The Medicine Park Marauders rode for three days last week (May 20, 21 & 22). Starting with the Crosby Park 1st grade coming to Medicine Park on Thursday morning (See the previous post). That evening rehearsal for Friday’s and Saturday’s shows included new lines to practice for a never run skit and a new original song.

Friday the Marauders rode into Lawton for three shows at Central Middle School where the theme was Americana Days. (Our appearance was arranged by Dwight Cope.) We started each show with a little history about the Old West in Oklahoma Territory. Little Britches related the exploits of the real Little Britches & Cattle Annie, and Marshal Payne followed the tale with how they were captured by the law. Calamity Lee, spoke about the history of the Wichita Mountains, Medicine Park, and how and why the Marauders were formed.

Odie took center stage to lead the audience in the Medicine Park anthem, “The Possum Song”. The kids were warned they must sing along to the chorus or they would be brought up in front to help lead the others. Lee, Little Britches, the Marshal, Rattlesnake, Dog and Cactus Jack rounded up a few from each class and one teacher to come up front and lead.

It could not be a Marauder Show without a gunfight ending. Calamity Lee brought out a bag of loot, which she claimed was the lunch money from the school. She no sooner got to talkin’ when one of the outlaws grabbed the bag and took off hiding among the kids. The culprit was soon found and the gunfight was on, ending when they ran out of bullets. The outlaw left holding the bag was brought up and the bag returned to Lee, but the Marshal demanded a reward. A volunteer student was picked to draw the reward from the bag which held Wilber, the rubber rattlesnake and led to much screaming.

Medicine Show photos by Larry Morefield
Memory Walk Photos by Michael Fahrion

Saturday was the Southwest OK Alzheimer Memory Walk fund raiser in Medicine Park and we performed the Buffalo Elixir Medicine Show. The Medicine Wagon was setup down by the Old Plantation. The show kicked off with Seth Wright and the outlaw rowdies causin’ trouble. The law told them if they settled down they could stay and watch. Odie did the possum song and the Marshal made the outlaws temporary deputies to watch for non-singers. Calamity Lee, with an outlaw chorus, sang her (Lee Hibbetts) new song, “Seth Wright & the Wrongs”. The premiere of the new skit “The General Store” followed. Little Britches played the proprietor with Cactus Jack as her new employee. Odie, Dog & the Marshal filled in as customers. I’ll leave out the details so’s not to spoil it when you come out to the next Medicine Show.

Calamity pitched the Buffalo Elixir and Elle Mae, Dog & Rattlesnake acted as shills to show the wonders of Buffalo Elixir. The pitch over, Lee brought out the money bag with the show’s take which the outlaws quickly grabbed. “They’re robbing the stage!”, Lee shouted. Which brought in the law for a rousing gunfight. Out of bullets the outlaws surrendered. The law, with the money bag in hand, demanded a reward. A lady was picked from the audience to pull the reward out, starring Wilber the Rattlesnake.

During the final bows the Marshal got a telegram with a warrant for the arrest of Keili McEwen fer walking without a permit. Keili is the Oklahoma Alzheimer’s Association lead in charge of the Memory Walk. The warrant was just a ruse to get her up on the stage where she was presented with flowers and a thank you for pulling off the successful event, doubling last years turnout as her mother-in-law, Vycke McEwen, Southwest OK Memory Walk Chairperson, beamed from the sidelines.

The weather for all three days was hot and very humid. After all the running around in the heavy cowboy outfits the Marauders were certainly “put up wet.”

Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009 Cache, OK celebrated Old West Days with two Medicine Park Marauder Gunfight Shows. Madam Olga, Marshal Payne, Little Britches, Seth, Slim, Rattlesnake, Doc Holyday, Miss Vickye, Pack Mule and Cactus Jack rode into Cache to shoot up the town.

