The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-26
HUNTED BY OUTLAWS.


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 n line OF work still in existence
with several agencies, but 1t is one in
which few men care to engage, no matter
what the salary. II is all right when you
are bunting the outlaw, but vastly differ
ent when he turns and hunts you Had
fully understood what would be re-
ouired Of me | would not have engaged in
the work for any salary the agency could
have named; but, once engaged, pride
and circumstance kept me bound 10 the
work until imperativey obliged to relin-
qush II.
For two years previous to my start,
man known as Bill Gibbs had been out
lawed In Arkansas. lie was robbcr and
murderer, had q price set upon his head,
and had taken refuge In the Boston Mount
aims, and FROM his lair delied all authority
OF law. lie was terror to n large district,
and the plan TO get ril OF him was discussed
and arranged like an ordinary business
transactson.
"what sum In cash will your agency
take 10 hunt down and kill Bill Gibbs2'
was the query.
Eve will do IL for - dollars"
"All right; 90 ahead"
When the prciminaries had been ar
ranged with the committee ! was called In
for orders
"You will proceed TO Huntsville, Ark,
and from thence locate Gibbs DO not
attempt TO take him prisoner. Tho whole
State wants him killed. Take your time
and make your own plans, but do not re-
turn until YOU have disposed OF him"
Inside OF five days was in Huntsville,
hut tramped over the country between
that town aud the base OF the range for a
week before | secured any definite inior-
nation regarding Gibbs Every farmer
know him, and almost every one paid him
tribute, but such was the fear OF his ven.
geancc that only an occasional person
dared admit having seen him. The outlaw
was entirely alone, aud ho had been
left alone so long that tho advantage would
be ON my side. lie was described TO me
rs n man 81 forty, very powerful and vim
: dictiyc, aud OF natural bloodthirty dis
position. When lac came down out OF the
MOUNTAINS NC WIS SUN W W. NNNli MNN AANNl
thing, although uuproyokod and among
people ready TO beiricnd found sew.
cral negroes who hirl hal IAN ear slashcd
of by him, and half dozen swl.te-gucn,
who had been slial-at o. Otherwise iniimi.
dated. II Wa over two weeks before
got anS Information OF direct value. !
.lhcn stumbled upon negro squallcr %
the southwest OF Huntsville and near the
foothills, who PANIED out nj lively rate.
/ encountered him ON trail Ia the woods,
and had him covered with my rifle before
hc knew 81 INV presence Us threatening
aud coaxing and bribing induced him To
Weld up tho information ! was after. lie
Nas then three miles from his cabin and
on his way to Huntsville TO procure sup
plies for Gihbs lie had q bundle Of coon
and fox skins, which he WAS 10 oxchang,
for coffee, cracker, powdor and lead. n,
had been q compulsory agcnt iur year
aud such was his fear Of the outlaw tina
when brought the mukzlc Of my cooke,
rifle down 20 within foot OF his brols
and threatened 10 fire he walled out:
"You kin dun kill me, mars white man
but rEe afraid Of Mars Gibbs iist Il,
same!"
Gibbs was 20 wait at the negro cabiI
until the owners return. ! ordered hin
20 20 forward aud say nothing 20 any liy
ing soul about meeting me, and when h
had disappeared | started l0f the cabin
had no idea that the outlaw would ~
main In the hut or close 20 u. While h
probably trusted the negro rs much ~ u
trusted any human being. his outlaw lii
would render him Suspicious OF everybody
and be would take no chances ! rcasonc
tina, he would quit the cabin ~ soon n
he had oh aincd bite 10 eat, and that h
would 40 into hiding nj some point lfoi
which he could command view. Their,
i0rc, when within n mile OF the spot,
tnadc q circuit 10 the right aud came ont
mile OF more 20 tao south oi the liul
clearing. | found that n rayine led dow
from thc mountain IN the direction OF tli
cabin, aud after an houf'r search up an
down discovered evidences that som
some one hal iraycrscd u but recently
Weeds were broken down, stones III
placed aud NJ certain moist spot ! ioun
plain footprints Tic outlaw had CON
down from bis lair by this gloomy irai
and hu would doubtless return by H.
met the negro about v o'clock In N
morning. ne would have iimu Ia do h
trading and return 10y or o'clock in III
afternoon. Gibbs night 20 of on an 81
petition after receiving his supplies, b,
The chances were that ho would at on,
return " his lair followed the fayiu
back 10 u point where IL narrowed 10
width Of siX or eight feet, and where III
path was In scmidafkncN even at hig
noon, aud there prepared my trap. 10
] met him face 10 lace ! could have shl
him, but could not lie in alsbu h aud ,
II, outlaw though hc was II was {,
much like murder. Inside Of an hour
had my rlc ~, % spring gun, 10 be "a
charged as the mans legs pressed a sml
cord running across the path. aud then
retired 10 a thick clump Of pines abol
forty rods away. and went into camp
await results II my action seems coll
bloodcd LET the reader condemn. | had
my pocket list Of five men whom Glib
hal killed In cold blood. aud the nam
Of dozen whom he had slashod az
MANNED out OF pure maligniiy.
While was arranging tho gun ~
land.lookos were approaching the cahl
They were strangers 10 the ncighborho
nd unarmod. Gibbs vas just leaving 4
bin 10 70 into hiding anu although Z
neither displayed weapons n
upon him 10 halt, he fired mp
Milh revolver, wounding one
nvidcr and The other In the sie
iul,garicd up the rayine and Ia
busrcn minutes In hiding before
raisih. spring gun discharged.
increaA minutes and then careful
the plate fpOt, and II was 10 II