Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-24
A JACK HAYS STORY.
The Little Incident which Gave Texas
Her Famous Ranger.

Auc AACtAc AuciOent winch Gave 1exoS
Her Famous Ranger.
Honey Grove. Tex, Cor of the Globe Democrat
There have been great many stories written
and published of the famous Jack Hays, the
Texas ranger. whose name and fame is as well
known in Texas in California, but / have
never yet seen anything in print in regard to
the life or history of Hays before he came to
Texas. Most of the stories about Jack Hays
say he was a stranger when he came to Texas
in 1886, and that but little was known of his
history before that time. have recently had
the pleasure Of meeting an old Tennessean,
Capt. Frank Bishop. who gave me
little piece of Jack Hays history which,
he says, accounts for Hays appearance in
Texas. and which will no doubt be interest
ing to the many friends and admirers of the
memory Of the redoubtable Texas Ranger (for
there are few left now of those who loved and
honored him in life). Hays was born near
the Hermitage. Old Hickory's place, in Ten
nessee, and Capt Bishop was born and raised
| on the adjoining farm. His father served
under Gen. Coffee, for whom Jack Hays was
| partly named John Coffee Hays was his full
name), and Frank Bishop and Jack Hays were
boys together, sharing in the same sports, at
| tending the same school in winter, hunting
squirrels, 'coons, and 'possums together, and
| growing up to manhood in close companion
warmest friendship, which was only broken
| by the death of Col Hays.
| HAYS LOVE STORY.
| When Hays was about twenty-five years old
he fell in love with Miss Betty Donaldson, the
| daughter of neigbboring farmer and for a
time the young lady seemed to return his ar
dent attachment For year or more she re-
| ceived his attentions and plighted him her
troth. Preparations for their marriage were
hnrv
borhood young man named Talbot, from
Mount Vernon, KY, who was reputed to be i'm
mensely wealthy, and who, besides being well
educated, was a handsome and accomplished
gentlemen OF pleasing address and polished
manners, well schooled in all those arts which
| go so far in helping a man to win the good
| opinion of the fair sex.
Now, although Hays was handsome young
| fellow, and was considered the best rider, the
best dancer and the best shot among the youth
| of the country, Miss Donaldson took a great
| pleasure in showing him that the attentions of
| Mr.. Talbot were not distasteful to her-in fact,
that she rather preferred them to those of
| young Hays Now, Jack Hays was not the man,
| even at that early age, to tamely submit to a
slight or wrong from either man or woman.
| He was a man of ardent temperament, and
could not brook the idea Of being second in
anything. As said of him good many
| years later He never failed a friend or foe"
| and he quickly informed Miss Betty that he
| would have no double-dealing must either
| remember her plighted word to him. and cease
to receive attentions from Mr.. Talbot, or she
| must recall her VOWS. and coquette with and
marry whom she pleased Miss Donaldson was
young lady of spirit, and besides being piqued
| at being taken to task by her lover was, after
| the manner of women, much taken with the
| handsome face. fine words and pleasant man.
nere of young Talbot, and so it only required
| few moments and few sharp words to give Mr..
Jack Hays his congo, and to announce her de-
termination OF marrying MIR. Talbot.
| FATAL SEQUEL.
HAYS recognized her right to do as she
pleased in this matter, and there would have
| been no trouble about it had not Mr.. Talbot,
elated by his success in winning the affections
| of Hays sweetheart away from him. boosted of
| his conquest ON every occasion. At party In
the neighborhood shortly after the rupture of
| the engagement between Hays and Miss DON
| aldson. Talbot tainted Hays with his defeat.
| and the result was Talbot was knocked down
| and sOundly whipped by the disappointed lover,
| who. though much smaller than his successful
rival. was more than match for him in agility
| and grit-two characteristics which afterward
rendered him famous. Smarting under his
| chastisement Talbot sent challenge to Hays,
| which was, of course, promptly accepted, and
| the prelimnaries of the meeting were quickly
| arranged. Hays selected rifles the weapons.
| and Captain Frank Bishop, my informant, acted
as his second. The duel took place at sunrise
| on bright June morning, about two miles
| from the Hermitage, in secluded spot. The
| distance was twenty PAGES. and Talbot was shot
| through the heart, never speaking after the
| crack of Hays rifle and dying almost instantly.
| Hays and his second, Bishop, left the coun-
| try Immediately, ard after great deal of wan
| dering finally landed in New Orleans. where
| they remained for nearly year. and, as Bishop
| says, had .'lots of fun" They were well sup
| piled with money, and they won a great deal
| while in the Crescent City, both at cards and
at horse-racing, penchant for the latter sport
| being always a noted characteristic of Jack
| HAYS, though he foreswore cards, and il is said
| he was never known to hazard a cent at any
game of cards during his career in Texas.
| GOING TO TEXAS
After remaining nearly year in New Or
| leans, Hays and his companion went home.
| Hays remained there little over a year, and
| was never indicted or arrested for the killing
| of Talbot. 1t seemed to be the impression of
the people of the community that he had
| done the fair thing in the matter, and he
not molested Capt Bishop says that Miss
Donaldson and her family made overtures
| to Hays for a reconciliation but that the
| latter would not hear of it, saying that Miss
| Betsy had been the cause of his killing fell
bowman, and that he could never be happy
with her or make her happy. Capt. Bishop
| says that Hays suffered keenly from remorse
/ for the killing of Talbot; spirit of I'M
| rest seemed to take possession of him, and he
| finally decided to come to Texas, and seek in
i TINS new country IOrgelIulnesS OF MS early
troubles in the home of his youth. Whether
he ever found ''surcease of sorrow" is not
known, but that he found adventure in plenty,
and went through enough to make any one
almost "cease to remember" is a matter of
history. Certain it is, that the unerring aim
| which enabled him to kill his first antagonist
never failed him in his hour of need, and that
he sent many an Indian to the happy hunting
grounds; and many Mexican went into the
presence of his Maker without the benefit of
clergy when Jack Hays drew a bead ON him
and his finger pressed the trigger, though he
never, SO far as is known, slew a man save in
| fair and manly battle.
| Capt Bishop, who furnishes this scrap of
history in the life Of Jack Hays, came to Texas
with him, but did not follow him through his
adventurous career in Texas though he served
| in Hays regiment during the Mexican war, at
| the close of which he returned to his old home
in Tennessee, and now resides near Chatta-
nooga, that state. He came to Texas on bust
ness and while here attended the Dallas fair
and exposition, and it was there your corre-
| spondent met him and he furnished me the
particulars above recited.
| DRAMATIC SCENE IN THE MINNESOTA LEGIsLA-
| TrpP -Durino the vote which elecfad Wash