The first show was scheduled for 2:00, but we went on a little ahead of time when the act preceding us ended early. The first show was a gunfight showdown, where Rattlesnake & Marshal Payne face off in the middle of the street. Doc had broken his toe earlier and wrapping the foot in a cowboy bandanna, he played on like real trooper. We quickly adjusted the script and added the line for the Marshal; “Rattlesnake’s such a poor shot the last time he fired at me he hit Doc standin’ way off to the side.”

Of course, the two contestants needing a fair start decided they’s draw and fire on Slim’s count of three. But Slim couldn’t count that far. Little Britches, the only one of the bunch who can count and read, stepped in to start the showdown. But the Marshal, wise to her tricks, did not trust her to not cheat. Slim took on himself to pulled a woman, who said she could count, from the audience to get the shootin’ started. She was position to one side, but the Marshal figured that since neither he or Rattlesnake could count how would they know when she got to three? Especially if she did some of that fancy countin’ like algebra.

After a bit of discussion it was decided that the shotting would commence at the dropping a hat. Rattlesnake & the Marshal would draw and fire when the hat hit the ground. At that point Marshal Payne dropped his hat and fired when it hit the ground. This brought a chorus of protest from the outlaws to whit the Marshal said; “Nobody say what hat.” The rest of the law agreed and Madam Olga git the audience to add their vote. It was clarified that it was to be the hat dropped by the lady from the audience.

The showdown was about to commence when Rattlesnake said; “I can’t be watchin’ her hat over to the side and the Marshal at the same time so’s he don’t cheat again.” The Marshal and the lawmen proclaimed it was the outlaws that were cheaters. It was decided to move the started into the middle, right between the two gunfighters where they could watch her and each other at the same time. It was suggested that if she stood sideways maybe they could shoot around her, and she was ask if she could duck real quick.

With the drop of the hat two six-guns roared and both sides claimed victory. Of course this lead to a big shootout over who had won the showdown. Shots echoed and gun smoke filled the air until everyone’s six-guns only held empty cartridges. The spent shells were tossed on the sidewalk where they were quickly gather by souvenir hunting kids.

The second show was set for 4:00, but this time the preceding act ran longer and we did not get underway until about 4:20. For act two we did the Jail Break. We started off distributing wanted posters for some of the outlaws who were scattered around the audience, and asking for help in rounding them up. Madam Olga was using the microphone on the stage to make sure those in the back could keep track of the plot. Kids jumped in along with a bunch of over enthusiastic teenage girls. Seth, Little Britches and Cactus Jack were quickly brought in. The law was left figuring what to do with since they’d only brought a small portable holding cell big enough for one.

Since Little Britches was too short to be big trouble, and Cactus jack was new to the gang, the law decided to arrest the gang’s leader, Seth. Besides as leader the reward was bigger on him. Seth was no sooner in the holding cell behind the stage then the gang sent a floozy by to distract the lawmen away. The floozy persuaded the law to go off with her to celebrate the capture of Seth and spend the reward money. But law decided they had to leave someone behind to guard the prisoner. Since Doc couldn’t go dancin’ with a floozy with his wounded foot, he was left behind.

As the Floozy lured the lawmen off to the local saloon the rest of Seth’s gang quickly over powered Doc. They tried to spring Seth but the cell door was jammed. Needing more help they rounded up a herd of local kids, attached a rope the cell door and had them pull together. The door was sprung and has the made off a shot was fired which brought the rest of the law back. The Seth Gang made a clean get way in a hail of gunfire as the law ran out of bullets once again.

The third annual Mayor’s Blues Ball in filled Medicine Park on September 5^th & 6^th with large crowds out for good music and fun. The Medicine Park Marauders opened the Shortbranch Saloon again with a “Beer for Bullets” sale to raise funds for their dwindling ammo supply. A large tent was supplied by Budweiser to house the Shortbranch and they even pull a refrigerated wagon up alongside to keep the beer nice and cold.

Things were hoppin’ at the Shortbranch on Saturday when the Seth, along with Little Britches & Rattlesnake, came ridin’ into town. They were lookin’ fer some fun, but the town folks were mighty impartial to their brand of high jinx. After stirrin’ up the citizens a bit they spotted the Shortbranch and headed that-away bragging that their hard work had paid off in Texas and now they were looking to party. As they neared the saloon Marshal Payne, deputies Doc Holyday & Miss Vycke moved in to cut short their rowdy play.

