Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-19
RUDE BOYCE.
\ Bit of the Early Days in Texas Related
by One of the Actors.


by One of the Actors.
A reporter of The GAZETTE in his mean
behring's yesterday accidentally stumbled
across q group in front of the Piclzwick and
CLEANED from casual drippings that the GEN.
ter or object of attraction possessed more
than casual interest. As he got closer the
humble scribe discerned medium sized,
compact and heavily built figure, and the
person of this build had face and express
sion that would excite attention upon most
any occasion, his gray eye being that ike
an eagle, and as it ever wandered IN It's
flashing restlessnesS seemed 10 anticipate
and take in all surroundings. The dlmpie
on either side of a full and determined
mouth showed amiabiIty, and the heavy
chin and aquiline nose denoted strong
character. A conspicuous wound on the
left cheek added to the marked features.
As the reporter fingered, gentleman
knowing all parties called him up and intro
duced him to the principal parsonage, who
proved to be no less than the cnce-TamouS
''Rube = Boyce. Catching on to the situa-
ton At once, The GAZETTE man, after an
interchange of pleasantries and when the
opportunity presented itself, engaged Nh.
Boyce in conversation; and, while the lat
ter hesitated at first from Z natural mod
esty observable, yet from an equally native
candor. he consented to speak of himself.
After some preliUinaries the reporter in
uuced Mr.. Boyce to refer 10 his private his
tory and adventures. being q matter of gen
eral interest as connected with q by-gOne
period in Texas, which on account of his
personal and family "reminiscences are rot
now often encountered.
Mr. Boyce then goOd-naturedly narrated
that his father came TO Texas in 80, and
| settled in Mason county, then a remote
frontier district. Rube at an early age eX-
| hibited physical daring and powers; and
| after getting into fights with boys, in which
| he proved victor and to be on tire side of
right, he began exploits as he grow older
with the Indians, who then infested the
| country. Subsequently he becam9 u buff
| falO-hunter on the great plains between
| Western Texas and California On the we'll
| known overland route in those regions.
| Returning to the vicinity of his boyhood he
assisted the officers IN the detection and ar
| rest of the organized bands of horse and
| cow thieves Gepredating at that time in
| Texas upon stock-raisers and farmers. And
| here his troubles began. On account OF his
| fearleSSueSs and success in thwarung
| these thi5ying gangs, they at once laid
| plans to kill him or cause his incarceration.
Such opportunities in those days were
| not ilfreQuent. He was forced into IN
| expected ditficulties, and as his enemies
| through their Vaccinations had influence
| in high quarters he yyas ere long Z prisoner
| on grave charges. Though innocent he had
| to deal with desperate foes, and was SO
| compelled to resort to dire expedlentS.
! Thus circumstances. if uniuStly, made him
| virtually an outlaw, as has been the
! case with many brave men. Difficulty
| after difficulty precipitated themselves,
/ and finally RUDE began life in New Mexico.
| There his enemies pursued him, and
| eventually they combined with Federal
! officers to cause his arrest for supposed
stage-robbery. This offense is punishable
with a life penalty. He was taken 10
Austin, and though able to give any bond,
| bail was in effect denied him. Chances TO
| escape to a man like him were not wanting,
but he preferred waiting for trial in con-
fdence OF his vindicatiOn. Finding, how
ever that the delay was intended he at last
consented TO accomplish his CelVerance
| from one of the best jails in the state. His
faithful wife managed to convey pistol to
him, and with it he Overpowered the
jaiiers, reached q trained race-horse pro-
vided near and sought refuge in
the mountains north of Austin. His es-
cane caused great excitement, and 4 reTu-
lar mounted cavalcade pursued Vet,
knowing his skill, they would not attempt
to follow him in the cedar thicketS. He
went on quietly that night, staid with
friends and relatives in the next county,
and then slowly made his way once again
10 New Mexico. Here after q consider
able lapse of time, he voluntarily gave him
self into the hands of the United States
authorities TO avoid the dangers which still
| followed him by his old haters.
He was tried in Austin, convicted, and
granted Il new trial, manly by reason of
! the vigorous arguments OF his leading coun-
| sci, Hon. John Han, ,ch, who demonstrated
| that the United States marshal and his dep
| uties had conspired to influence the jury TO
| find a verdict of guilty. Afterwards ne
| was tried and acquitted on the same indict-
| ment Upon his release he endeavored to
| avoid all former complications, and in spite
\ i
| brOglioS, and was several times charged
with murder and misdemeanOrs, always be-
| inc acquitted honorably. Now he stands
| out without an accusation of any kind pend
| ing against him. He limpS little from a
recent wound in the spine, which he re-
cefved when compelled to kill some of his
|! aggressors. The doctors gave him up, but
| MS will-power pulled him through.
| Mr.. Boyce at present resides in Brown
| wood with his wife and child; and, Gu ac-
| count of his wounds, is unable to do much
| work, having some cattle and sheep and
| other interests. He is about forty-one
| years of age, though appearing younger.
| His father was related to the well-known
| RCrnsbyS, who settled in the "bend'' of
| that name on the Colorado river below Aus
| tin. and who figured as the first settlers i'll
| that section extensively in the early MIS-
| tory of the state in controlling Mexicans
| and Indians, and who form an extensive aud
SOIuCSI4Oil III tAis.S paw VI NlAO
| state.
Mr.. Boyce, though comparatively unedu-
| Gated on account of his early disadvanta-
ges, is a modest, unassumink gentleman
| ana is a representative Of that type Of
| Texans now fast disappearing, who have
| much to excuse their apparent reckless
I ness, the cause of which the later-day Cit
| liens cannot appreciate. Such characters
possess a great deal that is admirable, and
| who. with their good sense, now do their
| part as well as in period that required
remarkable powers to survive and succeed.
They show also that the days of what has
been desperadoism are gone in Texas, and
| that those who made such reputation
| were forced thereto BY the exigencies of
the day, and are willing TO live more ad-
yanced lives when the times permit. They
have, besides. elements in them which,
under favorable auspices, achieve much
that is good and give S6t at best sterling
qualities worthy ot<Most any epoch or
cline.
4 special Ia1N matinee to-day-Jim, the