The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-08-24
DAILY INTELLIGENCER.
Wednesday, Aug. "a, 1881.
THE MURDEROTs LIFE OF
CHILLY, THE KID

| auQ ne WIS DCE1 III NEW DIX. w Den
be wss 3 very small boy the family set
tied in Silver City, Grant county, New
Mexico. and be was raised in that place.
After the death Of his father bis mother
married man named Antum, who is
now living in Georgetown, New Mex
leo, and brother of Billy is q miner in
that region. When he was about Is
years old he was jailed in Silver City
for robbing O store. Being very small
for his age. some ladies took pity on
him aud assisted him to escape, which
he did by crawling up through the
chimney of the Jail. His feminine
sympathizers then furnished him
clothes and money and he skipped
over into Arizona. Here, when he was
l6 or II years old. he killed his first
man in the most deliberate, cold blood
ed style. Pursuit was hot. and he fled
back to New Mexico and took refuge
among the cowboys of Lincoln county,
just about the time that the Lincoln
county war broke out.
This war. according to Marion Tur.
ner. who wss q conspicuous figure in
il, originated in the determination of
old John Chisum and his partner, Al,
exander McSwsin, 10 establish mo-
nopoly in the stock grazing business
and make themselves what they claim
ed TO be, the cattle kings of the Pecos
Valley. They drove in $4,000 head of
cattle. The herds of the smaller
ranchers were swept away with the
rolling avalanche of hoofs and horns.
The losers attempted to reclaim their
animals. Collisions between the herd
ers were of constant occurrence. The
firm of Murphy. Dolsn & Co. headed
the rsnchmen and herders opposed to
Chisum It McSwain. Both sides en-.
listed all the strength and influence
they could. Chisum s. McSwain hired
Billy the Kid, and his reckless dare
devilism, his deadly craftsmanship, his
skill as horseman, and his delight in
murder made him the leader or his
faction.
THE KID AN OFFICER OF THE LAW.
Early in 1879 Chisum had the Kid
appointed Deputy Constable, and arm
ed with warrant for the arrest, On
some trivial charge. of William Morton
and Frank Baker. herdsmen in the en-
ploy Of Tom Cstron. formerly of La
fayette county, Mo. and the partner of
Hon Stephen b Elkins, also Missouri
boy. but long the New Mexican dele.
gate In Congress. and now one of the
solid men of New York. After ar
resting Morton and Baker the Kid de-
clared his determination to kill them.
A man named McClusky, who had &C.
companied him and assisted in making
the arrest. iuterfered to prevent the
murder. The Kid promptly shot him
dead in his tracks, and then killed the
two prisoners near Chisum's ranch.
Sheriff Brady and Deputy Sheriff
George Hindman of Lincoln county
went out to arrest him for this triple
murder. The Kid waylaidl them, and,
firing upon them from behind the adobe
wall around McSwsins house, killed
them. He now gathered around him a
band Of outlaws end desperadoes and
defied the county, Territory. and United
States authorities.
In June. 1879, Marion Turner, de-
putty sheriff of Lincoln county, had q
warrant placed in his hands for the
arrest of the Kid for the murder of
Merton. Baker, McCluskey. Brady and
Hinderman. Turner organized posse
of thirty five men, principally ranchmen
and cowboys of the anti Chisum fac
tion, and started on his desperate err.
rand.
MEMORABLE FIGHT.
On the 18th of June he came upon
the Kid with sixiy-three men, and in
stantly began running fight, which
lasted three days. Lieut. Col Dudley
Of the Ninth Cavalry (Gen Hatch's ia
nous colorsd regiment, learning that
reinforcenents were being sent to the
Kid. took two companies of his regi-
ment and went to Turner'S assistance.
The KID sad bis gang took shelter in
McSwains house, in the town OF Lin
coin, the most elegantly furnished
dwelling in the Territory; and it is said
that during the fight Mrs MoSwain en-
couraged her wild garrison by playing
inspiring airs on her piano md singh
rousing battle songs. until the besieg-
ing posse. getting the range of the
instrument from the sound, shot it to
pieces with their heavy rifles.
On the third day of the skirmish
Turner had the house fred By throw
Jog buckets full of blazing coal oil into
IL and over IL, aud about dusk the des-
psrsdoes made rush 10 escape totheir
horses. A desperate hand to hand fight
ensued, in which twelve of the Kids
men and two OF Turner'S posse were
killed, McJwain himself being among
the slain. Ia the break from the burn
ing house the Kids partner. Tom
O'Fallaher. . young BOY from San
Antonio. Tex. noticed one of his friends
fall near his side. Amid perfect storm
OF balls and buckshot he coolly stopped,
picked up his comrsde and started to
carry him of ia his arms; but, finding
he was dead, threw down the body.
and. pistol in hand, fought his way
ont. Tom was killed by Deputy Sheriff
Pat CARROTS posse shortly before the
capture of the Kid last winter. The
Kid escaped fire. bullets, and Turner'S
posse at the MeSwain house fight. and
immediately reorgauized his gang.
LEW wALLAoE's ADMIRATION OF THE
KID.
About this time Axtell was removed
from the Governorship of the Terri
tory, and Lew Wallace was appointed
IN his place. Chisum went up to
Santa Fe. and. by some means, won
the new Governor over 10 the side Of
eha Ef1