1908
Today
In
1908, the original rough barroom was replaced with one of the
most elegant saloons in Wyoming. An imposing back bar
with stained glass accents was installed, along with an
intricately embossed tin ceiling, and impressive period
decorations everywhere. All of this has been
preserved and restored, for you to admire today as you enjoy a
soda pop ... or something stronger.
When you sidle up to the 25-foot bar, you will be standing in the
exact spot where cowboys, sheriffs, desperados and cattle barons
gathered. You may almost hear them arguing and making deals.
In your imagination, you might even hear shots ring out - and if you
look around you and up at the ceiling, you can still count 23
original bullet holes!
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Foster said, 'Yes, I know that.'
"'Well,' Canton said, 'Do you know I came up here
once to kill you?'
"And Foster said, 'Yes, I know that.
"'You
poisoned my dog but you never got to me.'
"Canton said, 'No, I didn't then, but I'm going
to kill you now!'
"And he reached for his gun.
"Well, with a man like Canton that didn't just
mean perhaps.
"So Foster drew his gun, and being younger and
quicker he got his six shooter out first.
"But instead of shooting Canton, he hit him over the
head with the gun — hit
him so hard his gun flew right out of his hand.
"Now, instead
of finishing drawing his own gun, Canton decided to
kill Foster with Foster's own gun.
"But, when Canton stooped down
to pick up the gun, Foster grabbed Canton and pushed him away.
"Then Foster picked up his gun and beat Canton until he
imagined he had beaten him to death.
"Most everybody wanted Canton dead
around Buffalo in those days.
"But Canton didn't die, although they
said it took about 60 stitches
to patch up his old head."
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Frank Canton
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Frank Canton was sheriff of Johnson
County between 1882 and 1886, and during those years he was
popular with most people. He was admired for his coolness
in dangerous situations, and respected for the even-handed way
in which he enforced the law.
But after he retired from the sheriff's office, Canton went to
work as a stock detective for the big cattlemen of the Wyoming
Stock Grower's Association (WSGA) — a job that made him
unpopular with many of the small ranchers who had once been his
friends.
In 1892, when the WSGA sent 52 heavily-armed men into Johnson
County with a list of 70 local men to kill, Canton was one of
the commanders of the invading force. And from then on, he
was widely hated in Johnson County.
For some years after that, Canton stayed away from Johnson
County. When he did finally return, he quickly saw that it
would not be "good for his health" to remain. So he left Wyoming
and moved to Oklahoma, where he again became a lawman.
In Oklahoma, Canton had amazing luck. He was asked to act
as the bodyguard of a man who was running for the governor's
office — and when the man was elected, he appointed Canton as
Adjutant General of the Oklahoma National Guard with the rank of
Brigadier General. Once again, Frank Canton found himself
admired and respected.
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