The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-16
whom he had slashed and MANNED ont

While was arranging the gun two
land-lookers were approaching the
cabin. They were strangers to the
neighborhood and unarmed. Gibbs
was just leaving the cabin to 90 into
hiding, and although the men neither
displayed weapons nor called upon him
to halt, he fired upon them with a re-
volver, wOunding one in the shoulder
and the other in the side.
He then started up the ravine,
and | had not been ten minutes
in hiding before l heard the
spring gun discharged. 1 waited a
few minutes and then carefully ap-
preached the spot, and it was to find
Gibbs dead across the string. He had
been instantly killed by the bulles.
When we came to get the body out to
have it identified we found the facial
expression to be as savage as that of
an enraged tiger. He had been living
the life of a wild beast until he re-
sembled one His nails were like
talons. his flesh covered with hair.
and he had the odor of a Gagged
panther.
My second adventure with an outlaw
lasted much longer. A half-breed
Choctaw named John Flint who was
a resident of Doaksville, l. T., and
who had killed several men in the
year after the close of the war, was
run out of the neighborhood by a vigil
lance committee. and he took up his
lair in the mountain spur to the south.
and swore that he would never be
taken alive nor make friends with a
human being. He was outlawed and a
price set upon his head. but it was
hoped he might ba taken alive and
hanged. Our agency was offered
81 600 more to capture him alive
than to furnish proofs of his death,
but it was at the same time admitted
that over dozen men had spent weeks
in vain in trying to either kill or capt
ure him. Three of the number had
been killed while pursuing the enter
prise.
AS is the case with every outlaw,
Flint had his friends and admirers in
the country about him. | reached
Doaksville to learn that he was around
with Il Winchester and two revolvers,
and that the people for twenty miles
around were intimidated by him. He
levied toll on the farmers with high
hand, obliging one to furnish meat,
ANOTHER flour, third cartridges, and
such was the terror his presence in
spired that no one dared betray him,
though all yearned to hear of his death
or capture. He was put on his guard
against me on my arrival, and he sent
me word that if | did not at once leave
the country he would have my life.
When l finally got ready 10 begin my
hunt for him, he was hunting me as
we'll. When | had secured such par
ticulars as | desired, l bundled up
what necessity demanded and cut
loose from civilization. That is,
headed for the mountains, determined
to pursue the man day and night until
| had run him down. 1t was no use
to plan to catch him about any, of the
farm houses. as he knew that / was
after him, and he would as measure
of prudence, forsake his old haunts for
the time being. 1t seemed to me the
best way to hunt for his lair and
have it out with him on his own
ground.
For the first three days got neither
track nor trace OF Flint. 1t was like
hunting for needle in a haystack. as
the mountain was thickly covered with
verdure. and split up with many ra-
vines and guIches. Nobody ever
found his hiding place. but from some
remarks dropped once when he had
liquor in him it was supposed to be a
cave in the rocks. and to be ap-
preached only with the greatest diff
Guilty. i'll met him abroad it would
be entirely by accident. so | carefully
avoided crossing any bare places
where he might espy me from his look
out. About mid-forenoon on the
fourth day came across snare set for
rabbits by some human hands. An in
vestigatiOn proved that it had been In
use for some time, and had held several
victims although empty at this time.
This must be the work of the outlaw,
since his presence on the mountain had
driven all hunters away. Two hours
later and mile away l discovered a
snare from which partridge had late
ly been taken. l felt then that ] was
in the neighborhood of the outlaws
den. but had to move slowly and ex.
ercise the greatest vigilance. l built
my fires in ravines AMI with the least
possible smoke. and whenever nigh.
came down | crept under the pines and
rolled myself in a blanket. On the
fifth and sixth days l did Loi cover
over two miles of ground, and most Of
that distance was covered on hands
and knees.
On the evening of the sixth day
had to descend the mountain to renew
my provisions at farmhouse ant
what was my chargin to learn from q
negro that Flint had visited the place
for the same purpose only the nigh
before. He gave me the direction TAX
en- by outlaw. | hunted for hin
another week without finding further
trace than a third snare he had set tOl
game On the thirteenth dav nv hun,
came to an end In q singular manner.
was following up dry ravine. so full