The Law demanded to know what they were doing back in Town. They said they were just back from Texas where they’d been workin’ hard and were just lookin’ to enhance the local economy with some Texas money. Little Britches was totin’ a mighty suspicious looking bank bag which they claim was full of their hard earned money. Knowin’ the Gang’s old tricks the Law told the bar-keep to not sell them any beer less they produced real cash money. Little Britches offered to let the Marshal reach in and check the money, but he was might to leery of bein’ made a fool of again. He took the bag but went and tried to coax one of the onlookers to reach in. After a drawin’ a pass from several, one brave young gal reached in only to find a rattlesnake. She quickly play that hand by tossin’ the snake into the street. With the snake let out of the bag, the Gang skedaddled back down the street with the Law in hot pursuit. Six-guns were playin’ some hot gun smoke blues but the Gang got away as the law ran out of bullets. After the Gang vamoosed the rest of the day was right peaceful with the good folks enjoyin’ some mighty good Blues music.

The next day business was brisk at the Shortbranch when the Seth Gang decided to try stirring things up again. This time Slim came along making four of them varmints causin’ trouble. As the Gang came stampedin’ through town Seth spotted the bank sign (bank is one of the few written words he can savvy) and decided they should make another one of their “withdraws.” Now we don’t have a real bank right in the middle of Town, just one of them ATM machines. Them illiterate outlaws didn’t know about machines and they rode over drew down on it. The bunch was befuddled but the machine’s lack of concern fer the four Colts .45s aimed at it. Seth figured there must be a mighty brave teller inside to just stand there calmly askin’ fer a card. Rattlesnake said he had 52 cards. Seth said deal him in and we’ll just win that loot sos the law cain’t says we stole it. After few hands the Gang was cleaned out and wandered off grumblin’ leaving their Texas “withdraws” sittin’ on the ATM.

Little Britches still had the bank bag and they’d caught another rattler so they decided to try to hold up the Shortbranch. Being Sunday most of the lawmen were off leavin’ only Marshal Payne on duty so they figured they had right good chance of getting away with it. As the neared the saloon the Marshal came out to confront the gang. A local citizen known as Critter stepped in to add his .45 to the Marshal’s play. Little Britches said they were just in fer some fun and they had money in the bag fer buying some drinks. Marshal Payne said he wasn ‘t about to be fool by the same trick twice. Slim came over and tried to convince the Marshal that it was real cash money this time, but the onlooker who checked the contents said otherwise. Bullets were soon flyin’ and with Critters six shooter lendin’ a hand the Gang was soon high tailin’ it out of town.

The Shortbranch Saloon has done used up it’s two day permit and closed down. It was a fun, but tiring weekend and we can refill our ammo supply for confrontin’ the Seth Gang when they ride back into town. The Medicine Park Marauders owe a mighty big debt of thanks to the volunteers who stepped up to help behind the bar over the two days.

On Saturday, Aug, 29, the Seth Gang came ridin’ into town. Seth, Slim, Rattlesnake and Dog started up the main street causin’ trouble, disturbing the shopkeepers, citizen and visitors. The general rowdy ruckus soon brought Marshal Payne, Marshal Odie And newly deputized, Miss Vycke a runnin’.

The lawmen quickly cut the gang’s trail and threw up a blockade on their shenanigans. The Law told them they were supposed to stay out of town. Seth threw in a protest saying they ain’t done nothin’, but the law insisted they knew otherwise. Sharp words flew and six-guns were drawn, with a few Colts tossin’ some lead in the general direction of their adversaries. In order to prevent too much lead flyin’ around town it was agreed that Marshal Payne would go one-on-one with the gangs best gun hand. The outlaws quickly pushed Rattlesnake forward advertising him as the fastest gun in the Wichitas. Rattlesnake walked over to the Marshal and said; “I can out gun you with one ear tied behind my head.” To which Odie offered a rebuttal: “Can I shoot him now.”

