The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-08-21
Selert Story.
Capturing a Desperate.

In the far West, particularly in the far
Southwest, the newly.arrived settler Of
ten finds that he has strange neighbors
not only Indians, but white despera-
does who are more to be feared than
even Utes and Apaches.
Two Young friends OF mine-good,
steady, New England horn young mem
we're so unfortunate as to buy land 10
the vicinity of an especially ugly mem
her Of this outlaw fraternity.
These young men had been brougii,
up to obey the law, and to respect the
property and rights OF Their neiehbors,
They could be brave enough in the de-
tense Of any just cause, yet they dread
ed and shrank from the use of deadly
weapons against fellow-being from 8
keen .ense Of the sacredness Of human
life and the crimlnality involved in such
acts,
Such were Gilbert and Charles Small
Plain, farm bred boys,shey had by steady
labor and economy, saved up capita
Of seventeen hundred dollars; with this
they had emigrated to Colorad, and
started a small stock farm fifteen miles
from Alimosa.
By availing themselves of the home.
stead act and the pre.emption law they
secured q tract OF three hundred aud
twenty acres of land, lying upon creek
with a range extending back over the
hilIs, which was not likely to be taken by
other settlers.
At a point short distance below
where a mining trail passed them, and
where they judged there would in time
be a railroad, they built frame house
which they opened as a hotel and il
which they also kept stock OF grooe'
ries. For, like many other enterprisine
young immigrants, they had au ambition
10 found town and grow up with it.
Some eight or ten miles from them
lived q man named Peter Hergit, who
protessedly worked mine but whose
place was really kind OF rendezvous fol
renegade "cow boys" and other desper.
ate characters of the Jesse James type
| II was intimated that several daring train
robberies had been planned. and also
that "Clate Walker" made 1t one Of bis
stopping places.
This Walker was notorious gambler
and dead shot He was supposed to be
the leader OF q band OF train robbers
and was said to have killed not less than
ten men in various affrays 1t was said
too, that occasionally when times became
too monotonous because of the lack OF
excitement, he would kill man "for
fuu," just to keep his hand in. He had
q habit, also, of riding through small
towns and camp.,shooting promiscuous
ly at everybody be saw, TO keep up the
terror OF bis name, matter he appears
to have been vain OF.
1t will seem wel'.nigh incredible to
people In the east that such man should
he allowed to escape justice and run at
large. Such is the ugly fact, however,
in scores OF cases, owing probably to
the circumstance that no officer likes to
attempt the arrest of these desperadoes,
who generally carry two and sometimes
three heavy revolvers and are marvel.
ously quick and sure OF aim.
As an example of the wonderfully
rapid and accurate shooting Of some Of
these frontiersmeD, the writer remembers
seeing "cow boy" at Ration, New Mex
leo. ride his horse at full gallop past
telegraph pole to which vas pinned the
round white cover of paper collar box,
and lodge four balls from his Colts pis
tol in this small mark while passing. AZ
terward he entertained us by throwing
into the air, one after another, handful
of pignuts, and cracking each a. It fell
with a single bullet. Then he did the
same thing again, tossing the nuts up
rapidly and twirlIng the revolver round
his forefinger at e. cry shot, Finally,
/ throwing the nuts up more slowly, he re.
placed his pistol in Its sheath at his hip
after every shot, drawing 1t for each
succeeding nut, and did not miss one ou,
OF six.
This shows the accuracy ard quick
ness Of aim of many OF these lawless
fellows, and such a marksman was Clate
Walker, who added to this reputation,
moreover, the more murderous one Of
beirg a "killer," which in the phrase Of
this section means desperad, who will
shoot man upon the least provocation
Our two young stockmen had heard
Of this border monster, but their fist
actual acquaintance with him began the
week after putting up their sign OF
"Small Bros. Hotel and Grocery
Walker CHANGED to pass one morning
and seeing the new sign reiped in his
horse, and by way Of calling the atten.
ion OF the landlord to his arrival DIRE v
his revolver and opened fire on the sign,
-hooting the 6rst letter s to pieces.
Then dismounting he kicked the door
open and, walking in, demanded "cock
tail"
Gilbert, who chanced TO he inside at
the time told him civilly that there was
no bar connected with the house for,
true To their home principles, the young
meb mad determined to keep temper
snce house Ia greater anomaly in the
west than many NAV a: first suppose.
"a temperance house y shouted Wal.
ker. and be vented his astonisment and
disgust 10 hurst of osths and reviiings.
. No man shall keep hotel with nothing
To drink In 1t in these parts!" he said
"If you don't have liquor, and good
liquor, too, the next time / call, | won't
leave a whole dish or a whole bone
here!'
And as foretaste OF what he would
do next time he kicked over the table
and smashed three or four chairs by way
of leave-taking.
With such d Gusto ouer on their hands
it is little wonder that our two young
friends felt very i'll at ease still they
were bold men and determined not to he
'bulIied into Keeping rum. so they vent
about their business "a usual.
Nothing further was seefi of Walker
for fortnight, when he again appeared
early one morning while Charlie was get.
ting breakfast, Gilbert having gone on,
TO look after the cattle The 6rst hint
that Charles had OF his visitor was an.
iother volley OF shots itfto their sign
board.
This time Clate slot the second letter
to pieces; it was apparently bis way o