The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-08-05
AN OUTLAWS WILD LIFE.
HOW BILLY THE KID" WAS DRAWN
TO HI6DooM.
Career of n Noted Outlaw in h
Southwest How the Slayer OF
Many Men Me- His Death.

TO HIS doom.
Career of n Noted Outlaw in the
Southwest How the Slayer OF
Many Men Met His n
Billy the Kid, the notorious outlaw,
was ~passionately fond of women, and
they idolized him. He smoked cigar
cites, never drank, and had tine physique
of an Apollo, with the eyes Of a god
flashing as the stars on the darkest
night. As a horseman he was daring
and graceful, and with his Winchester,
or self.cocking Smith & Wesson, a man
who never missed his aim. The winter
of 1879 he spent at Sascaso, on the
Canadian river. He considered himself
greatly wrongcd by the confscation of
Ills cattle ard the price set upon his
head by the government, while John
Chiselm, for whom he had lost all,
turned a cold shoulder upon him. That
sourcd Billy's disposition. Advised
by his best friends to emigratc
to Old Mexico, and turn over a new
leaf, he swore that he would not, but
would return to New Mexico and make
good his losses in q financial sense. lie
did return, and from that time on his
hand was raised against those who had
BETRAYED him and the authorities. He
and his party were coralled in a ranch in
Central New Mexico in the winter of
1882 by their enemies, and besieged till
famine brought n council OF war. All
were in favor Of surrendering but the
Kid; but to save their lives, and on the
promise of fair treatment by their cap
tors, he surrendered with them. At this
time he had killed twenty-five men-onc
for each year of his life. lie asserted
that his conscience vas clear, and That
ne had not killed any ono except in self
defence. After their capture he and his
friends were taken to Las Vegas and
placed on board of a passenger train of
the Santa Fc and Topeka road
There was terrible excitement in the
town, anG a mob had been formed to
lynch them. All but Billy Of the pris.
oners covered under the cor seats, filled
with fear; but he, with shackled hands,
threw III the car window and laughed in
the faces of his would-be slayers, and
told the sheriff that if he would give him
back his Winchester he would stand the
whole mob off. The sheriff. cool and
ncrvy man-fnally told the mob that if
they did not cease he would strike the
shacklcs from them, give them back
their arms and let the people suffer the
consequences. He had given his word
to his prisoners that he would protect
them, and the mob would only reach
them over his dead body. At this the
crowd withdrew, and the train took
these noted men TO Santa Fc, where they
were kept in Jail till the court convened,
and then taken to Las Cruces, in the val
ley of the Rio Grande for trial. Billy
was convicted of murder and sente need
to be hanged in Lincoln county, and his
escort to the gallows was Deputy United
States Marshal Bob Ollinger and one
guard. Owing to Billy's reputation
United States Marshal John Shcr-
man, Jr.. had caused to be made a src.
cial kind of shackles of steel rings and
Yale locks, and weighing thirty pounds.
These were placed on the prisoner.
When half Of their journey had been
travcrscd they stopped at q ranch for din
ncr, Billy being left alone in the room
with the guard. while Ollingcr crossed
the placita to get his dinner. Just what
happened will never be known. In some
way or other the Kid got near enough to
the guard to crush his skull with his
shackles, and then, to complete his work,
drew the mans revolver and shot him
twice. Ollingcr, hearing the shots, came
running back, but Billy met him at the
door with q gun in his hands that had
been left there, saying, "Look out for
yourself, Bobm shot him dead. Billy
then gathered up their weapons, forced
the people at the hacienda to cut the
shackles from him, which was done at q
blacksmith shop, and compelled them to
lasso and saddle the finest horse in the
corral. The animal was a bronco, and
Billy, being stiifcncd from his shackles
and captivity, or attempting to mount
was thrown. lie came down on his feet,
however, had the animal caught again,
and the second attempt was a success.
lie flew away.
Bob Ollingcr was one Of the n~crvicst
deputies and best shots in the country,
and was selected rs Billy's escort on this
account and he made his boasts to Billy
when he started that he would "stay''
with him till he swung him from the
gallows. Billy quietly smiled and an.
swcrcd, "Thcrc's many n slip 'twixt cup
and lip" Twcnty-four hours after Billy
made his celebrated escape from the ha.
cienda he was met by two men who had
been prominent in the Lincoln county
war. in opposition to Billy. Just what
occurred there was never known either,
but the dead bodies were found, pierced
with bullets, by the pursuing party that
had organized and gone after Billy. For
several months nothing was heard of
him, and it was supposed that he had
gone to South America or Mexico. If
he had, the last tragic scene in his event.
full life would in all probability never
have been writer. On the banks of the
Rio Pccos, in one of the most beautiful
spots in the valley. Fort Sumner was
built. 1t wa fora long time an import
ant post, and was at one period the res
crvation for the exploits of Kit Carson
and his old comradc hunter, Indian
fighter and trapper Maxwell.
The post, with its magnificent Or
chards, vineyards, grand avenues of ala
medals (cottonwoods) lining its ap-
proaches, fine buildings. etc, was finally
abandoned by the government, and was
purchased ~ Maxwell, who had married
n wealthy Spanish lady, obtaining by
the union possession Of the celebrated
Maxwell land grant. Here he lived,
surrounded by his family, poems. retain
crs and vast herds. lie died, leaving q
widow and several sons and daughters,
the latter being educated and accom-
plishcd, and famous for beauty that
springs from an admixture of American
and Castillian blood. The place is now
called Bosquc Redonna Ground grovc(,
and is still owned and occupied by the
surviving members OF the Maxwell fam
lily. A few miles below this hacienda
commences the Chisclm range. During
Billy's s%ojourn in this valley he was often
at Maxwells, and his handsome presence,
dashing %gallantry, and complete master
Of Spanish gave him the free cn:rce of
the family circle. One of the daughters
was at the time sixteen years of age,
just budding into w%omanhood, with
that languishing, tropical voluptuous-
ness that some writer's rave about. They
met and loved. During his chcckcred
career they met often and Bosque Redon-
ma became to him 4. harbor toward which
he felt safe to steer in time of storms.
After he had made his escape, almost
from the gallews, instead Of leaving the
country, as was supposed, he went direct
to his bonita scnorita. and was con-
ccaled and cared for by her and her fam
ily.
The the jealousy of a disappointed
sutton for the hand of the fair Lola, the
secret of his hiding place was disclosed
to Pat Garrett, the tall, lank, fearless,
lightning-shot sheriff Of San Miguel
county-thc only nan in New Mexico
who had the necessary nerve and skill
with the as" to seek a personal cncoun-
or with RiI1v Eorraft coi3 pnt q wnr6 |