It was decided to start this here lead slingin’ on the count of three. Seth told Slim to git over along side the road and do the countin’. The two contestants faced off in the middle of the street awaitin’ the count while a large crowd of gawkers lined both sides. The law protested the fairness of Slim countin’ being he was siding with Rattlesnake. And Miss Vycke said he couldn’t count that fer anyway. So it was decided that in order to get a fair and impartial start to this shindig they’d have to pick someone from out of town. Slim coerced a feller from the audience to come on out and count. But since the shooters couldn’t count and wouldn’t know if he was countin’ right it was decided to have the feller drop his hat and the shootin’ would commence as soon as the hat hit the ground. Odie came over and handed over the loan of his hat.

While the details were bein’ ironed out Marshal Payne dropped his hat, and when it hit the ground he drew and cut loose at Rattlesnake. The outlaws protested, but the Marshal stated: “Ain’t no body clarified which hat.” Which brought an agreement from Miss Vycke and Odie, but was disagreeable to the opsin’ party. It was pointed out that it would be the hat dropped by the starter, and no other hat.

But before things got underway Rattlesnake said; “Rein this dance in a minute. How can I watch the hat over yonder and watch the Marshal over there at the same time sos he don’t cheat again?” To wit the Marshal replied: “Me cheat! You dirty Sidewinder! But he’s got a point. I needs to to able to watch both at the same time too.”

After a bit of figurin’ they decided by placein’ the starter right plum in the middle between Rattlesnake & the Marshal they could both observe the hat droppin’ and each other. With much protest from the hat dropper he was pushed into positioned and told if he stood sideways they might be able to shoot around him. Odie inquired if he was right quick at duckin’.

Now I ain’t certain if hat was dropped intentionally or just kinda slipped out of nervous hands, but when it hit the ground both adversaries drew and fired. Them two Colts .45s both spoke so quick it was hard to tell who’s six-gun barked first. The sound of the twin shots hadn’t quit bouncin’ around town when both sides proclaim victory. With no clear winner the argument soon proceeded to fill the air with lead and gun smoke, and send people divin’ for cover. The shootin’ was soon over as both sides ran out of bullets and the Seth gang made a clean get away.

]]> http://medicineparkmarauders.com/2009/08/31/the-showdown/feed/ 0 http://medicineparkmarauders.com/2009/05/24/the-short-brach-saloon/ http://medicineparkmarauders.com/2009/05/24/the-short-brach-saloon/#comments Sun, 24 May 2009 18:31:35 +0000 http://medicineparkmarauders.com/?p=120 By Michael Fahrion,  photos by Kim Fahrion & Lulabelles

Early Saturday the Medicine Park Marauders rode into town. A strange partnership between the lawmen and the outlaw gang brought an uneasy piece to the streets. Both sides were heavily armed but not a six-gun barked all day. It seems they had a mutual investment in a new enterprise: The Short Branch Saloon, a temporary establishment quickly set up in a tent in Town Center. Law and outlaw worked side by side like old pards a peddlin’ beer. They were also running a side line of fresh minted t-shirts.

Marshal Payne, Calamity Lee, Doc Holyday and Miss Vycke along with help from the beer delivery crew and the fire department, quickly pitched camp along side Medicine Creek and hung out the Short Branch shingle. They picked a good day as a large herd of folks had gathered in town for the Red Dirt Ball. Doc Holyday and Miss Vycke volunteered to take on the first shift tendin’ bar. Little Britches and Marshal Payne trailed in and took over around 2:00.

Twern’t long before the afternoon heat caused a stampede and beer was  a flying out faster then Rattlesnakes could draw his gun. Speakin’ of Rattlesnake he came ridin’ up just in time to lend a hand with the beer slingin’. Seth and Slim were spotted handing around. Both were disguised to blend in the crowd. Guess they didn’t trust the truce with such a high price on the wanted poster, but the law honored the agreement and let ‘em go.

