The Pole Creek Crossing

     It was one of the hottest July’s and August’s on record up to this date in Sidney, Nebraska, in this year of 1876. Hot, dry, dirty, with tempers to match as well. On this particular evening of August 11th, 1876, a couple of soldiers from the Fort had more than their fun and fill in Joe Lane’s Centennial Dance Hall, with one of the popular dance hall queen’s.

     This nymph-da-prave was known to have had a very close relations with one Sergeant Herman Gunther, of the 2nd Cavalry. Pvt. Benjamin and Pvt. Lock of Co. “C” of the 23rd Infantry, did not like Sgt. Gunther, but then not too many people did. It had been an all nighter, and at about 7 am on this morning of August 12th, Pvt. Benjamin had enough liquid courage in him, and had gotten his revolver, as he and Pvt. Lock were going to shoot Sgt. Gunther. But in the end, Pvt. Benjamin did not have the pluck to do the job, so he handed the revolver over to his buddy Pvt. Lock, and told him to give it to the old “S.O.B.”

     Pvt. Lock being quite drunk, was attempting to steady himself, and was taking dead aim on Sgt. Gunther, as well of an aim that a man full of the spirits could take. Gunther, being able to hold his liquor better than either one of these two, had a shotgun behind him, and very swiftly made his move. In one smooth motion, he grabbed the gun and let Pvt. Lock have the contents of one of the barrels in the mouth, making a very ugly wound, and one which will take a very long time in order to heal. Of course, the cause of this eruption between these soldiers was this “soiled dove” at the dance hall of Joe Lane’s.

     One week later Dennis Carrigan, Cheyenne County Judge, on the complaint of “Con” McCarty, Cheyenne County Sheriff, issued warrants for the arrest of Herman Gunther for the attempted killing of Pvt. Lock with a shotgun. McCarty himself went to the military post of Fort Sidney, and presented the arrest warrant, and attempted to actually arrest Sgt. Gunther on this government property. What was the Sheriff thinking?

     Capt. Oliver W. Pollock, Sgt. Gunther’s commanding officer, was not going to allow some tin star civilian Sheriff, to come onto this military grounds, and drag off one of his men.  This was a military matter, and would be handled by the military! No one had asked the Sheriff to get involved!

     So who was this Sheriff? What ever gave him the idea that all he had to do was just waltz onto this military post, and haul off one of the soldiers at any time that he desired to do so?

     Capt. Pollock informed the Sheriff to “get the hell off of this military installation,” go on back to his town, and do his civilian job there. He would handle this as it was under his watch. Sheriff McCarty allowed the Captain to see the warrants, and did have Gunther in his possession, and under arrest at this time.

     Capt. Pollock informed the Sheriff that he was to release the prisoner and immediately leave. Sheriff McCarty refused the order of the Captain, and allowed him to understand in no uncertain terms, that he was the Sheriff in this county, and everyone, including the military, was under his legal authority.

     Captain Pollock did not let McCarty finish his statement, but took out his pistol, and proceeded to pistol whip the Sheriff to the fullest extent, and did in the eyes of the law, effect an “armed rescue” of his soldier, Sgt. Gunther, and Sheriff McCarty’s prisoner. Captain Pollock then placed the Sheriff, not to gently on his horse, and whipped the horse in order to have him leave the Fort, and the Sheriff’s horse headed for town.