The Legend of Mount Lookout
Just south of town is the red sandstone bluff first known as Manning's Peak following the killing of a cowboy by that name in a gunfight in town in 1872. Manning's brothers refused to bury him in Kansas and mistakenly believed that they were across the state line when they buried the departed cowpoke. Discovering their error, they returned from Texas, exhumed the body and returned home. The depression of the open grave is still visible.
The Santa Fe Railway built a spur line and cattle pens on the hill's eastern slope when Kansas closed its settled lands to Texas cattle and their dangerous "fever" disease. By 1885 the bluff became known as Mount Lookout after local saloon girls kept vigil at the highest point to watch for approaching Texas cattle herds. It was important to be ready for the customers of Caldwell's well - known vices and a few moments notice allowed the businessmen to better display their wares, be they whiskey, dice or feminine charm.
In the years since, locals and travelers alike have reported on moonlit nights seeing a mysterious woman in white standing motionless atop the hill, her dress waving in the breeze. Apparently looking southward, she seems to again be awaiting the dust cloud of the longhorn cattle, a sure sign
of profitable and lively days to come.
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Gunfire Kills Lawman
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Though an incorporated city for only 3 years, Caldwell needed their 9th marshal. Unfortunately for the City and the new marshal, a 10th would soon follow. Appointed in March, 1882, George S. Brown, 28, lived to enforce the law only until the hot weather set in.
On June 22, 1882, Marshal Brown was killed by Texas cowboys Steve and Jess Green in the Red Light Saloon as Brown and a deputy answered a disturbance call. With the help of the saloon employees the Green brothers escaped into Indian Territory, only to be caught in a gunfight with Texas lawmen in October. Steve Green and a deputy sheriff were killed and Jess Green was captured, riddled with 13 gunshot wounds. The Kansas governor gladly paid the Texas posse the $1000 in Kansas reward money.
Following an obviously uncomfortable wagon ride from Wise County, Texas, Jess Green died on November 5th in the county jail in Wellington, just prior to his murder trial. As a sign of its respect, Main Street closed during the marshal's funeral, an event unheard of during the cowtown period. The marshal's grave is located in the city cemetery, Section 3, Lot 108.
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