Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1891-12-18
A BLOODY HIGHWAY.
Record OF tho Crimes Committed
on a Kansas Road.
A Fsyorite Resort of Thieves and Muir
derers who Plundered and
Killed at Every OPP
portunity.


has attained an une nviable notOriety
during the last few years. To the ghost
hunter IL would prove rich field, for
here can be found enough horrors To
fully satisfy the most morbid magma
ton. A few years ago a cattleman,
known as Dave Bright, was driven in
hack on this road from Arkansas City,
beaten senseless and robbed of 500. A
little further down, at Silverdale rail-
way station, George Blair was shot and
killed while trying To rob the postofiice.
Near where the road crosses Grouse
creek, known as Estus ford, United
States Richard Walk er, unaided except
by his Winchester rife. captured
party of five horse thieves who had
camped there, preparing for "A raid prior
TO "a run down into the territory. lie
was more fortunate than the city mar
shall of Coffeyville, who. with posse of
five men, rode into camp Of three
horse-thieves. near the same spot. and
demanded their surrender The mar
shall was shot down by the leader Of the
thieves, when the posse fred a volley,
bringing down the murder Both men
were carried TO little log schoolhouse
near the creek, where they were ten
derby cared for until both the officer and
the outlaw died few minutes later
The latter was buried beside the road
and the marshal was carried home to
his mourning family. At Estus ford an
old man named Keith was knocked
from his horse, robbed, bound and
gagged, taken across the creek and
turned loose ON the burned prairie To
make his way the best he cOulu, bare
footed, 10 Arkansas city. In the log
schoolhouse which had sheltered the
murdered officer and his slayer, within
a few feet of the grave that could stu
be plainly seen. Tom Armstrong was
captured by the sheriff Of Cowley
county. Armstrong had shot and killed
James Riley in front II his own store
in Arkansas City, ami had fled 10 the old
rendezvous Down this trail, or road,
many stolen horses had been led across
the river out If reach Of danger So
numerous had become these thcfts that
finally "a vigilance committee arrested
High iagcr who wa, suspected Of be-
Ing one of the gang They took him out
TO Grouse creek and hanged him from
a tree until ur was almost dead. lie
did not confess and was finally turned
loose. Only little farther down the
road horse thief named Iollcs was ar
rested after brief battle H which no
one was injured This time the right
man was secured and he il NO" serving
"A long term ga the pCuitentiary. n
short time since Iohu Seeicy, another
man afflicted with desire 20 appropri-
ate other peoples horses, was arrested
and taken 90 Guthrie. lie had taken
shelter In one of the draws Immediate
ly beside the road Later ON comes the
murder Of Lee West, who was shot and
killed Just a. he had crossed a little
bridge over Grouse creek. Farther up
the creek is an island on which an old
man named Tournicr was killed, while
eastward in the valley and only a short
distance from the poad the body of an
unknown man was found shot through
the forehead. In the carly days this
section of the state was said 90 be the
HEADQUARTERS for horse thieves. On an
island formed at the junction of the
two rivers was at one time "A regularly
fortified camp, where "A tough gang
might be found al any time. As the
country became settled the lawlesS elc-
ment sought shelter down in the rough
country of Indian territory, but the rec
ord of Grouse creek road has become a
more bloody one.