Saga of the Sanpitch Volume 13, 1981 - Sanpete County

We started out on our 'dream ranch' with cattle. Soon we had increased our acreage to over 1,000
acres of owned land and two sections of leased state-owned land. In our land buying was the Whipple ranch
which was located about four miles east of Hoop's Meadow but on the Wyoming side of the state line. Albert
Whipple, the sole male heir to the ranch upon the death of his father, was killed in the cattlemen-sheepmen
Shootout.
After about four years, two of the ranchers changed to sheep. The next year we stocked our layout
with sheep. Then, leaving only twenty head of cattle at the ranch, we trailed the others to Sanpete, via Vernal,
Duchesne, Colton, Schofield, Oak Creek, and Fairview.
Our dream ranches now proved to be a real nightmare, because none of the owners wanted to live on
them. For this reason we were forced to employ a foreman who brought his family with him to the ranch, and
naturally he wanted to be at the ranch headquarters at least once each day.
One day this foreman (that's what those guys that operate the other fellow's ranches are called), wrote
me that he had employed a real good sheepherder, in his early thirties, clean-shaven, alert, friendly,
intelligent, and with many abilities. Only this sheepherder was deaf.
I thought to myself, a deaf sheepherder in that cattle country which is loaded with both two and fourlegged
coyotes, just doesn't make sense, nor would he be a profit-making possibility. I must go to the ranch at
once. The next afternoon at Lone Tree I told the foreman I was going up to the sheep and would be back to
talk to him in the morning.
I found the new herder at his camp and introduced myself. His answer was, "Oh, you are one of the big
moguls. Just call me Dave."
To this I replied, and at the same time turned partly away to look at the sheep, "No, let's say I am an
interested owner who can still herd sheep."
"Mr. Olsen, you will have to look at me so I can see what you are saying." It was then I discovered that
Dave could read lips if there was sufficient light. My suspicions as to Dave's abilities were beginning to
disappear, but what about the coyotes out there in the dark?
Dave seemed to be following my thinking, for he asked, "Why don't you stay in camp tonight?"
I informed him that this was my intention and when finally we were in bed, Dave said, "We'll leave the
lamp burning so I can see you talk. Remember to turn toward me ..." The day had been rather long and I was
tired. Soon I dozed off to sleep and Dave put out the light.
Toward morning it happened. The dog let out a bark and then came the coyote howl. Almost before I
could get myself awake, Dave was out of bed. He grabbed his loaded gun, stepped to the door, and fired two
shots in the direction from which the howl sounded. Then all was quiet.
Dave lighted the lamp and I asked him how he could hear the coyote. He smiled as he answered, "I
heard both the dog and the coyote by vibration."
Now, if I hadn't gone to Lone Tree, a distance of 600 miles, from and to Ephraim, I would still have my
doubts about a deaf sheepherder who heard by seeing and feeling. I would never have believed this special
skill could have been accomplished, but it was done. To this day I marvel at Dave's abilities and talents.
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