It was gettin’ near 5:00 when Calamity Lee came back from tendin’ chores on her ranch to pitch in with driving that herd of beers to market. Shortly after Calamity rode in Marshal Payne & Little Britches headed out looking for the chuck wagon.

A late evening thunderstorm rolled in causing an early closing of the Short Branch. But the two feuding factions had only agreed to a one day truce anyway. With the tent stowed away for another day the Marauders rode off with good days take. Which will most likely end up with another gunfight between the lawmen & outlaws over the dividing of the loot.

The first part of the parade the giant yellow ducky seemed to grab all the attention is least from younger set. Making Miss Vycke to wonder out loud why she had even bothered gussying up this morning. Some of the audience demanded we fire our guns and we obliged. The fortuneteller promised to read the fortune of any one coming to the Park. And the Marauder’s took turns letting the audience know about the Red Dirt Ball next weekend. Miss Vycke (the softer side of Marauder’s) with the help of Rattlesnake and Marshal Payne handed out carnations to ladies that lined the parade route. Later as we passed by the troops that had come to rest near the end of the parade route, all eyes turned toward Miss Goodbody, perched atop the Medicine Wagon wielding a double barrel shot gun. She let loose with Medicine Park Marauder’s “Shoot Out, Shout Out” to all those serving to protect and defend the US.

We crossed trails with Nancy Mace of the 107 Broadcasting Ranch. She was honoring her Grandma. And who’d we’d meet up with none other than Sheriff Kenny Stradley treatin” his beautiful Ma and his pretty bride to good eatin’s at the Old Plantation. His Ma said she was blessed and proud of her son and she keeps him in her prayers.

It was fun and not even the damp drizzlin’ rain seem to deter the crowds coming out to dine. We gave out ‘most 100 cards, bringing the Moms a little smile and a nice remembrance of Medicine Park.

It had been a peaceful spell in town, nothing stirring since last fall. Everyone was hopin’ that the Seth Wright Gang had been run off for good. Town folk and local law had gotten a bit complacent so no one took note of the the gang ridin’ into town. They’d holed up someplace over the winter and hit the trail into Medicine Park lookin’ to increase their depleted stores of loot.

Arrivin’ just ahead of the noon stage they were greeted by pair of floozies. As the stage rounded the corner Rattlesnake stepped out and let go with a shotgun causin’ the driver to pull up short. The blast startled everyone back to realizing the Seth Gang was still raisin’ Cain. Rattlesnake was told keep an eye on driver so he couldn’t escape with the stage. Passengers were forced to disembarked and line up along the stagecoach. Rattlesnake herded the driver out behind the stage, but as always his itchy trigger finger caused his six-gun to bark. As Rattlesnake stepped out from behind the stage Slim ask what happened. To which Rattlesnake replied; “Shot him.” “Well,” Slim said, “I guess they don’t have any plans now.”

Little Britches noted the passengers looked like a good bunch for “nice donation”, all lined up fer a purse pluckin’. Slim had a bag for the loot, but as he went to use it it turned out a rattlesnake was hiding in it. Slim discarded the rattler at a passenger just to scare ‘em.

Madam Olga Seesall, local gypsy, rushed in and grabbed up the snake like the missing card needed for fillin’ an inside straight. Turns out it was Wilber, her pet. With Wilber wrapped securely around her neck she proceeded to read the fortunes of the passengers. Slim ask to have his fortune read too. His was more of a misfortune then fortune. The Gypsy lighten Slim’s load of valuables with one hand while dealing out his fortune with the other. She did rightly predict there was trouble just around the corner for the Seth Gang, and it was a comin’ RIGHT NOW! No sooner had she uttered those words then the law arrived.

Marshal Payne dealt the law in with a round from his Colts .45. He figured they had the Gang beat; “Caught ‘em red handed robbin’ the stage.” But Little Britches weren’t ready to fold her hand and replied; “There weren’t no Lawman big enough to arrest her. And if there was she and the gang could just get one of those government bail-outs.” Which seem to only go the crooks.

