Near Ten Sleep in Washakie County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
Spring Creek Raid
April 2nd, 1909
In late March, 1909, Joe Allemand, a French sheepman, and Joe Emge, a cattleman turned sheepman, left Worland headed for Spring Creek with 5000 head of sheep. They were accompanied by Allemand's nephew, Jules Lazier, and two sheepherders, Bounce Helmer and Pete Cafferal. Talk spread like wildfire across the western slope of the Big Horn Mountains as the deadline was crossed and plans were soon made to head off this intrusion.
On the moonlit night of April 2, 1909, seven masked riders approached the sheep camp's two wagons where the herders slept. Gunfire lit the night as rifles blazed. Emge and Lazier were killed in their wagon and both wagons were set afire. Allemand emerged from the flames, but was quickly shot down.
The monument on this side of the road is situated at the site of the south wagon. The monument on the north side of Spring Creek is near the location of the wagon where the sheepmen were killed. Five of the perpetrators were convicted and sent to prison. Public reaction against this brutal and tragic act left no doubt that violence on Wyoming's open range would no longer be tolerated.
Erected by Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is April 2, 1909.
Location. 43° 57.327′ N, 107° 23.292′ W. Marker is near Ten Sleep, Wyoming, in Washakie County. Marker is on State Highway 434 at milepost 6, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ten Sleep WY 82442, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 17 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Site of South Wagon (within shouting distance of this marker); Ten Sleep Memorial (approx. 6.1 miles away); Bighorn National Forest (approx. 9.8 miles away); Leigh Creek Monument (approx. 10.4 miles away); Tensleep Canyon (approx. 10.4 miles away); Fire Lookouts (approx. 16.4 miles away).
Also see . . . The Spring Creek Raid: The Last Murderous Sheep Raid in the Big Horn Basin - WyoHistory. On April 2, 1909, seven cowmen attacked a sheep camp near Spring Creek, just south of Ten Sleep, Wyo., in the southern Big Horn Basin. The raiders killed three men—roasting two in their burning sheep wagon and shooting the third—kidnapped two others, killed sheep dogs and dozens of sheep and destroyed thousands of dollars of personal property. It was the deadliest sheep raid in Wyoming history. (Submitted on September 16, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 652 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 16, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.