The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-10
A POLICEMAN IN A WILD COUNTRY.
How Jack Kirkup, of Sprouts Landing,
Put Desperate Out of Town.

Put Desperate Out of Town.
There was only one policeman to en-
force the law in territory the size of
Rhode Island. He was quite as remark
able in his way as any other development
of that embryotic civilization. His name
was Jack Kirkup, and all who knew him
spoke of him as being physically the
most superb example of manhood in the
Dominion. Six feet and three inches in
height, with the chest, neck and limbs
of giant. his 800 pounds of weight were
SO exactly his complement as to give him
the symmetry of an Apollo. He was
good looking, with the beauty of around
faced, good natured boy, and his thick
hair fell in a cluster of ringlets over his
forehead and upon his neck.
No knight of Arthur's circle can have
been more picturesque a figure in the
forest than this Jack. He was as meas
as dandy. He wore high boots and
corduroy knickerbockers, flannel shirt
and a sack coat, and rode his big bay
horse with the ease and grace of Sko-
belief. He smoked like d fire of green
brush. In dozen years he had slept
more frequently in the open air upon
pebble beds or IN trenches in the snow,
than upon ordinary bedding, and he ex-
hibited, in his graceful movements, his
sparkling eyes and truddy cheeks, his
massive frame and his imperturbable
good nature, degree Of health and
vigor that would seem insolent to the
average New Yorker.
Now that the railroad was building
he kept ever on the trail, along what
was called ''the right of way"-going
from camp to camp to Jump" peddlers
and gamblers and to quell disorder-ex-
cept on pay day, once month, when he
staid at Sproat's Landing.
The echoes of his fearless behavior and
lively adventures rang in every gather
ing. The general tenor of the stories
was to the effect that he usually gave
one warning to evil doors, and if they did
not heed that he cleaned them out"
He carried a revolver, but never had
used it. Even when the most notorious
gambler on our border had crossed over
into Jacks bailiwick the policeman de-
pended upon his fists. He had met the
gambler and had advised" him to take
the cars next day. The gambler, in re-
ply, had suggested that both would get
along more quietly if each minded his
own affairs, whereupon Kirkup had said,
"You hear me; take the cars out of here
tomorrow" The little community Gt
was Donald, B. c., very rough place at
the time) held its breathing for twenty
four hours, and at the approach of train
time was on tiptoe with strained anxiety.
At twenty minutes before the hour the
policeman. amiable and easy going as
ever in appearance, began tour of the
houses. 1t was in tavern that hefound
the gambler.
"You must take the train" said he.
'.You can't make me-" replied the
gambler
There were no mere words. In two
minutes the giant was carrying the limp
body of the ruffian to wagon, in which
he drove him to Jail. There he washed
the blood off the gamblers face and
tidied his collar and scarf. From there
the couple walked to the cars, where
they parted amicably.
II had to be little rough" said Kirk
up to the loungers at the station, "be-
cause he was armed like a pincushion,
and / didn't want to kill him."-Julian
Ralph in Harper's.