The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1884-12-24

an AmbuSh-N torncrcd Fobbcr's
Bold Front $50 General rortcr's
Specch-Indinn E~loqucncc Kills "a
observation-disclosures Itit,a.
Among the delegates 10 tie National
Cattlcmcn'S Convention, which has just
finished its session in ST. Louis, were
some Of the most celebrated fronticrS-
men in the United States. Many Of
them were famous as scouts, fighters, and
detectives, and some of them had figured
at the East in politics or business before
taking up their present pursuit.
W. II. LlcwclIyn would be a noticca-
bic figure anywhere. He i. unusually
tall. of magnificent physique, and his
carriage is such AZ to impress the nhSrr-
vrr with the belief that ne has been n
participant in stirring events. Probably
nc man ON the border has a better record
than he. More than a dozen drSrrra-
does have registered oalhs that they will
have his life, and every one believes that
he will yet pay the penalty for his dcvo-
ton to law and order. When the stock
raiscrs on the Niobrara found the dcprc-
.dations Of the Middleton gang unbearn-
bile they made several unsuccessful cf-
forts to hunt down the thieves. Discnv-
cring the names Of the men instrument
tai in this pursuit. the chief outlaw sent
them letters warning them that if they
ever appeared on their ranches he would
cut their heads off and forward then, 10
Omaha, to be exhibited on poles. This
made the stockIncn furious, and they be-
came more determined than ever to Ct
feet his capture.
Llcwcllyn. had some local reputation
in the North Platte and Dcadwood coun-
try az a detective. lie had made several
killed two Black Hills stage robbriS.
Wishing to obtain his views, the stock
men sent for him and he unfullcI u plan
Of operations which was very sa,isEnc-
tory.
He proposed to take II or two trusty
men with him and join the outlaw band.
learn their haunts, and at the proper
time seize the leader. In all previous
attempts to capture Middleton. or any Of
his party, it had been found that any OF
binary posse recruited in the country
adjacent was Of no avail. for tonfcdrr-
ates Of the outlaw would invariably be
found among the number and no plan of
operations could be kept a secret. Ilcn-
ellyn proposed to pick his own men,
have arrangements made with the troops
stationed in the vicinity to give him as
Sistance when he needed it, and place no
Dependence whatever on the settlers.
With an order from ". \. Paxton OF
Omaha to his ranch foreman for horses,
Llcwellyn, accompanied by William
Hazcn and Charles Swcczcy. started out
properly disguised. Stopping at Pax
ton ranch. they produced their order.
obtained the horses, and under cover oc
night rode rapidly toward the North
Loup. When they arrived ut Buffalo
Bilfs ranch, Sweeney left them, and
Llcwcllyn and IlaZen proceeded a few
miles further and met Middleton and his
entire gang. Representing themselves
as !uSitives from Wyoming, they had no
trouble in disar,ning any suspicion the
"espcradoeS may have had. and were
cordially welcomed Is members Of the
fraternity.
For more than two months they re-
manned with the party. partiripatin. it:
their rohbrrics and learning their habits
and hiding places. In the mean time
Liewel'yn had found al opportunity of
communicating with Paxton by means o!
Swc"Zcy. and of explaining To- him his
plans. He directed Paxton to send n
rusty man to All appointed place. where
he was to lie in wait until he could get
Middleton there, and then, at a signal.
Inc outlaw was to be taken, dead or
alive. AIR. Paxton selected for thi. or
rand Bill LuykcnS, an Inspector Of the
Wyoming stock growers association
who went to the designated spot, and
waited there in the brush several DAYS,
At length the party appeared, Middleton
riding ahead, LlcwclIyn and IIazcn com
ing next, and seven or eight despcradocs
following. Llcwcllyn says they always
observed this order when on the march.
as if determined to be on the safe sid,
respecting the newcomers. Coming IN
to the place where Luykrns was con-
ccalcd with n rifle and two rcvolvcrs,
Llcwellyn gave the signal. At that in
slant Mid1l"ton'S horse SHE'D, and threw
the outlaw, but the latter was on his feet
in an instant, with II revolver in each
hand, pouring shot into tn. bushes.
Lnyk"n's rifle missed fire and he hur-
s"d tn" ground while Llrwcllyn and
liazrn, riding .apidly TO one side, opened
on the other thieves. IIazrn soon fell
with three bulIo.s in him, but Luykrns.