The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-10
BAT MASTERSON DEAD
ESCAPED SHOWERS OF BULLETS
AND DIED OF CONSUMPTION.
A Brave FrOntiersman Who WINS
Credited with Tventy-Eight
Lawful Skillings.o

DODGE CITY, Kan, April 9-"Bat'
Masterson is dead. The man, whom all the
bullets of anger and drunken cowboys
could not kill, succumbed at Guthrie, O.
T.. according to advices just received, of
quick consumption. He had been United
States marshal, and was city marshal of
Dodge City in it's widest days. To him
was accorded the honor of being the most
fearless officer of the frontier, and as the
leader in search of chases after Indians,
cowboys and cattle herders in the West,
he never flinched or weakened.
Masterson was born in Middleton, ILL.,,
in 184S. His father well-to-do farmer,
but the son did not take kindly to agri-
cultural pursuits, and had no delight in
educational advantages. He was wild, I'M
ruly and utterly uncomfortable by his peace
loving parents. With the westward drift
of population came Masterson to Kansas
He was able to take care of himself in
every position which he was placed, and
was credited with several killings before
he came to Dodge City, early in the seven
ties. Dodge City was then in the height of
its cattle trade glory. The cowboys ruled
the town during the height of the season
from July to November and when the big
herds began coming into town from the
old Chisholm trail that led up across the
Territory the better class of citizens were
compelled to retire from active business
life. In sheer desperation the City Council
selected MaSterSon the executive officer
of the town and clothed him with full au-
thority to take the town into his own hands,
no matter what might come up. He appre
ciated the honor and exercised his power
to the utmost, with the result that he
brought order out of chaos and made Dodge
City 1aw-abiding community
MaSterson's brother was sheriff of Ford
county and was killed by five cowboys
while attempting to arrest them. As soon
as the younger brother heard of it he started
on the warpath, seeking the gang out. one
after another, and killed each. When the
railroads opened up Colorado eto the world
Masterson left Dodge City and went thith-
er, roaming from one infant town to an
other and always being chosen marshal
and peace maker when he could be pre-
vailed upon to take the office. His skill
with the revolver made him invaluable and
no one ever inquired how many toughS
tumbled before his never-miSSing muzZle.
His friends claim, however, and the records
his arms except in the cause of justice
and the interest of law. OF the twenty
eight men he is said to have killed in his
strange and varied career, probably not
were thus punished by Masterson In the
performance of his duties as an officer.
Strange as it may seem the dead marshal
was not addicted to prcfane language or
was a teetotaler in the latter respect and
never used a profane or obscene express
sion He was of medium height and his
face had a clear. intellectual expression.
1t Is "Bat'sv Brother Jim.
ST. LOUIS April "a dispatch from
Guthrie. O. T., says: Bat Masterson is
not dead. The report of his death must be
q. mistake His brother Jim Masterson,
1r;JIo iaH Ia