Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-06-28
POSEY'S PROMISE.


This used TO be an important station o.
The old overland stage road, and is names
after one of the overland company's mos
celebrated drivers-honest, bluff Ben Flick
lin whose life history, if written out
would make a volume more interestin,
than the most sensational work of fiction
writes correspondent Of the Philadelphi,
Issees, from Benficklin, Texas. BentickliI
has seen its best days. 1t was formerly thu
seat OF Tom Green county, but when the
Concho river rose and swept over the town
10 the fall of 1882, and its adobe casas anc
jseals were washed away, business
was paralyzed and the town never
recovered The county seat was re-
moved to the neighboring settlement
Of San Angela, and Benticl<lin's glory de-
parted. 1t remains now only III name. A
short distance above Benfcklin, where the
Middle, Good Spring, and South forks OF
the Concho river unite and form the main
Coneho, is q little motto of cottonwo cd and
willow trees. On the upper edge Of the
motto IS giant specimen Of the former
variety and at it's roots, within sound of the
rushing river in whose muddy torrent he
persisted, lie the bones OfChristopher Posey,
better known along the southwestern from
tier by the more familiar name of " Kansas
Kit" POsey came down out of the north
western country, and located at Fort
Concho, when buttalO-hunting on the great
Staked plain was a profitable business
He was killer" and during the buff
falo- hunting season found remunerative
employment. | was on the range with him
several seasons, and found him . very
agreeable and entertaining partner. He
was born on the Kansas frontier, and had
never visited a settlement larger than n
post town He was ignorant of lore learned
from books, but the great teacher, nature,
had found in him an apt and appreciative
student and in plain, forest and mountain
craft he was uneXceled. lie was an uner-
ring shot, a splendid trailer, a good horse
man, and possessed of an abundance Of
that cool courage 50 essential to the from
nersman. In the course of his somewhat
oheckered career he had passed through
adventures OF the most startling and haz-
ardous description, but he rarely spoke
about. himself, and what ] learned of his
history was CLEANED by dint Of much cues
noning IN conversations around the
campfire. Physically Posey was a
splendid specimen of manhood. He was
ever SIX feet in hight, broad-shouldered,
deep-chested, and as strong as mountain
lion. When was with him on the buffalo
range he was strictly temperate, and as
bufialo-killers received pretty good wages
be was able to save up quite a snug sum,
which he kept on deposit with an Quitting
trader. After the buffalo left Texas Posey's
occupation was gone. He knew every foot
Cd the country, however, and secured po-
sston at Fort Concho as one Of the guides
2nd scouts. He began to drink, moder-
ately at first. One day saw him fighting
drunk and bent on painting things vivid
red. After that II was no uncommon thing
tW him to go on sprees, during which he
was quarrelsome and dangerous.
He killed two or three men, and thereby
enrolled himself in the born on Bitter
Creek squadron" Presently he became a
terror, and men tolerated his reckless and
unlawful behavior through fear He al
ways went armed TO the teeth, and it could
be truly said that the crack Of a six
shooter and the SrOans of dying man
were music to his ears" / was at the post
enc day when Kit was running things.
Mounted on big gray horse he galloped
up and down tn. post, yelling like q de-
MON. 4 half-dOzcn six-shooters were
thrust III his belt, and a buffalo gun rested
G.
himself by discharging these weapons in |
tAc most reckless manner, regardless |
Of consequences, and wound up the |
days debauch by killing an inno- |
cent and inotiensiYe Old Mexican who |
happened to be standing in the door |
way OF casino as Kit rode up Some of the |
men who were fastened to their long &C
count through the insrumentality Of his
RiIshoOters left behind them devoted |
friends, who swore to avenge their COM
panions untimely taking of, bat somehow
these pOSt-mortCm avengers never succeed
cd IN getting in their fine work" and
Kansas Kits fame as a bad man, whom it
was dangerous to offend, spread all along
The frontier. In 1880, just before the Vic
torla raid, Kit left Concho, as scout and
guide, in charge of party Of emigrants
bound tor the fertile plains of lower New
Mexico.
Among these emigrants was q family
named Joyce, consisting Of John Joyce,
his wife and daughter Alice The latter
was beautiful girl Of H. as gentle as
Cove and as fair as lily. Joyce was from
one OF the Older States, and had been a man
OF some property. Alice had been reared
IN comparative luxury, but the rough camp
life Of the emigrants seemed 10 agree with
her, and she was as happy and hight hearted
AZ 3 held lark. In their Journey toward the
Land ofpUomise the cmigrants followed the
old overland trail and reached Bars CANYON
without accident or startling adventure
They arrived at the entrance to the CANYON
just at night and Kit, who was riding in
advance, assured the tired travellers that
they would soon reach a camping place. So
far he had discovered no fresh Indian sign
and he was hopeful of conducting the paTtv
To their destination without meeting any of
Inc red men. Finally half way through |
the canyon, they reached little spring of
pure water, and prepared to camp for the ,
night. The tired horses and mules were
anhitched from the great prairie
schooners" they had been dragging through
he hot alkah sand all day, and after being $
side-lined and hobbled were turned loose
% Craze under charge of two men
Some of the emigrants gathered firewood
and their wives and daughters began to $
prepare their coarse eventide meal The /
title children played together in the sand
PoSey shouldered his rifle, and, entering '
-ough arroyo, began to climb to the top of
he mountain through which the canyon '
an. He wanted to take an observation
.nd make sure that there were no Indians 6
Rowling about the camp This was the '