The following is a story published in the Pinedale Roundup, Vol. 16, No. 27. It has only been edited to conform to standard style and runs now as it did 100 years ago.

In one of the closest and most spectacular county seat fights staged in the West in many years, Pinedale, in the face of unofficial returns, carried away the honors in a triangular contest between Big Piney, Daniel and Pinedale for county seat of Sublette County.

The count of votes by precincts, which has been carefully re-checked several times, shows 488 votes for Pinedale, 482 votes for Big Piney and 230 votes for Daniel. And Pinedale wins by the close margin of six votes. The official count by the county commissioners will not be complete for several days, but there seems small likelihood that the count as it now stands will be materially changed, as Pinedale stands the same chance of gaining votes on the official count as our nearest opponent.

Intense interest has been manifested throughout the fight, and probably the heaviest vote was polled that will be seen again in an election for some time. In many precincts heavy voting started as soon as the polls opened and in several cases over 30 percent of the total vote was cast during the first hour.

One vote for county seat was marked “Sublette,” bringing the total number of ballots cast up to 1,201.

The largest precinct vote was at Big Piney where 202 ballots were cast, and the smallest at Mondell, where there were only nine votes. Six precincts out of 22 went solid for the town they were supporting without a discounting vote and Pinedale, the largest of these, balloted to the tune of 71 to 0.

Election dawned bright and clear and everyone and his dog were out to vote for county divisions and to indicate their choice for county seat. As evening approached Pinedale, Daniel and Big Piney were crowded with cars and by intensely interested and eager citizens intent on getting news from the returns of the different precincts. As the vote came over the wire it was evident that the result was in doubt and that the race lay between Pinedale and Big Piney. At 11 p.m. of election night with 21 out of 22 precincts heard from, Pinedale and Big Piney were tied for first honors with 473 votes each and the excitement was intense. The returns from Bondurant, the missing precinct, were not secured until 9 a.m. yesterday morning when Pinedale pulled out six votes ahead by securing 15 votes from this last precinct to Big Piney’s nine, thus deciding the tie.

No full count has been reported on county division but it is estimated that this carried probably by a ratio of 20 to 1, very few voting being in opposition.

(Precinct)…Pinedale…Daniel…Big Piney

Big Piney…1…2…199

Big Sandy…40…0…0

Bondurant…15…30…9

Boulder…61…1…4

Bronx…26…32…4

Cora…59…3…5

Cottonwood…0…15…58

Daniel…10…69…8

Elkhorn…31…0…1

Hilmont…7…4…39

Kendall…18…5…0

Marbleton…2…0…30

Mason…0…0…21

Merna…2…44…4

Midway…0…0…44

Mondell…0…9…0

Newfork…25…0…0

Olsen…35…0…2

Pinedale…71…0…0

Pine Creek…85…12…1

Stanley…0…1…26

Tie Camp…0…3…27

Total…488…230…482