The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-07-07
A MAN WHO SHOOTS.

The Daring Deeds of John Wesley Hardin,
the Texan Preachers Son-Caught and
Punished at Last-The Career of a Man
Who Did Not Value Life in the Least.
From the Philadelphia Times
few years ago, when I was in the cattle
business, started out of the little town of
Cuero, Texas, on my return to San Antonio.
Cuero was snd is still sort of headquar-
ters for the cowboys, and it has been the
scene of some of the bloudiest encounters
ever Witnessed. It was there that two fac
tons frequently met in the wretched, dirty
streets, and the minute they caught sight Of
each other they always began popping away
with rifle or revolver.
The most desperate william connected
with this crowd was John Wesley Hardin,
the son of preacher, and fellow who, to
to my certain knowledge, has killed more
than dozen men.
There was good deal of drinking and
carousing in the town, and hurried through
my business, mounted my mustang and
struck off at an easy gallop for San Antonio.
Only little way out drew up at the road
side and went into one of those miserable
little Texan inns to get something to eat.
had scarcely seated myself at the table
when small bright-eyed fellow came in,
set his gun behind the door and sat down
on the other side of the table. We nodded
familiarly to each other, exchanged few
words and passed such food as we needed,
we being the only two in the room. He
asked me which way was going, and when
l mentioned "Santone," as it is always pro.
nounced in Texas he said he would accom-
pany me short distance, but would have
to turn off before going far. We paid our
bill, mounted our mustangs and moved off
side by side, AS my companion, although
uneducated, was quite intelligent. I kept
my horse down to a walk so as to converse
with him during the short distance we
were to be companions.
You're from the North, amt your" he
asked.
I replied that was, but that had been
in Texas several years. 81:
What do you think of the country?" he
asked
1T has grand possibilities before it," re-
Piled, with considerable earnestness; Its
area is so prodigious that is capable of max
ing dozen good sized states, and it's soil.
climate and natural facilities mark it as the
comlne empire. But it has its disadvan-
tages Also"
whats them?" asked nv companion
more eagerly than grammatically.
SWELL, one thing is the want of better
government. There is too much outlawry,
Iexas averages murder day, and have
heard the authorities state there are full
thousand murderers running at large within
her borders to-day"
That's too bad" said he apparently quite
struck with my truthful statement
concluded had native Texan with
me and | would give him little needed
advice, or, more properly, information,
never saw any place where crime is
viewed with such leniency, if not admira-
ton, as IN Texas. The greatest glory of a
Iexan is to boast of being bad man and
no one IS OF much account who has not
Killed some one. All this has got to change
before Texas can make any really material
progress. The best thing she can do inst
now is to hang her Longleys. her Thomp-
sons and John Wesley Hardins-"
DO you know any of those fellows?" in
terrupted the little horseman beside me.
NO, nor do wish to, excepting that I
would like to pull one end of the rome that
was to hang them. feel special hatred
OF John Wesley Hardin"
why sol"
Well, he's the son of preacher. who
named him after the great founder of Meth
odlsm, and.he the worst sort of desperate.
de hasn't any redeeming features. He is a
cowardly murderer, a man who kills in mere
wantonness, and would give five hundred
dollars this minute for the privilege of
strangling the life out of him. He is q curse
to Texas, and there ought to be q reward
offered to the first man who will shoot him
on sight. The Lone Star state must be
purged of such pests before she can thrive. !"
"That may be So" said my companion
quietly, "but all I've got to say. stranger, is
that my name is John Wesley Hardin!'
Never until that minute was prepared
to believe that mans hair actually rises
on end when he is STRUCK" with terror. but
when that horseman at my side announced
himself as the terrible desperate whom T