Ross and yourself in my troubles at these mines as your Rangers has been my only Protection as against the unlawfull element has prevailed against our enterprise in the county with the Presence of your Rangers. We have saved bloodshed, and Peace and Prosperity has reigned, and we have built up a flourishing village of some fifteen hundred souls. And our Payroll now amounts to over $20,000 Dollars Per Month, but a new trouble is now threatening us the Knight of Labor element finding that they were defeated as an organization are now secretly trying to get up a race war. We have about 800 negroes in camp men, women and children and the rest are white, and they have all been very Peaceable and orderly untill very lately.—when this new movement has been inaugurated, and I cannot tell what moment the flame may burst forth. I ask you again for a little assistance if you can consistantly give it. Please send me Capt. McMurray and a few men. He as I before said has saved plenty of blood shed and his Presence here with a squad of men in my opinion will do it again. I am not an alarmist but I do not think there is any time to lose. There is a lot of bad men hanging around here with there arms on their saddles. Some of them are well-known Horse thieves, and exconvicts, Appendix 150 who are friends of the old strikers, who are ready to commit any crime at a moments notice. Platt arrested one of them yesterday for drawing a pistol on a negro and he gave bail. He has just been arrested today again for the like offense. Would you also Please send John L. Sullivan a Permit to carry arms. He is one of the Captains old men now in the employ of this company in trying to preserve the Peace but not having the right to carry side arms. He is in great danger. Please wire me at Coal Mines Junction, Tex my expense your conclusion as I shall await it anxiously. Thanking you and Gov. Ross for all past Courtesys I am sincerely yours, (Signed) R. D. Hunter Thurber, Texas, 8/30/03. Honorable S. W. T. Lanham, Governor Austin, Texas. Dear Sir:— The employees of the Texas & Pacific Coal Company are not organized and a large majority of them (Perhaps ninety-eight per cent.) do not want the union to get a foothold here. For years past, we have quietly operated here, without a strike or misunderstanding , or trouble of any kind. The United Mine Workers of America, whose local headquarters are at Mineral City, a small mining town near Strawn, have for some time past been endeavoring to create discontent amongst our people They are now advertising a three-days picnic for September 7th, 8th & 9th, for the avowed purpose of organizing the Thurber Mines. They may then succeed in creating such disturbance as may lead to serious consequences. I am writing to ask Your Excellency to send us three or four of your Ranger Boys, to be here from September fifth to tenth. Appendix 151 This will have a most quieting effect on the agitators and the mere presence of the Rangers will be worth a great deal to us. If you can send them, they need not bring their horses as we can furnish them mounts and as they will be the company’s guests, the State need not be put to any expense. Kindly advise at your earliest convenience if we may expect them. Yours very respectfully, (Signed) W. K. Gordon General Manager Poteau, Oklahoma Aug. 14, 1944 Dear Miss Gentry: Attached is installment of my version of Labor Difficulties to appear in your history of Thurber. With the coming of Mr. Gordon into the General Managership of the company, notwithstanding his very liberal management , he, like the hostile Colonel, had that nightmare every present, man-shortage, to disturb his slumbers right up to the very last. My next contribution will concern the causes for this condition. Did you receive the two packages of pictures? Some of them will fit nicely into your sports and social chapters. Judging from my experience in composing and typing these poorly written contributions...