The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-19
"AB4D MAN'DEAD.
Tie Career of Luke short, the Texas
Gambler.

Luke short. the famous gambler OF
Fort Worth. Texas, died few days ago
at Gueda Springs, Kan. lie was one
of the most noted man killers OF the
West. ranking with wyatt carp, Bat
Masterson. Doc Middleton, and Doc Hai1-
day, for he had taken no less than eleven
human lives. There was nothing about
MIN 20 indicate the bad man. says the
Rochester Post-EXpress. Outside OF
certain sterniy determined look In ms
eyes his face wore an expression OF kindly
noncombativeuess. His voice was soft
and had a ring of refinement in II not
usual to the ordinary border terror
He was never loud-toned, and talked but
little being particularly reticent about
his past history lie never referred in
any way to the exploits he had performed
with the revolver and when questioned
was loath TO rehearse them. From his
dress and general makeup Luxe short
might have been set down as merchant
or bank clerk. lie wore little Jewelry
and dressed plainly. lie was born In
Arkansas thirty-nine years ago ahb Sent
to Texas when child Life on the plains
made him an expert with the revolver
and the lariat. and he was noted also for
his skill az a rider. in 1873, when the
Souix outbreak occurred, Short became a
government scout. once fifteen Indians
attacked him. lie put spurs to his horse
and eudeaVOred to escape, but the Indians
gained on MIN. Snort returned their fire
and dropped the three foremost IN quick
| succession with as many bullets. They
urged their ponies, and two better mount
ed and holder than the others, were clos
/ ing up on him. Deliberately checking MS
/ horses pace, Short turned In his saddle
/ and taking quick aim dropped the two
ftf for. ha
/ ten Indians became cautious and contented
| themselves with taking long -distance shots
! IT the scout. He gave no more need 20
| them, ana was soon out Of range and safe
/ in the camp with his dispatches.
In the faIl of the year Short lived IN
Dakota camp and was the dealer in
| faro bank Two horse thieves played
| against him, lost their money, and de-
manded that ii be returned Snort re-
fused, and the desperadoes pulled their
gyms" He was too quick for them,
however When they were picked up
from under the tables both men were
dead with two of shorts 45-caliber bullets
in their bodies. Neither was given time
TO pull a trigger. Later in the same re-
gion Short killed two other men of the
| same character who tried to raid his
gambling house This made nine in all.
In 1881 Short was dealing faro in Tomb
stone. lie was attacked by noted
touch named Storms and shot him
| through the heart He was tried for muir
der but was acquitted on the ground OF
| self-defense. Shorts next victim was a
| fellow named Cartwright. The latter
fred and missed, and then Short filed his
| body with lead.
Shorts last shooting affair occurred at
| Fort Worth in January, 1871. man
named Wright pushed the barrel OF a
shotq,,n between the folding doors of
shorts gambling house and took a shot
at short. who stayed inside The charge
| Of buckshot passed through Shorts left
| ,bleb lnnlcung a number of flesh wounds,
and took away the tips Of his left hand
! thumb and two fingers. Short turned
/ quickly and shot at Wright through inc
! class door. hitting him IN the arm. Wright
| hasn't been seen I'm Fort Worth since.
FOR several years Short followed the
! races and made books I'm the Eastern
| and Southern circuits lie was a type
OF the bad men" Of the West that are
rapidly disappearing.