While the law argued over whether or not they’d still get the reward if they just shot ‘em, Slim raised the stakes by grabbing a hostage. Little Britches said; “How come Slim always gets a hostage. I’m gonna get me one too.” With the outlaws holdin’ a pair of hostages the situation degenerated into a standoff.

Odie wanted to shoot them all and sort it out later; the Marshal didn’t want to waste bullets on hostages ’cause there was no reward on them. As the law disputed the finer points of remaining somewhat legal, Olga ask the crowd to vote on whether or not it was okay to shoot the hostages. She ask them to text message from a cellphone (whatever that was) which made us a wonder what she was drinking to come up with that idea. Turned out it was her fortune telling skills seeing to far into the future. So she ask for a show of hands.

The vote count was in dispute like everything else. The Marshal pulled out the warrant to see if there were anything about not shootin’ hostages. It just said; “SHOOT ‘EM.” There were some fine print at the bottom, but nothing about hostages. It did say the law could arrest any known member of the Seth Gang, and if they tried to resist shoot ‘em. There was a $200 reward on any any member, and an Oklahoma special this month only of any two members of your choice for $500.

With no restraints in the warrant, Odie called with; “Shoot ‘em.” Rattlesnake upped the ante by askin’; “What if them hostages are some big shot like the governor, or kin to him?” That law back off a bit with this idea, thinking they might end up with a dead or alive reward on them. But they figured they could cover the bet by blaming the killin’ on the Seth Gang and the reward would be bigger.

With their eye on Slim and Little Britches holding the two hostages, the law didn’t notice the rest of the gang steppin’ back from the game. They figured it was time to fold ‘em and haul freight out a town. Seth cut loose with his six-shooter at the law distracting them while Slim and Little Britches discarded the hostages passin’ them to the enchanting Miss Goodbody. The outlaws skedaddled with the law in hot pursuit. Colts .45s filled the air with gun smoke. Doc Holyday was minorly grazed about the time both sides ran out of bullets. Town budgets bein’ in sorrowful straits allocated jist six bullets per peace officer. So once again the Seth Gang got away to ride and terrorize Medicine Park another day.

Click for more pictures (Opens in a new window)

by Michael & Muriel Fahrion

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and in the old bunkhouse
Not a creature was stirring, ‘cept maybe a field mouse;

The tall boots were set by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

Marauders in bedrolls were all snuggled down,
With visions of six-guns shootin’ all over town;
I had just a hung’ my hat up for the rest of the night
Geared up to bed down ‘n blow out the light,
When out in the corral there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Grabbin’ my six-gun and cockin’ the hammer,
I slipped to the window in the shiftiest manner.
The moon on the blue stem of the prairie below
Gave the barbed wire and fence posts a strange, spooky glow,
When, what did my keen eyes catch in the moon beam,

But a pint sized wagon, pulled by an eight mule team,
With a little old skinner, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
Faster then jackrabbits his mules they came,
And he whistled, and hollered, and called them by name;
Now Cactus! now, Chico, Loco and Bingo!
On, Stardust! on Smokey! on, Joker  and Gringo!
To the top of the fence! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
As tumble weeds before the wild tornado fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the ranch top the mules they flew,
With the wagon of loot, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The clopping and pawing of each nimble hoof.
As I holstered my gun, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was decked out in homespun, from head to foot,
And his outfit was tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of loot he had flung on his back,
Why he looked like a peddler opening his pack.
His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks all sun burnt, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little smirk was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
His jingling spurs were both shiny and bright,
And glittered and sparkled by my lanterns  warm light;
He had a broad face and a little pot belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
I squinted and stared at that dusty old sprite,
I wondered out loud if it could be Seth Wright.
No gun belt encircled his middle spread,
Which went to convince me I had nothin’ to dread;
T’wernt a jawin’ a bit, but went straight to his work,
And filled all them boots; and then turned with a jerk,
Puttin’ his trigger finger along side his nose,
He gave me a nod and up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his wagon, to his team gave a whistle,
Off they skedaddled like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him hollar, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”