Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-27
BAD MEN AND WOMEN.

If late reports from Washington are
true, the war department has at length
come to the conclusion that affairs in
the Indian territory are in a deplDr-
able condition, and it is proposed to
send i'll troops, not to Queu an Indian
uprising OF to guard Geronimo, but to
put down with a strong hand the
bandits who have been infeSting this
country for the past fifteen years, says
the Oklahoma Star. In rapid success
sion has come and passed the James
gang, the Barr outfit, the DaltOnS, and
now the Cooks have full possession.
Either the marshaIs and deputies are
pOWerleSS, or stand i'll with the rob-
berS. The interiors OF the Arbuckle
and WaShita ranges of mountains are
made almost inaccessible by the rocky
nature of the country, and the many
hiding places it aft ordS. In view of
these facts a little history OF d few Of
the chief actors in this rapidly fitting
panorama of border history might be
of interest just at this time. The out
law class do not come entirely from
the ranks of the male members of the
community, but are often recruited
from the female portion of the popula-
ton. One great point in favor of these
outlaws has been the friendship shown
them by the ''squaW" man and the
boomer element, from whose ranks
their often-depleted forces are rein
forced as years go by, until now they
are stronger than ever before in their
history. There are scenes OF panic N
full operation at the present time,
chief among which are the STAIRS and
the Cooks. Bill Doolan and slaughter
Kid yet live, and are either leaders
or prominent members OF one or the
other of these outfits. Many cowboys
whose occupation has passed away
with the opening end settlement Of this
country, have taken their horses, arms
and knowledge of the country into the
service of the Cooks and STAIRS.
Ii the latter part of the 10's Sam
Bass started in as a gentleman of the
road by single-handed stage robberieS.
His name became a very terror to the
travelling public, and the James boys
MG1S Ollly Il SCIOulldIy
on the border But Bass did not last
long, and was finally shot, captured
and executed. His career ended the
lone highwayman" fad in the terri
tory, and since his demise work has
been carried on by bands of from two
to dozen in each raid.
Close upon the heels of Sam Bass
followed the O'Connell gang, organ
lied and raiding in and around the
ChichaSaw country. A part of this
band were killed by officers and set
tiers, and the leader, Dan O'COnnen,
was captured, tried at Wichita, SEN
fenced to long term III the peniten-
tiary, where he is now delving in the
coal mines for the government. A
unique member of this band, who has
lately been sent to prison, was Bill
Wade. Bill was a most unromautic
outlaw, and after his pals We're laid 10y
he took to stealing hogs along the Dor
der Of the territory and Kansas. A
really romantic and picturesque figure
was that of George Stevens. He was
an educated Southener, one of the
Chesterfeldian order, who would
apologize to you while cutting your
throat or turning your purse inside
out. He had a beautiful wife, who
preferred sharing lis exciting and dis
graceful career to wedding some re-
spectacle man. Their end was a tragic
one indeed. For year or more Capt.
Stevens, assisted by two burly negroes,
named July Monday and Burly July,
terroriZed the territory. They stole
horses and cattle, robbed stages and
trains and waylaid lone travellers.
Suddenly, without any apparent cause,