The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-11-21
EDITING IN ARIZONA.


The Pleasures of Cowboy Criticism.
Mr. John F. Crum, until recently the
editor OF the Tombstone (Arizona) Epitaph,
rs in the city, and tells highly interesting
story of personal adventure, from which
il would appear that next to running q
bank, editing paper in the unciyilized
portions OF the west is about as dangerous
an undertaking as man can welt engage
IN. He went TO New Mexico in 1871, aud in
lS1i was appointed Indian. agent for the
Apache tribes at San Carlos, Arizona.
In May, 1850, Mr. Cium established the
Tombstone Epitaph as a weekly. II is
now tourishing daily. lie was
first made post master and alterward
mayor. As a postmaster he had hard time
oft, but as the chief magistrate of the vii
lage, brought as he was into almost daily
contact with the rougher and most desper-
ate elements he grew accustomed TO write
his editorials in sight Of his trusty Colts
six-shooter. In attempting to preserve or
der he made enemies of the cow boys. I'll
was the first step in long and protracted
warfare which lasted off and ON for more
than six months. First, there occurred a
draw battle at midday between MIR. Clum's
chief of bolice and three officers and four
cowboys. Three of the officers were badly
injured and three cowboys killed outright.
The fourth, who happened not to be
armed, ran away and escaped. AT
ter this Il citizens committee was
formed and paraded the streets day
and night, armed with six-shooters, needle
guns and Henry rifles. Mr.. Clum assaulted
the cowboys vigorously through the col
umns of TIE Epitaph, and every time one
was brought before him as magistrate he
imposed heavy fines. Then the cowboys
lay in wait for Mr.. Clum, until he was COM
PEELED to go heavily armed, and dared not
stay ont after nightall without being at
tended by body-guard. Every editorial
added new fuel to the tame. The cow
boys rode into town by night and tried TO
waylay the editor as he went to his office
in the morning. Luckily he escaped all
their bullets.
Every ordinary plan failing, the cowboys
banded together, and camping a few miles
from Tombstone, in a deep and wild can
yon. slgned deaths head agreement to
kill Mr.. Clum with pens dipped in blood
taken from u Convicts arm, and atterward
drank from a cup Of warm blood, diluted
with pure spring water. This came to his
ears, and he bought another six-shOOter
and another Henry rifle, and never went
out into the street without being accom-
panied by several members of his police
| force. The chiefof police was shot at and
nearly killed one night. Things were
were getting very desperate, indeed and
the Epitaph had great difficulty
in getting out without the death
of cOmposit0r or an adventurous news
boy. Mr.. Clum slept in room guarded by
men armed to the teeth. He did not re.
move his clothes, hut kept his gun and pis.
tol where he could lay his hands on them
instantly. Life was now becoming such a
decided burden that he determined to pull
up stakes and move to some place where
the shotgun played a less constant part in
the progress Of civilization and the mainte-
nance of the press. To leave was, however,
not an easy thing to do, for the cowboys,
suspeCting some such move. had laid their
plans accordingly, and were posted around
the outskirts OF the town in the bushes.
ready to shoot him as soon as he appeared
! Mr.. Clum determined to reach Tucson at
any cost, aud one dark night about 5
o'clock got in a stage coach and drove ont
into the prairie. 1t was bitter cold, the
horses were gallopng along i'll the dark
ness and snow, and Mr.. Clum was sleeping
uneasily, muilled up in his oyercoat in the
bottom of the coach, dreaming of the good
things in store for an editor wrcn he gets
| to heaven, when Il loud voice outside cried
Hall" ilc jumped to his feet, and the
horses suddenly reared back and stopped.
| The order to halt and the commence
ment of the firing were simultaneous. To
the command Hold up!' the driver re-
sronded, IAN right but the shots
frightened the horses, and they broke into
II run. After running about a mile one of
the horses fell dead, and the coach stop.
ned. Upon examination it was found that
the horse was fatally shot. While this
horse was beng cut out of the, traces Mr..
Clum stepped TO one side OF the road to
listen, as II second approach of the assail.
ants was feared. Believing that the pur-
pose of the attack was to kill him, he de
cidcd to leave the coach and take hischances
on foot, as he saw he had no show OF max.
ing a fight in the coach. He walked to the
Grand Central mill, about seven miles dis
tant, where he was kindly provided for.
Amer sleep of two hours he started on
horseback tor Benson, arriving there with
out any further trouble From there he
proceeded to Tucson, and Immediately lett
for the east. Mr.. Clum has sold his paper
and will probably not return to Tombstone
Washington Post.