Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-06-14
BOB FORD'S CAREER
How THB SLAYER OF JESSE JAMES NET HIS
FATE.
Stanley Wood Gives Some Insgh. Into The Des-
psraio's Character and Habis-Hs Capture
Of the Mexican Town o. Vegas and
His lgn1miniOuS Surrender.

curious coincidence that Ford died in
much the same manner as did his VIC
tim. Jesse James. He was taken by sur
prise. and shot down without the slight
est opportunity 20 defend himself IL
seems that Kelley and Ford had quar-
relied over game of cards, IN the town
Of Pueblo, about a week before the
shooting, and that each had sworn TO
s'snoot az sight For a week or more
their paths did not cross, but this even
ing Ford, who was standing 10 his own
dance house iu Creede, was caught
sight OF by Kelley, who. raising a Win
chester quickly TO his shoulder, before
Ford could draw his pistol, fired, aud
Senta 4j-caliber bullet tearing through
the throat of his enemy. Ford fell as
though stricken by q lightning bolt the
blood gushing from the severed lugular
ana, with q gaspiug, inarticulate cry,
died, as be always claimed he would die,
'with his boots on
Bob Ford was a well-kuown character
in Colorado, and was not considered, on
the whole, as a bad man IN the
peculiar Western meaning of the term.
He was "a salooukeeper and gambler
bv profession, and for seyera. years car
RED on his dual business iu Nalseuburg,
Col, where be made q little money, aud
was tolerated as a sort OF a necessary
evil, OF no especial danger 10 the peace
and good name OF the town. out not
exactly an OBJECT az Wnich the ueCen.
citizens could point with pride.
There was aiways a cloud over Bob
Ford. Even the men of his own class
..of,TH Y.ayar hrinv themselves into "A
state of hearty COmradeshlp with him.
lie was not bad companion; he was
lavish with his money, entertaining IN
his conversation, square In his gam
ing; yet nobody could forget the man
ner IN which be killed his Old compan-
ion. Jessie James, and this fact created
a deep-seated distrust 10 the minds OF
all who had anything 20 dc With him.
d.strust which was never openly shown,
but which, none the less, was felt by
him.
To spite Of an air OF brayado and an
appearance of reckless gayety, Bob
Ford was known 10 be anything but
happy man by those who were 10 his
confidence. The quiet and good
order OF Wa.senourg paled upon him,
and when the excitement broke out az
Creole Camp be was among the first 20
join the stampede for the new discoy-
cry He did notruSh into Creole Camp
fired By the prospector'S ambition; he
did not expect 90 become rich through
the discovery Of q great mine; but he
did expect 90 ind something more pre-
tioUs TO him than gold, more necessary
than silver, and that was excitement.
He plunged into every whirlpool OF
dissipation that eddied between the
frOwuing cliffs which shut In the camp
at Creole. de gamoled wildly, drank
deeply aud when these diversions grew
tame be would 90 up % Denver or Pue-
bio 90 attend the races, 10 ind new ex-
elements aud 20 drown that sense Of
loneliness which was one Of the punish
ments be experienced for the killing Of
Jesse James.
Human nature IS much the same
thing, In essence, the world over. The
high and the low, the rich and the poor,
the good and the bad, have, 20 begin
with, the same general characteristics.
Circumstances, environment, personal
eudeav0r, modify the individual and
mold the class, but parallels in thought
and action run through all classes.
So 10 was with the class 20 which Ford
belonged. 10 had its popular men, It's
leaders, it's followers, it's parlahs, its
models, It's OutcaSts, just as has good So
ciety and respectable communities.
Among the gamblers at Creede Camp
"SOapy smith" was cOnsldered Square
man and worthy Of due respect and
consideration; on the other hand,
Monte Barker was not considered
straight" and was relegated 10 the
"iringe OF society" as q ''tin-horn" gam
bier Bob Ford was neither admired
nor dlspised by his associates. He oc-
cupied a sort OF neutral position, being
considered square, but not exactly
the right kind of a man 70 "tie to-
Ford contted 90 his iutimateS his be-
lief that he was doomed 20 die with his
boots on, and was often heard TO say:
"I'm not afraid TO pass ia nv checks
that way, boys, but u / knew who the
fellow was that's going 10 get the drop
on me, wouIlut 1 down him. Well,
you can Just Oct would But predeS-
tiaatlon doesn.t Work mat way, and
Mdrshal Money VINO hearu BOD Ford
make the remark quoted, didn't know
then That be was tated 20 be the aveng-
or OF Jesse James aud the indicator Of
outraged society.
As a general rule Bob Ford was not a
QuarrelsoUe man, but occasionally when
drunk he was irritable, OyerbearinR aud
dangerous. Az such times those who
knew hlm gave him wide birth, Tor be
was quick with his revolver and always
carried TWO. MS pistols were curious
looking weapons, being forty-6ves
sawed OF that Is, the barre, OF each
had hnnu ehnrrarnF mr. - n NOD ~ q, q, f...,L