Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-25
HUNTED By AN OUTLAW.

Exciting Experience of Western Detective
While Following up Some PerilOus Game.
For the first three years of my connec-
ton with Western Detective agency. |
was known TO the employees of the agency,
when known at all, as "the outlaw man."
Not that had ever been an outlaw my
self, but because | was assigned TO the
duty of hunting down outlaws and no one
else 1t is line of work still in exist
ence with several agencies, but is one in
which few men care to engage, TO matter
what the salary. 1t is all right when you
are hunting the outlaw, but vastly differ
emit when he turns and hunts you. Had
fully understood what would be required
of me / would not nave engaged in the
work for any sslary the agency could have
named. but, once engaged, pride and cir
cumstances kept me bound to the work
until imperatively obliged to relinquish
it.
For two years previous to my start
man known as Bill G bbs had been out
lawed IN Arkansas. He was robber and
murderer, had price set upon his head,
and had taken refuge in the Boston
Mountains, and from his lair defied all
autcrity of law. He was terror to
lar. district. and the plan to get rid of
ordinary business transaction.
"What sum in cash will your agency
take to hunt down and kill GibbsS" was
the query.
eve will do it for - dollars"
"Al right; 60 ahead"
When the preliminaries had been ar
ranged with the committee / was called
in for orders.
"You will proceed TO Huntsville, Ark,
aad from thence locate Gibbs. Do not
attempt to take him prisoner. The whole
State wants him killed. Take your time
and make your own plans, but do not
return until you have disposed of him."
Inside of tive days | was in Huntsville,
but ira mped over the country between
that town and the base of the range for
week before / secured any definite in
formation regarding Gibbs. Every farmer
knew him, and almost every one paid him
tribute, but such was the fear of his
vengeance that only an occasional person
dared admit having seen him. The out
law was entirely alone, and he had been
left unmolested so long that the advan-
tage would be on my side. He was de-
scribed to me as man of 40, very power
ful and vindictiye, and of a natural blood
thirsty disposition. When he came down
ont of the mountains he was sure to do
some devlish thing, although unprovoked
and among people ready to befrlend
him. | found several negroes who had
an ear slashed off by him, aud half a
dozen white men who had been shot at
or otherwise intimidated. 1t was over
two weeks before / got any information
of direct value. / then stumbled upon a
negro squatter TO the southeast of Hunts
Vile and near the foothills, who PANIED
out at lively rate. | encountered him
on q trail in the woods, and had him Gov
cred with my rifle before he knew of
my presence. BY threatening and coax
ing and bribing | induced hin to yield
up the information / was after. He was
then three miles from his cabin and on
his way TO Huntsville TO procure supplies
for Gibbs. He had bundle of coon and
fox skins, which he was to exchange for
coffee, crackers, powder and lead. He
had been a compulsory agent for year,
and such was his fear of the outlaw that
when I brought the muzzle of my cooked
rifle down to within q foot of his breast
and threatened to fire he walled out:
"You kin dun kill me, mars white man,
but Tze afraid of Mars Gibbs iist de
samem
Gibbs was to Wait at the negro cabin
to 60 forward and say nothing to any
living soul about meeting me, and when
he had disappeared started for the cab
in. | had no idea that the outlaw would
remain in the hEt or close to it. While
probably trusted the negro as much as
he trusted any human being, his outlaw
life would render him suspicious of every
BODY, and he would take no chances
I reasoned that he would quit the cabin
as soon as he had obtained bite TO eat
and that he would go into hiding at SONS
point from which he could command 6
view. Therefore, when within mile OF
the spot, made q circuit to the right
and came out mile or more to the south
of the little clearing. | found that {
ravine led down from the mountain il
the direction of the cabin, and after al
hours seerch up and down | discovered
evidences that some one had trasersed i
but recently. Weeds were broken down
stones dis placed, and certain mos
spot, l found plain footprints. The out
law had come down from his lair by thI
gloomy trail, and be would 5oubtles re
turn BY it.
met the negro about 8 O'Clock in tn
morning. He would have time to 90 III
trading and return by or 5 in the afte
noon. Gibbs might go off on an expedi
ton after receiving his supplies, but tn
chances were that he would at once return
20 his lair. | followed the ravine back T.
point where it narrowed to width o
six or ely ht feet, and where the path wa
in semi-darkness even at high noon, an,
their prepared my trap. Had I me