The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1885-09-12
BRONCHO BERTHE.
The Rangers Adopted Child and
Hor Tragic Doath.

raid in 1880 Northwestern Texas and
Southern New Mexico we're oycrrun by
well.organilcd band. of dcsporadoos and
''rustlcrs, and the State Ranger. were
kept busy night and day hunting them
down.
In Preside County. Tex there was a
particularly desperate and determined
band of outlaws under command Of
Dave Anderson. who was ably assisted
BY his two brothers, frd and Boil.
They robbed the ranchman right and
left, %plundercd stage coaches and pri-
yaie ambulances. aud even attacked
stores At some Of the small villages.
In the spring Of '7gthc Rangers began
a determined war on the desperate out.
Law organization. and during the spring
and summer had mans battles with
them. Several were killed. others were
captured. and the gang finally broken up
and driven from the State. The chief
outlaw alone remained behind. and
finding n hiding place In one Of the deep
canyons of the Prison Mountains ha
managed for several months 10 So oflcc.
tuAlly conceal himself tina, we finally he
gan to believe that he. too. had fed the
country.
0he day. however. late in the fall. A
Ranger discovered his camp in an almost
inaccessible canyon on the head waters
Of Lone Cottonwood Greek. aud a, once
hurried To camp and gave information
The commander Of the l. COMPANY.
Capt Charles l. Neiull. NJ once ordered
out \ scout 81 twelve men under com.
mand u Corporal ID NJ Goo,ley. with
orders To either capture or kill the out.
law chief Two days after leaving camp
we reached the nighborhood Of thc
bandits stronghold, and three men werr
sent forward on foot 10 r~cconnoiier. We
bad a high mountain "a climb. on the
other side II which Dave had hi m
II had rough and rocky sides, but was a
level mesa o. top. We werr walking
aernss this plain when \ shot ring out
on the clear air. and the man on my
right fell 10 the ground wounded
through the left leg. The shot came
from the direction Of a Loose pile 81
boulders % our right. and hooking NJ
quickly We Jaw the MAJ We werr search.
Ing for spring from behind the shelter
with his Winchester In hi, hand W.
raised il tn biz shoulder Ia sha1t. bal
before bis finger pressed the trigger
Private Julius VI Bird. who was /
little behind me and on nv left side dis.
charged hi. uwn weapon and the OUTLAW
rceled and fell. We walked toward him
and discovered that be- was stone dead,
Bird bullet having penetrated bis heart.
The shooting had alarmed the rest oil
the party, and a. We returned 10 oul
wounded cumpAnIln they came pouring
over the side II the ness 10 assist us
The corporal WAS leading and brief,
Informed him what had taken place. III,
sent two men back with the wounded
Ranger 10 the place where ve had lef
q horses, and the rest II ~ crosse,
the mesa and began the descent If m
mountain ~ the other side. At the foe
u which the dead man had his cam y
II was VERY cleYerly concealed. an,
We were within one hundred yards ofth
spot before We saw the little ten, and IN
tso cabyas-opverd wagons. which CON
pnssd bic equipment. At the head q
the narrow pass down which We ver
marching was rude Cuw.pea. aud whel
We passed i we heard \ childish vote
singing = quaint rhyme. The Who'll
party halted. and the mar in adyanc
poercd around a huge boulder which mai
urally fenced one side o. the pen.
''lt's only a baby" he said. and wer
forward.
Wefollowed HMM single flc. IND,
rough brush shelter vas seated IN
singer. rocking herself 10 and fro In
homemade chair. and busily engage
10 dressing a dilapidated doll She looI
ed up As we approached. and we "a.
that her face was round aud pretty. /
up by two great brown eyes that locke
into IN unabashed. She was A. brow
a a berry, and = tangled mass Of 70
low curls fell down over her shoulder
"Howdyri she cried. and clutch,
her doll tightly.
''Howdy, little onsP' said the %
porsl Whats your name7r
MY prop'rest name Is Annie RI
erfs Anderson, she answered. ''but Da.
calls me Broncho Bertie. cause I'm
utld"