The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-02
THEY WERE TERRORs.
Outlaws Of tho Southwest Who
Committed Dark Deeds.
An Old-Timcr Who Killed Over Seventy
1icn, Some of Them with Ills Mighty
Fist-Dcspcrate Cherokee
Raiders.

W VIC AlDlIly pcnlIcnJlary lOr term
of forty-iive years has called attention
anew TO the deprcdations of the desper-
ADDE'S of Indian territory, and few
"reminiscences of tho old-timc outlaws
of that section will be interesting,
writes correspondent of the ST. Louis
Globe-Democrat. These outlaws, like
the present marauders, were nearly all
of mixed Indian and white blood, but
SO much more daring were their eX.
ploits, so much more desperate their
character, that the exploits of the Cook
gang appear as mere boys play when
compared to their deeds of outlawry.
The most notorious of these old-time
outlaws was Henry Starr, long since
dead. Much of the story of his life is
shrouded in obscurity and other parts
greatly magnified by tradition, but it is
known positively that he alone killed
over seventy men, fully u dozen of his
victims having been fclled with single
blow of his mighty fist. He was
Cherokee, with % tinge Of Seminole
blood, nearly seven feet tall, massively
built and with IN arm and fist like n
slcdge hammer.
He terrorizcd the whole Cherokee
notion for years, and so great became
his power that the Cherokee council
finally entered into regular treaty of
peace with him, granting him amnesty
from all past deeds if he would cease
his outlawry-thc only instance OH
record OF nation entering into treaty
of peace with IL single individual.
At one time ten thousand dollars re.
ward was offered for Starts head and
five thousand dollars for the head of
one of his lieutcnants. One day the
lieutenant was killed by the accidental
discharge of n gun at the outlaw camp,
and Starr cut off his head, and putting
it in Il sack went to Tahlcuuah. the
Cherokee capital, and walking boldly
into the office Of the national treasurer
covered the officer With q revolver.
took the CORY head from the sack, and
laying it on the table compelled the
officer to pay over the five thousand
dollars offered for the head, then
walked out, mounted his horse. md
escaped.
After the treaty of peace the old man
lived quietly for number of years and
died natural death.
In later years one of the most cunninr
of outlaws was Pill Starr, a grand,
nephew OF Henry and father of the no
torous Belle Starr He did not turn
outlaw until well along in years. but in
snort time became the Lender of one
OF the most adroit gangs of thieves that
have ever infested the Indian country.
lie was not Il common thief, and in one
sense was not actively in the business.
being rather superintendent or gen
eral manager. His gang was large In
numbers and he had spies in every
town, trading post and community in
the territory and adjoining states. He
did not make practice of stealing for
fun or excitement, but was in il for
business, and would take ONLY the best
and when he was sure OF a large re-
turn for the work, but, once making IN
his mind to steal thing, there was
nothing at which he would hesitate
There was not much ready cash in the
territory TO steal in those DAYS. and
they confined their work mostly 70
stealing horses. a member of tho gang
in neighborhood would take fine
horse, ride it a few miles and turn it.
over to confederate, who would do
the same, which procedure would he
repeated in turn by dozen different
men, and as each one would be at home
the next morning detection was almost
impossible.
The gang had cipher language
whereby they could converse intel
ligently among themselves about their
work, and an outsider listening would
think them convcrsing about some
ordinary topic.
Occasionally when there was some
particularly valuable horse to be stolen
Starr himself would do the work, He
was an expert blacksmith, would carry
shoeing tools along with him, and after
riding the horse half day would take
the shoes off and put them on back
ward. Thus those III pursuit were
fooled, and it was a long time before
they discovered his strategy. They
would be on the trail all night follow
ing the horses tracks, when suddenly
the footprints would be reversed. indi-
eating that the animal had been travel
ing in the very opposite direction. Had
they followed the trail sufficiently lonp
they would have come to place where
the tracks again changed, but they sell
dom went far enough, and gave up the
chase in disgust
The last of the old school of outlaws
were Ned Christy and Bill Pigeon. both
Cherokees. Christy led many a darino
raid years ago, but for nearly decade
had been wholly on the defensive, living
in stone fort in the mountains of the
Creek country, defying the deputies
and repulsing attack after attack, onlv
to at last fall victim of treacherv. Il
was less than year ago when he was
shot down by traitorous member of
his gang who, Judas-lilSe, agreed to de-
liver him to the officers for monetary
consideration