The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-08-18

back of me, riding at leisurely gait,
and was looking straight at me, with q
peculiar smile on his face-a smile which
I was sure meant my death. Hardin
had shot down Sheriff a short time
before in cold blood and he thought no
more of human life than he did Of
brushing away a fly. I was certain he
would shoot me dead within the next
three minutes. Ihad my revolver at my
hip, but I did not dare attempt to draw,
for the instant I moved hand in that
direction he would send bullet through
my brain. In fact I did not dare move
at all. I recall that the end of my nose
began to itch terribly and yet I was
afraid to raise my hand to scratch it,
through dread of drawing his fire.
By and by managed to stammer !:
"I-beg- pardon-but-I didn't
know-it was you, Mr.. Hardin"
81 judge not" he said, with the same
horrid grin on his face. "I've only got
A NHw YORK girl said picture was
simply very very"
word to add. When you're travelling
through Texas learn who your pardner
is. Don't talk too freely about your
betters. Good day SIR" and he wheeled
off to the right, while took to the left.
struck my pony into gallop, but for
a moment was sure Hardin would send
ball from his rifle after me, and when
he did that he never failed to "hit
hard" No pen can describe my agony
of apprehension for minute or SO, but
when I glanced furtively over my shoul-
der the little horseman was riding
leisurely along beyond riae-shot and did
not look behind him.
He spared my life that morning merely
because the whim happened to take pos.
session ct him, for more heartless des
perado and more deliberate murderer
never lived than John Wesley Hardin.
He was what might be called the pro-
duct of the reconstruction days of Texas,
when the State was under military rule
and when public feeling was such as to
develop all the innate deviltry in mans
nature.
When Hardin was yet boy he began
the amusement of shooting negroes. he
andone OF two reckless companions would
visit picnic, create disturbance and
begin shooting right and left. When
they were out of ammunition or the signs
were unpropitious they would mount
their horses and dash away. Again they
would gallop through q company with
the object of seeing who could kill the
most, with their mustangs In full speed.
But shooting of " niggers" became mon.
otonous to Hardin, and he began picking
off those of his own race. It would re-
quire hours to tell the sanguinary af-
trays in which he was engaged, and in
which he emerged the sole survivor.
Some of these, perhaps, were defensible,
as he was not always the blamable party,
but the majority of them were simply
cold -blooded murders.
About five years ago noted bully
below Austin shot young man on the
street one evening while he was promen-
aiding with young lady to whom he was
engaged. It was done in pure wanton-
ness, and of course, the fellow was never
punished by the law, but brother of
the victim was so infuriated over the
deed that he caught up double-bar-
murderer. Hardin asked him what he
intended to do and was told. Hardin
laughed, and warned him that It would
be sure death for him to attempt any
such thing. But the young man would
not be dissuaded. He meant to shoot
down like dog the wretch who had
done the same to his brother.
every well," said Hardin, 81 will go
along and see fair play"
The young man caught sight of the
wretch for whom he was looking on the
opposite side of the street, and delib-
erately raised his gun and took aim.
just as he pulled the trigger the crimi-
nal observed him, but too late to escape
or get the drop on the boy. The latter
pulled trigger and the gun missed fire.
The desperate smiled grimly, and draw
ing up his revolver, said:
"Now, it's n,y turn that's just about
my distance, and to prevent any acci-
dents, my Kid, I won't give you time to
say your prayers,"- He had reached
that point in his address, when John
Wesley Hardin took hand in the little
game and the speaker never completed
his sentence, and never will, inasmuch
as he dropped dead at the most interest
ing point, killed by shot from Har-
din's pistol This was about the best
thing Hardin ever did, and yet, when I
questioned him about it, he would not
admit that he did the killing. The most
that he could be got to admit was,
''they say did it" and that was all he
would acknowledge concerning any of
the innumerable shootings in which he
was engaged.
Some time after Hardin met the
Sheriff on the street and asked him
whether he had warrant for his arrest.
The officer replied that he had not.
"Well, I heard you had," said Hardin,
:" and it's best to be on the safe side.
and drawing his pistol in his lightning
like fashion, he shot the officer dead.
This murder was the last feather upon
the camel's back. Hardin had betn
playing the Jim Currie business so
long, and unfortunately without the
conclusion reached by Currie at Las
Vegas, that his last crime reused
strong feeling against him. Ad-
ditional rewards were offered for his
apprehension. As he had committed
MANY similar deeds in Arkansas and
Louisiana, the aggregate amount offered
for his capture in the three States was
500, 900.
The hunt for Hardin became so hot
under this extraordinary temptation
that he saw the advisability of emigrat-
ing. at least until the excitement should
blow over. Texas is big State. but IL
was too small for him, and it soon be-
came known that he had disappeared.
He might have gone into the Indian
Nation or beyond the pale of civiliza-
ton, but no one interested in his capr
ture could form the least idea where TO
look for him. But the munificent re-
ward awaiting the man who should
deliver Hardin to the authorities melted
the best men to engage in the hunt.
One of these was member OF Lieu
tenant Halls Rangers, as they are called.
Texas, as may not generally be known,
is provided with q hundred brave and
tried men, who constitute what may bt
| called her mounted police. They art
| under the command of Lieutenant Hall
| and roam the State from one end to the