The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-07-29
BRA. + B lJCK EY ON ELL.
An Arizona Man w mo Was Sheriff.
Editor, Judge. Gambler and
All Around Fighter.

Is Jdpt. hucKey " Neuls the most pic.
turesque man in the West, was one Of
the first to fall before Spanish bullets ii
ambush ut Santiago. .Buckey came
from Arisona with bis band Of 800 Rough
Riders. but all over the land hearts will
grieye for their loss IN him Of q near
aud dear friend. He was too splendid to
be the representative OF portion Of the
country, and NIL Americans may be proud
to have him taken a. a national type.
In the vastness Of Western territory
Buckley" found q fitting stage for the
drama of his life, which was so many
sided that an Eastern journal well de-
scribes him ds "Arixona miner, scout,
Judge, sheriff, mayor, gambler, dead shot,
soldier, hero and all-around good fellow =
Isl To have been all these and to have 80
lived his life as to leave the stamp Of his
unique personality upon the community
is distinction enough for one man.
buckeye greatness was of his bwn
making. With prophetic foresight aud q
spirit that knew no fear he carved his
own way, abucking'' every obstacle and
honestly earning the name by which he
was best known. s5.s "a
+ Fate o. fortune gave him many oRpor;
Owen O'Neill. He was born Of Irish
parents in st. Louis in 1850. He grad
uated from the national law school of
the District of Columbia, and later out
of seventy-two applicants for assistant
paymaster Of the navy he passed at the
head. There was some delay in making
the appointment, and O'Neill became inn
patient and left for Arizona, where he
found opportunities which led to prosper
ity and distinction. He was at different
times editor of the Arizona Miner, the
Phoenix Herald, and the Hoof and Horn,
a acattleman's paper. z = ..ss i @$ zss,=
In that country of chance and hazard
Buckley got hold of some good mining
properties, and was elected sheriff for
three consecutive terms. His reputation
as fearless regulator of the morals of
He was the best shot in the territory, and
became the terror of lawbreakers. He
came unscathed from a number of deS-
perate fights /, ~
His next political office was that of
sheriff of Yavapai county. He was three
times defeated for Congress and was
unanimously elected mayor of Prescott,
When the call for arms came Buckley
formed his company SO quickly that the
President telegraphed his thanks, and the
riders went straight to San Antonio, each
man proud to be with his captain and
willing to die for him. "
The women of Prescott. presented the
riders with silk flag (the first raised
near Seyilla, Cuba) and the men gave
Buckley a revolver. Judge Ling, who
mayor O'Neill, we want to give you a
mount. It is not full grown, but merely
Colt. We tell you that it bucks. Every
time it bucks head it toward Spaniard
and you can rest assured that one more
Spaniard will bid his father, the devil,
good morning HI I -: -
Buckley" then went to the front. He
wrote his friend, Thurlow Weed Barnes,
letter from San Antonio, in which he
said: II am ready to take all the
chances. Who would not gamble for q
new star on the flag?'' Buckley gam
bled and lost; poor chap, and the rough
riders are mourning a gallant comrade, a
soldier who was brave and who died
with his boots on and his face to the
enemy. T..
At Baiquiri Corp. Cobb and Private
Quick as lightning Buckley" was over
board and swimming toward them. I'm.
happily, the. lighter swung round and
crushed both the soldiers before he could
reach them. -
+ Buckley exemplified the time-worn say.
ing, Ine Dfavest are. the tendefest, the
loving are the daring -s.s
A gentle little woman, whom he mar
ried several years ago, lives to mourn the
man who, no matter where he happened
to be when away from home, wrote her a
letter every day. Even in his pursuit o1
criminals over the deserts Of Arizona and
Colorado Buckley wrote a few lines to
Pauline" on scrap of paper, and sent
it back by any stranger whom he met on
the highway. &. DR. s
szs He came from fighting stock. His faith.
er was Capt. John g Neill of the famous
Irish brigade Of the Second Army corps
in the war Of 81. His brother, Eugene
Brady O'Neill, is now on his way 10 Ma
Mia, q first lieutenant of volunteers.
High on the roll of honor, which will be
one of the conntry's contributions to his
tory, will be the name of this man, whose
courageous spirit and striking personality
won for him the respect and love of every
man, woman sand child whose good for
tune it was to know him. -. III