The Bossier banner., 1894-01-04
A NERVY CAPTURE.
How 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.

81 say" said Col George Barry at
the Lotos club one night, says the New
York Sun, Il see they've got Three
Fingered Jack at last. Killed him
down on the Strip. He went into a
little town down there with a lot OF
other bad men, and got filled full OF
fine, little holes.
well, sir, there was a horsethiet
for you. He lived simply to steal horses.
1t wasn't business with him, it was a
passion, and he was a 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 man wearing a siX-shooter
who'd go further or risk more to help a
'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 Ihree-tiDgered Jack couldn't COM
prehend fear when he saw it in others.
rather guess, though that fear is a
question of stomach, much as sea sick
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 l started out to tell was
about the only time l ever heard of
1hree-Flngered Jacks being arrested.
he had God knows how MANY fights
with the officers, lost two fingers and
got his distinctive title in one of 'em, |
think. But somehow he always man.
aged to come out first best. Barring
perhaps Scott Hyde, there wasn't a
quicker man with a gun in all Wyoming
or Montana, and when he shot he
usually shot straight.
wen, sir, knew man at Cheyenne,
When L was stationed at Fort d. A.
Russell, whose business was CATCHING
tmeves 1t was passion with him,
Just as stealing horses was with Three
FINGERED Jack, only, if such a thing
was possible, it was - sight bigger
passion. His name was Barsford, BiIlv
bars1ord, and he was deputy sheriff of
LARAMIE county. He was a fine, big
1ellow, unusually quiet and the quick
est man to move l ever saw. If there
was anything Billy Barsford was afraid
oI he never met up with it, as they
say out there.
One day Billy Barsford made up his
mlne he'd get Three Fingered Jack.
mere been big bunch of ponies run
oh from some ranches in the Sweet
WI water country, and the job was laid to
l 1uree-flngered Jack. Jack had a repu-
larry org anized band, with headuuar-
uers over in what was then called the
Teton basin, but l see they call it Jack
sons hole now. 1t is just below where
aooert Kay Hamilton's dead body was
!ouno IN the creek. Jacks band was
- :uaue M up OF some of the toughest men |
II
II : wyoming, good shots, fine riders and
aa:, aaru cltizens, as good at fight as at a |
utinK' nj and always ready for either. The
a.. y le'on basin wasn't so well-known in |
'noSe days as it is now. It wasn't so al !
iehVy safe for strangers to be dropping
:. @ there promiscuously. In fact,
- was so little known that it was com
mon,y described as being just over be-
yond the big Teton
h. well when Billy Barsford made up
ha his mind to get Three Fingered Jack
ne olont say a word about it to any,
oouy' but just took his horse and lit
ouS oo' ior Eagle rock. He had to go wav
+buA uno the Ietons and the basin to get
tho Out he wanted to make sure of
tbe I lay Oh the country before he tackled
ont gang. There were heavy rewards
S1' 'of Jack aud Billy didn't regard