Sheriff Rice: Wyoming Justice

Pioneers of Outlaw Country: Wyoming History

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Sheriff Virgil Rice was tough-as-nails and respected throughout Wyoming. He was known to "get his man" and tracked down horse thieves across the Cowboy State in the 1890's.
It is believed by residents and historians that he was one of many cowboys that helped inspire America's most beloved cowboy heroes, the Virginian.
When You Call Me That – Smile!

It was now the Virginian's turn to bet, or leave the game, and he did not speak at once.

Therefore, Trampas spoke. “Your bet, you son-of-a—.”

The Virginian's pistol came out, and his hand lay on the table, holding it unaimed. And with a voice as gentle as ever, the voice that sounded almost like a caress, but drawling a very little more than usual, so that there was almost a space between each word, he issued his orders to the man Trampas: “When you call me that, SMILE.” And he looked at Trampas across the table.

The infamous words were spoken low and found their mark. That day, there was no gunplay as Trampas backed now. In some versions, he laughed and said, “With a gun against my belly, I always smile.”
Over the years, this incident was written many times over in western movies and made it into Wyoming lore. It was first penned by Owen Wister who frequented the Owl Creek region in the late 1880’s and kept a journal of his adventures.
The young tourist based this scene in his best-selling novel, The Virginian, on a story circulating around cowboy fires on the range. Wister claimed that he did not know the origin of this story, however, the people of old Thermopolis said they knew the man who uttered those words.
They said it was none other than Virgil Rule Rice, a young cowboy and the first Sheriff of the Big Horn Basin.

Recommended reading would be Tim McCoy Remembers the West by Tim McCoy. He interviewed Sheriff Rice's outlaw friend, Walt Punteney.
The stories of our pioneers were brought to you by our partners, Hot Springs County Pioneer Association. Descendants of Thermopolis, Wyoming can learn how to join their organization by sending us a text! Also send us a text if you have a story you would like featured on the podcast!

This episode would not be possible without the support of the Wyoming Humanities. www.thinkwy.org

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