The Van Buren press., 1873-02-25
NO. AZ
Frolics on the Frontier.
Via,iontes A5using 7hemseiecs in hs
Southgcst.
Prom the Kansas City Times.l

From the knnsas tlty Iimes
There is peculiar people located on
| the southwestern frontier OF Kansas
real genuine roughs-men from all por.
tions of the world, borne westward upon
the ever advancing wave Of civilization;
men of cool, daring enterprise; men OF
lavless, reckless lives and murderous dis
position. The scenes Of blood and mur-
| der that were once so common ut Els
worth and Sheridan when the Kansas
! Pacific railway WAS being sbult are now
being enacted upon the Atchison, Tope
| ka and Santa Fe railway, at its extremc
southwestern terminus. The class OF
people who follow Immediately In The
wake OF the track builders, are q cosmo
politan class-a medley made up OF
rouchs, rowdics, gamblers, spectators,
saloon keepers, Jcws and founders OF
towns, all sharp, gritty, " git up and GIT
sort of people, who care for nothing ex-
cept the almighty dollar.
The advance guard OF western civiliza-
tion. which is closely followed by the
hardy, honest settler, is now at Dodge
City and Sergeant, two small frontier
towns recently located near the Arkansas
river, and near the extreme southwestern
boundory Of Kansas Late information
from Sergeant furnishes the following
particulars Of a series Of shooting and
murder scrapes which read more like the
stories Of mining life in California and
Nevada than frontier life in the state OF
! Kansas;
A few days ago gang of desperadoes
gathered AT Sergeant, having removed
there from Dodge City, as soon as the
railroad track reached the former town.
They did not appear to have any patt'cr'
lar business to occupy thsir time, except
card playing, aud to make night hideous
by firing off pistols Two OF this gang
named sam Wright and one McClelien
! few nights ago wcnt into the store ot one
Jesse Williams, quiet, honest sort Of
citizen, and proceeded to smash things
generally, shooting at Williams and driv-
ing him out of the store. Having torn
things up and gutted the store, they
started over TO saloon kept by Chris
| ellison, and found that rcdcubiaEle indl-
vdual snugly ensconced between pair
o government blankets in his bunk IN
corner Of his thick canvas tchs lhey
placed their rcyolvcrs to Chris head ard
ordered him to roll out OF bed and give
up his money. But Chris was not to be
| Illustrated IN this manner. He got coolly
out of bed and offered the rullans
the hospi,aities OF his bar, which
they accepted, and finally became good
natured and left him in peace After
! they had lett, Chris Gibson prepared for
them in isse they returned, which they
did about clock in the morning.
They caught Chris mapping and effected
an entrance to his saloon, caught an old
man there and robbed him Of his money.
After helping themselves again 10 whs-
| XIV, they determined to close their nights
spree by shooting off the top Of Gllson's
! head.
| But Olson had again prepared himself
/ for any emergency, and was watching
them from an adjoining tent AS soon
as they came opposite the tent he stepped
out with shot. gun in his hands, and be-
fore Wright was aware of his danger, ip-
ed heavy charge Of buekshot into his
breast Big Jack, the other despera-
do, on witnessing the fate OF Wright,
started to run away But ellison was too
quick for him. Turning his gun upon
the rctreating ruiIian. he poured two
ounce load Of shot into him, bringing
him down.
McClellen on hearing the firing, and
finding that two of his gang bad already
fallen, determined to wipe ont ellison,
and with that intention started forth with
a Henry rifle, duly loaded and primed,
determined to try his hand But Gilson
was on the alert for DANCE; standing in
his tent he Immediately loaded his gun,
and waited MeClellcn was just entering
the tent, expecting to take Gllson by sur
prise, when the latter empted load of
buckshot into him. McClellen then turn
ed aud started to run, but the saloon
keeper was determined to leave no part
OF his deadly work undone, followed up
the wounded man and shot him again,
this time killing him instantly.
BY this time the little frontier town
was pretty well enlvened up and awake.
The citizens gathered together, and after
inquring into the affair, passed the FOL.
lowing resolutions:
Resolred, That Chris ellison, in Kidding
this town Of three desperate rowdles--
Big Jack, Sam Wright and McClellen,
has rendered this community service,
and is entite TO the thanks of this COM
munity, and we, the citizens of Sergeant,
nllyjustfy the aforesaid Gilson in 50
! doing.
RESOLVED, That it is the intention OF
this community to rid themselves Of all
lswless characters, roughs and despsra.
does, and to "wipe them out Of sight p"
They will hereby take notice and leave.
Since those resolutions have been pass
ed and the shooting affair above record
cd took place, Sergeant has been entirely
cleared Of roughs and rowdies.
ET A Michigan paper tells an amaz.