Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-12-11
Remarkable Career Of a chero-
kee Desperate.
TOM STARR, THE TERROR.
He Stole Horses from coufederaies IN Texas
and Sold Them 10 Federals in Kansas.
Before The War He Was Successful Dealer
In Human Lvesiock-A treaty Of Peace
With The Cherokee hallon--His
Long List Of Victims.

uotb III lts Illles DolDe ftlufUtuf SUM
have died naturally aud some are still
living and at lapgo, but the majority q
them have sooner or later been usheret
Into the happy hunting ground WITH
thoir moocasins on.
Fifty years ago or more when the
Cherokee Nation as u body polite was
in It's infancy, and tho red mems law IN
y disorganized state, the average Chero-
kee freedman considered that he was
privileged character 10 do what
ever he was able. At that time the
Cherokeos had just framed a constitu-
ton in imitation Of their pale face
brethren, and were struggling under
the many difficulties that attended tho
adoption Of settled form OF govern
ment. Up to this time the chief was
all-powerful, aud II now became diff
hcult task for many OF the red men OF
the forest to fully realize their changed
position and bring themselves 70
respect an ordinary officer OF the law
Most OF them, however, finally settled
down TO the white mans way OF doing
business, but others of more turbu.
lent spirit preferred to become outlaws
and desperadoes,
Old Tom Starr. who is now dead, was
perhaps the most remarkable despera-
do that ever lived. For quarter OF a
century he was q terror TO the Indian
Territory. He was full-blooded Cher
okoe Indian and came 20 the nation
from the old Cherokee country in Goor-
gia over seventy-Gvc years ago. The
origin Of Tom Starr Is somcwht obscure
but IL 10 known that he came west with
his fathor when u mere infant.
The old man Starr was bad man
10 begin with, aud when he came to the
country the ChoroSees were Just essay
ing their new form Of government, and
he was ono Of tho first to bid defiance 20
the now order OF things. He became
involved in some trouble and killed an
officer who attempted his arrest. An
armed posse of fifteen men went 20 take
tho old man, and they had 10 riddle
him with bullets before they could do
It, Young Tom was then about fifteen
years old, aud so great was his attach
mont for his father that he vas by his
side almost constantly, Tom WIS pres
Ont at the killing, and his father died
In his arms.
In bringing the dead man to Table
qunh for Identification and burial, but
little attention was paid the lad that
had thus been made an orphan but he
was at the funeral OF his father, with
ioarlees checks and threatening eN-
preston bcaming from his piercing
black eyes.
After the old man had boen laid to
rest forever tho boy fingered NJ tho
grave. When tho crowd VI unsympa-
thiaing and curious people had dis
psrsed, and there remained but IA
uttlo mound OF frCsh-turnod dirt 70
lnnrk the lasts resting place Of his
father, Tom knelt over the newly.mado
grave and registered
ArERIlBLE OATH OF VENGENCE.
lie sworc by the mutual love he and
bis father bore each other that he
would XIII every man OF the posse who
was present at the murder Of his father
before the beard should grow ON his
face.
How VOL he kept this dreadful oath
no one ever knew better than Tom him.
self. II Is fact, however, that in loss
thnn two years, aud before he WIS II
years cd he Ind carried ont his yog,
aud the entire posse Of fifteen mon had
fallen victims 60 his deadly and unor.
ring aim. This was the beginning OF
Tom STAIRS caroor as desperate
OF tho most remarkable known In the
worlds history.
He Joined band Of the most desperate
men In the West, and soon afterwards
became thor leador In thoh deeds OF
daring crime. For thirty years he was
molly terror to tho Cherokee people,
Oiiicor after oihcor who attempted his
arrest fell a victim TO his deadly aim.
Citizen alter clifton who revealed his
whereabOuts or betrayed him IN the
loast wero likewise murdered by tho
uutlaW. IN 1874 and 1915 rewards nr-
Rregaung $4,000 were offered for him
uead or alive but his capture seemed
IN lnpossihiity, and no doled tho
Cnerokee aud United States authorities
aIlke' As STAIRS reputation grew, so
grew Ms band OF follower.
IN 1901 ne had about forty desperate
men ~ his command Of ovory color and
nationality, There were full-blOod
Indians and hali-breed white mon. mi,
blood negroes and hall.broed indians
Dagoes, Mexicans and Irishmen ID
meant almost certain death for ono az
his men TO show the white feather In
an emergency, or to botray him In the
least On one occasion d nembor al
the gang-a MeXlcan--hotrayed him NV
leading sheriff aud his posse To his
rendezvous on the Canadian river. PAN
OF the gang were captured and killed.
but Old Tom made his escape by swim.
ming the river when the tempernture
was but little above zero. Stair subse.
9uontly followed tho greaser toll Paso.
Tex, and murdered him on tho streets
Of that city.
Before the war between the states
Oh Tom did thriving business In
human livestock. He would stoai
ngroos In Texas and Arkansas and
ialte them to Mississippi and Tennessee
and sell them, ana thcn Ia turn would
re-stoal them In Mississippi and Ton
nessee and market thom Ia Arlxansas
ana Texas. Ho entered upOn business
terms with a New Orleans slave trader
and would meet him at tho confluence
oil mo Arkansas and Mississippi rivera
and exchange his human merchandise
Tor ammunition and the most improved
make Of iro-arms. His operations
s.pread until by 1859 they extended over
the entire Indian Territory ana several
~ me adjoining states. When rccitinr
nis crimes IN the fall Of 1860 the Choro.
zee legislature placed
FlFry-sIx CRUEL MURDERS
p his credit, and II Is safe 10 estimate
That bei0re the close OF tho wan. no ma
mora thnn tOublad hta 1a.ft, ,....,,.l