Historical fiction: Bar drew rowdy elements before statehood

It is a historical western novel about brothers D.W. and Linc Sweden, who wandered into Indian Territory from Ohio, trying to get away from the press of civilization. When they met on Red Hill, a spot of clay north of Purcell, they watched the railroaders sink a log for a bridge and battle quicksand.

D.W., who was adept at brewing "fire water,” viewed the gathering settlers, and those who would supply them, as "fruit ripe for the pluckin'.”

Oklahoma Territory across the river in Lexington had open bars, but the area of Purcell was the railroad station in Indian Territory which was legally dry. D.W. could see the path worn across the dry river bed leading to the city of saloons. He talked his brother into joining him in building a structure on the sand bar to intercept the Purcell settlers and weary travelers getting off the train seeking drinks, games and entertainment.

He kept his still hidden, and it was seldom found to be busted up by the marshals. They met a lady of some experience, who was being ejected from a stagecoach in Purcell for rowdy behavior, and persuaded her to join them in their endeavor by adding rooms to their Sand Bar Saloon. The bar was instantly successful, but it also attracted federal marshals and desperado bands, such as the Dalton, James and Younger gangs, to the area. The gangs expected banks and railroads to be easy picking.

Just when their business was doing well, they were inconvenienced by high water and a Bible-thumping preacher, the loud-voiced, white-haired Ben Fountains, and his wife, Beverly. The Purcell Register kept a well-documented record of the attitude of the citizens toward the sand bar saloon and activities there.

Weeden tells an exciting story about the era when the first bridge was built between Indian and Oklahoma territories. His characters speak in the language of that time, using idioms that have been long forgotten. He was born in Purcell, and this book is his first novel. It should not be his last. It is great reading about early territorial history.

— Russ Long

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