The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-01-20
a Typical Border Sheriff.


There was only one policeman to en-
force the law ina territory the size Of
Rhode Island. He was quite as srenark-
able in his ways as any other develop
ment 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 a giant, his three hun
dred pounds of weight were so exactly
his complement as TO give him the SYM
meiry of an Apollo. He was good-look-
ing With the beauty of a round-faced,
good-natured boy, and his thick hair fell
in cluster OF ringleis over his forehead
and upon his neck. No knight of Ar
thurs circle could have been a more pic
turesque figure in the forest than this
Jack He was as neat as a dandy.
He wore high boots and corduroy knick-
erboekers, flannel shirt and a sack-e0at,
and rode his big bay horse with an ease
and grace Of a Skobeleff. lie smoked
Ike fire Of green brush, bat had never
tasted liquor in his life. In a 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 exhibited in his graceful move
ments, his sparkling eyes and ruddy
cheeks, his massive frame and his imper-
turbable 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 whisky peddlers and gamblers
and to quell disorder-excepto on payday,
once a month, when he staid at Sproat's
Landing.
The echoes OF his fearless behavior
and lively adventures rang in every
gathering. The general tenor of the
stories was to the effect that he nsu-
ally gave one warning to evil-doers,
and if they did not heed that he cleaned
them oat. He carried revolver but
never had used it. Even when the most
notorious gambler on our border had
crossed over into Jacks" bailiwick the
policeman depended upon his fist. lie
had met the gambler and had advised"
him to take the cars next day. The
gambler, in reply, had suggested that
both would get along more quietly ifeaeh
minded his own affairs, vhereupon
Kirkup had said, "You hear me take the
cars out Of here to morrow" The little
community lit was Donald, B. c., a very
rough place at the time held its breath
ing for twenty-four hours, and at the ap-
proach Of train-time was on tip-iOe with
strained anxiety. At twenty minutes
before the hour the policeman, amiable
and easy-going as ever in appearance
began q tour Of the houses. 1t was in q
tavern that he found the gambler.
You must take the train,' said he.
"You can't make me-" replied the
gambler.
There were no more words. In two
minutes the giant was carrying the limp
body ofthe 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.
Il had to be little rough" said Kirk
up TO the loungers at the station, because
he was armed ike a pineushion, and
didn't want 10 have to Kill him.
julian Ralph, ia Harper's Magazine.