Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-03-15
"Lew" Wallace a Dead Shot.

Lew Wallace Is a dead shot WIN
the pistol. Speaking Of how and why
he acquired such expert marksman-
ship, he said few days ago in con-
versation with party of friends;
When l was Governor of New Mexico
that territory was and had been for
years terrorized by bands of daring
and murderous outlaws, at the head Of
whom was the famous border desper-
ado, Billy the Kid By virtue Of
my Office became the mans deadliest
enemy. No man ever excited more
terror along the frontier or gave better
ground for the dread in which he was
held than this man. He had perpe-
trated murder after murder, and there
were few crimes of which he had not
been guilty. He had openly boasted
that he had killed nearly fifty men,
and enjoyed shooting man down
lust to see him kick. l determined
to rid the territory of this scourge,
and offered a large reward for his
capture.
The offer proved to be a great SEN
sation throughout the territory, and
tempting bait to the ready shooters
and officers of the law. There were
in the territory hundreds of men who
accepted with great delight this oppor-
tunity to take a hunt through the
mountains after such formidable game.
Well, the result was that after most
exciting chase the outlaw was sur
rounded by overwhelming numbers
and compelled to surrender at the
point of fifty guns, after shooting down
three of his pursuers. He was taken
to Lincoln county, away up IN the
territory, to answer an unusually ha-
grant murder. He was wildly enraged
at having been trapped and swore
that the moment he ever got free he
would ride clear through to Santa Fe,
shoot me down and then gladly hang.
II knew the character of the man,
and while never dreaming that he
would ever be at large | determined,
in order to be safe, to begin pistol
practice in case an impromptu duel
should ever take place between us
got a brace of the best pistols |
could find, and every morning spent
an hour out in the corral firing at a
mark. In few weeks | could hit
the figure of man marked out on the
wall at twenty PAGES abont every time.
And as | became more and more skill
full l felt correspondingly safer and
didn't much dread an open meeting
even with the murderer.
"Two months dragged along and
one day down at Santa Fe we got the
alarming news that Billy the Kid
had murdered his two jailers, stolen a
horse and had started for Santa Fe
with the open threat Now for the
Governor and then hang. Then l
began practicing several hours every
day and for weeks l was in daily ex-
pectation of meeting the rufhan. l
still went about my duties, but heavily
armed and my pistols ever ready.
Pat Garrett was the sheriff to whose
charge Billy the Kid had been IN
trusted, and when he learned a-half
hour afterward, and while away from
home, that Billy the Kid had escaped,
he started in hot pursuit. For weeks
there was an unbroken suspense, dur
ing which we heard nothing from the
pursuer or the pursued. They were
both dead shots and there would be a
killing when they met. 1t was most
remarkable and exciting chase. The
whole territory was deeply intent upon
il and news of the whereabouts of the
two men was eagerly awaited.
Finally one day there rode to my
residence a travel-stained six-footer in
wide sombrero hat, mounted on a
pony worn out with hard work. lie
got off, let his pony wander loose and
came up to the door. | met him on
the front step with my guns ready
for instant use, and asked him hi'
errand. I am Pat Garrett, Governor,
and have Just shot BILLY the Kid
out here at Fort Sumner And Il
. was true. He had come mp with the
desperate heading for Santa Fe tc
end me, had got the drop on him anc
without word shot him through the
; heart. have still kept up my prae
?, tice somewhat, bat not under a
: thrilling circumstances.
A story Is told of a Pennsylvania
/, Judge who once had a number o
, Irishmen before him in one of the IN
!. | .a-:ar onnn+ios Indicted for not Ol