Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-09-23
a sHERIFF's COURAGE.
Locking Himself Up with Five Prisone
to SubSlue Them.

Locking Himself Up With Five Prisoners
to subdue Them.
81 think that the bravest man ever
knew" said the Colonel, ''was one OF
the worst. His name was Kit Castle,
and for some years, SO long ago that my
hair grows graycr when l think OF 1t,
he was sheriff OF Uintah County, Wy
oming. Kit had his own peculiar code
Of morals like good many other west
ern men of that day. He borrowed
money in the most reckless fashion, but
he always paid 1t back to the last cent. lie
never broke promise. But he would
cheat at cards at every opportunity. lie
couldn't helpit Every one knew that
he cheated, but no man was ever bold
enough to say so in his face, for Castle
was not afraid OF any thing that walked
or crawled, and he was dead shot every
time his big finger pressed trigger. lie
WAS over six feet in height lion In
strength and tiger when in rage.
"lle started out alone on horseback
once when he was sheriff to capture two
horse thieves Hc was gone for week,
and people began to think that Kit had
rot the worst OF a hard fight, when he
rode into town one evening and stalked
up to u bar.
"sWhere are your men. Kit?' some ono
asked with laugh, thinking they had
slipped him.
..The sheriff pulled from his belt
three reyolvers and laid them down.
Then he went out to his horse and un-
fastening two pairs OF spurs from the
saddle came back and threw them jing-
ling and ringing on the bar counter.
| One OF them revolvers is mine, said
Kit, slowly. All the rest is souvenirs
/ - 'sooveneers, he pronouncedi It, ihad
sixty miles 10 ride back, and hadn't
the time to lead two horses with the
| corpses OF two horse thieves tied on
their backs That was all he ever said
about the Eight.
sperhaps more villainous set OF
scoundrcls was never collected than tho
prisoners whom Castle always had in
the county Jail. The jail was OF stone
! and was at tho rear OF the courthouse.
Inside the place was lined with Sheet
iron. and along the end ran the heavily
barred cells. One evening the sheriff
went into the Jail to 500 If his prisoners
were all right for the night. One OF
them had gotten out of his cell and HI.
then roloased four otlior dosperadoes.
When Kit opened the door into the Jail
the men started for him with rush.
Kit had time to spring through the door
and close 1t, and his prisoners would
have been as secure In tho iron-walled
corridor as In their cells. But the sight
OF tho five mon maddcned him. and ho
threw the door shut with a loud clang
locking himself in the room with tho
others
"Drawing his revolver he lcaped a
the men, believing in his anger ll'
was too enraged to shoot them. ll'
wanted TO punish them for daring to at
tack him. His strength and emery,
were tremendous, and no hurled the iis'
men into one OF the eiron corners. Push
ing them and knocking them about, h'
heat them over tho head and Shoulders
and arms with the butt OF his reyolve
luptil they screamed ut the topof tliei
voices In their helpless agony. Then
his teeth shut close together In his grea
law, he picked them up one BY one an
pitcbed them into their cells, sccurcl
fastening the bolts.
..sucli daring and reclslcssnoss as hi
could belong only to man who did no
know tho name OF physical fear II
WASH born fighter, and as soldier In
battle would have been remorselessi
fierce. But he had ono enemy strongc
than lie. Whisky snapped his life whc
he was in his prime. \. Tribune.