Ushers
Ferry
Wild
West Weekend
2002
By J. Radaj, W.T.R.R
On June 29th and 30th, the Willi Territorial Rough Riders took to the streets of the Ushers Ferry Historical Village. With the help of the Kishwaukee Valley Vigilance Committee, the Wapsi Wranglers and other various gunslingers and riff-raff, for two scorching days crowds were thrilled by gunfights, saloon brawls and various historical events that made the West so wild.
The first series of the day included a Hollywood vs. Reality presentation, with a light-hearted saloon disturbance and a well-known scene from the John Wayne film Rio Bravo. The reality portion then began with the Newton Kansas Massacre, followed by a famous gunfight of Wild Bill Hickock.
In addition to such classics as the O.K Corral, this year scenarios were centered on lawmen that walked both sides of the law. Such an example was the Henry Brown incident, in which a well-respected sheriff attempted to rob a bank in a nearby county; to pay for his wife's shopping debt. This presentation included a failed bank robbery, followed by an example of lynch-mob justice that included a staged hanging.
Other presentations included exploits of the Dalton Gang, Commodore Perry Owens, John Wesley Hardin and the gunfight between Jim Courtright and Luke Short. The event was then concluded with a small bank robbery, a "kids bounty hunt" followed by the "final showdown" between an outlaw gang and the local Vigilance Committee.
However, following the event on Saturday there was also a period wedding. Congratulations again Don and Amy (AKA: Doc and Kate). The wedding was then followed by a huge and much needed dinner, in which special thanks should really go to Miss Shelly who was forced to brave a kitchen in which the high was estimated between "holy cow" and "really crazy hot". Thanks again Shelly.
But as always the crowd loved it and regardless of the scorching heat, fun and safety made the weekend a definite success.
Great job everyone!
Event review from Washington Post
Newspaper article from Washington Post
The Willi Territorial Rough Riders
