Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-08-25

hired Billy the Kid, aud his reckless dare
devilism, his deudy Workmanship, his
skill as horsemaD, aud his delight in
murder made him the leader Of his faction.
TIE KID AN OFFICER OF THE LAW.
Early in 1876 Chisum had 'the Kid"
appointed Deputy Constable, aud armed
with warrant for the arrest, on some trivial
charge of William Morton aud Frank Ba-
ker, herdsmen 10 tho employ of Tom Cat-
ron, formerly of Lafayette County, Mo,
and the partner of Hon. Stephen b. Elkins,
also Missouri boy, but long the New
Mexican delegate in Congress, and now
QUE of tho ''sold men" of New York.
After arrestug Morton and Baker the Kid
declared his determination to kill them
A man named McCuskoy, who had sccom-
panied him and assisted in making the
arrest. interfered to prevent the murder.
The Kid promptly shot him dead 10 his
tracks and then killed the two prisonels is
near Chisum's rnuch
Sheriff Brady and Deputy Sheriff George
Hindman of Lincoln County went out to
arrest him for this triple murder. The
Kid wayIaid them, aud, firing upon them
from behind tho adobe wall around
| McSwain's house, killed them. Ho now
gathered around him band of outlaws and
despcradocs, aud defed the county, Terri.
tory, aud United States authorities.
La June, 1879, Marion Turner, deputy
sheriff of Lincoln County, had a warrant
placed in his hands for thu arrest of the
Kid, for the murder of Morton Baker,
McClusky, Brady and Uindman. Turper
organized posse Of thirty Two men, prin-
| oipaly ranohmcn and COW boys Of the anti.
| Chsum faction, and started on his desperate
| errand.
A MEMoRABLE FIGHT.
On tho 17th of June he cumo upon the
Kid with sixty three men, and instantly
began running fight, which lasted three
days. Lieut.. Col Dudley of the Ninth Cav
airy (Gon. Hatch's famous colored regi-
ment,) learning that no rceuforccmcnts were
being sent to tho Kid, took two companies
OF his regiment and went to Turner's assis-
taucc. The Kid and his gang took shelter
in McSwain's house, in the town Of Lin
coin, the most elegant furnished dwelling
in the Territory; and it is said that during
the fight Mrs NlcSwaln encouraged her wild
garrison by playing iuspiring airs on her
piano and singing rousing battle songs.
until tho bcsicging posse, getting the range
Of the piano from tho sound SHOT it to
pieces with their heavy rifles.
On tho third day of the skirmish Turner
had the house flied by throwing buckets
full of blazing coal oil into it and over it.,
and about dusk the dcsparadoes made rush
to escape their to horses. A desperate hand
to hand fight ensued, 10 which twelve of
the Kids men and two Of Turner's posse
were ki!le3, McSwain himself being among
the slain. Iu the break from tho burning
house tho Kids partner, Tom O'Fallaher,
young boy from San Antonio, Texas, no.
tioed one of his friends fall near his side.
Amid a perfect storm Of balls aud buck
shot, he cody stopped, picked up his COM
rade, and started to carry him of in his
arms; but, finding he was dead, threw down
the body, and. pistol 10 hand fought his
way out Tom was killed by Deputy
Sheriff Pat Garrett's posse shortly before
tho capture of the Kid laet winter. The
Kid escaped FIRE, bullets, and Turner's posse
at the McSwain house fight, and inmc-
diatcly reorganized his gang.
LEW wALLAcE's ADMIRATION OF THE KID.
| About this time Axtell was removed
from the Goveruorship of the Territory
and Lew Wallace was appointed iii his place
Chisum went up to Santa Fc, and by some
means, won tho new Governor over to the
side of the Kid. George Taylor, Turner's
partner, talking to me about the affair, suid:
"Wailaoe was id romantic old fool,
and easily led himself to sympathze with
the Kid; often speaking of him as that
| hr,uo hoy ~ t,h,k ,r;j ,o,,,r. l>;xht ~
rant lie lost sight of lis crimes in the
romance of his devlishness"
Under tho influence of this foolish sen
timent, Gov. Wallace issued general pro-
oiamation Of pardon to al the parties, in
oluding army officers, who had been en-
gagged in the Lincoln County outbreak,
commanding them to lay down their arms,
60 home and keep the peace. Tho army
officer allusion of this remarkable pronun~
ciamento was aimed at Lieut.. Col Dudley
of the Ninth Cavalry, and, very naturally,
exasporuted that gentleman by placing
him, in Gubernatorial grace and estimation,
exactly upon level with cowboys, outlaws,
and Kids.
Ills noveiistio Excollenoy's bugle had
scarcely rung truce when the widow Of
| McSwain resolved to prosecute the slayers Of
her husband and destroyers of her home.
She employed lawyer named Chapman of
Las Vegas, who went down into Lincoln
County and promptly began to stir up all
the old strife, but was soon murdered by
man named Campbell and other of tho op-.
posito faction. Whom Gov. Wallace heard
Of the doath of Chapman, fo rose IN all his
uIght and majesty Of q little Territorial
| official with tin ear, aud went down into Lin.