The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-21
A NERVY CAPTURE.

A NERNl CAPTURE.
Eow Billy Barsford Arrested
Three Fingered Jack.
The Deputy Sheriff Went Alone Into the
Teton Basin and Brought Out the
Horsethief and Two Of
His Pals.
II say" said Col. George Barry at
the Lotos club one night, says the New
York Sum-. II see they've got Three
Fingered Jack at last. Killed him
down on the Strip. He went into a
little town down there with lot of
other bad men, and got filed full of
fine, little holes.
We'll, sir, there was . horsethief
for you He lived simply to steal horses.
1t wasn't business with him. it was q
passion, and he was 2 most exalted,
supreme high ruler, grand past master
of the art. There isn't town in the
northwest where his record Is not
! known, and not ranchman in Wyom-
ing and Montana who won't be glad to
know that Three-Fingered Jack has
| passed in his checks It's curious, too.
| I've heard men who knew him say that
Jack was as soft as a woman about
some things. and as hard as a woman
about others. Barring horse stealing
he was honest as the day, and there
wasn't a man wearing a six-shooter
who'd go further or risk more to help
'pard' out of difficulty. I've heard it
said that some men don't know what it
is to be afraid. Harry Dacello used to
say Three Fingered Jack couldn't COM
prehend fear when, he saw it in others
/ rather guess, though, that fear is
question Of stomach, much as sea siek-
ness is. Jack never would have been
sea sick. I'll Bet that sinking sensa-
ton of cold never struck the pit of his
stomach. I've often thought that one
reason sailor men are as a rule SO brave
is simply that their stomachs are we'll
behaved.
But what started out to tell was
about the only time. ever heard of
Three Fingered Jacks being arrested.
He had God knows how many fights
with the officers, lost two fingers and
got his distinctive title in one of 'ein,
think. But somehow he always man
aged to come out first best Barring
perhaps Scott Hyde, there wasn't a
quicker man with gun in all Wyoming
or Montana, and when he shot he
usually shot straight.
"Well, sir, l knew a man at Cheyenne,
when was stationed at Fort D. A.
Russell, whose business was catching
thieves It was a passion with him,
Just as stealing horses was with Three
Fingered Jack, only, if such thing
was possible, it was - sight bigger
passion. His name was Barsford, Billy
Barsford, and he was deputy sheriff of
Laramie county. He was a fine, big
fellow, unusually quiet, and the quick
est man to move l ever saw. If there
was anything Billy Barsford was afraid
of he never met up with II, as they
say out there.
Zone day Billy Barsford made UP his
mind he'd get Three Fingered Jack.
Thered been big bunch OF ponies run
off nfrom some ranches in the Sweet
water country, and the job was laid TO
Three-Fingered Jack. Jack had a regu-
,arly org anized band, with headquar-
ters over in what was then called the
Teton basin. but / see they call it Jack
sons hole now. 1t is just below where
Robert Ray Hamilton's dead body was
found in the creek. Jacks band was
made up of some of the toughest men
in Wyoming. good shots, fine riders and
hard citizens. as good at a'hght as at q
drink, and always ready for either. The
Teton basin -vasn't so well-known III
those days as it is now. 1t wasn't so al
mighty safe for strangers to be dropping
around there promiscuously. In fact.
if was so little known that it was COM
monty described as being just over be-
yond the big Teton
Well. when Billy Barsford made up
his mind to get Three-Finge-ed Jack
he didn't say word about it to any
body. but just took his horse and lit
out for Eagle rock. He had to 60 way
round the Tetons and the basin 20 ge.
there. but he wanted 70 make sure Of
the lay OF the country before he tackled
the gang There We're heavy rewards
out FOR Jack and Billy didn't regard
them with disfavor, although be used 20
tell me that the main thing that started
him was the desire to have the glory OF
catching Three-Fineered Jack ali alone.
Queer ideas OF glory some men have.
Billy got over 70 Eagle rock all
richt-they call it Idaho falls now.
believe. and after fooling around there
awhile and finding out what he could
about the Tetons. he went out 70 the
Shoshone reservation and got an old
chief there 10 make him map OF the
Teton country. The old fellow drew il
on shingie. il was an almighty
rough map. as you can mighty well
imagine, but IL showed the lay OF the
country fairly well. and Billy got a
pretty good notion OF where he wAs
trying TO go.
by gaa. sir, there wasn't any gris.le
in the end of Billy Barsford's breast
bone. He's no spring chicken VIVA.
did he do but hang around that Sho-
shone camp four or FIVE days longer.
and then make out 20 the old chief tha.
he'd burned up by mistake the single
Oh which the map was made and got
the old buck 10 make him another.
That night Billy compared the two
shingles. The MAPS agreed IN essen
,ial- daiAaiA. and Rllz conclraei Ina