The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-08-12
Notable Family in One Of the
Western States.
A MEMBER VISITS HONOLULU
Some Rough Life-COntaCt With
Indians and DesperadOes.
a Brave Woman

Wilson Rankin. who has lately spent
a month at Wright's Villa here, is one
Of the family Of Fighting Rankins'
Of Wyoming. Every member of the
tribe is a six-fOoter, a good rider, a /
good shot with six-shooter and rife,
a man of tried nerve. Best Of all there
isn't the slightest trace of braggadOcia |
in one Of them. All are quiet. IN
assuming men who gained regulations
on the frontier in years agone because
they were active in the duties of the |
rough and exciting life. Among the |
Rankins known to the writer are |
Jim" an ex-sheriff and a mining /
man; joe" ex-deputy United States
Marshal for Wyoming and a land |
speculat0r and cattle owner; Bob, |
d ex-offcer and -cattIeman and |
Newt" the same; Wilson is manager
of the big Wyoming cattle ranch of
Ora Haley. one of the hest known of
range kings.
Joe Rankin became world-famous in
1879. He made a journey on horse
back that is always mentioned in the
list of record rides. Joe went out
from RawIins, Wyo., with Maj. Thorn
burg, L. S. A, to the White River,
Colo. reservation of the Ute Indians,
who were at that time threatening to
go on the warpath. The command
consisted of but one company of cav
airy and a few civilians in charge OF
a pack train. Joe was guide and cour-
Ter. He and Maj. Thornburg, while
riding a short distance ahead Of the
troop. were fired upon by Indians from
ambush Maj. Thornburg was killed.
Joe was wounded, but managed to get
back to the main body. This was
about , o'clock in the afternoon. The
troop was surrounded by Indians. Be
fore dark all but three of the horses
and mules had been killed and SIX OF
the soldiers had gone to the last sleep,
while a dozen or more were wounded.
The only horse left happened to be
pretty good one. Joe mounted 1t at
midnight, slipped through the circle
of savages and struck for RaWlns, the
nearest telegraph station, distance,
147 miles. Joe had three mounts on
the trip and rode each horse to death.
He made the ride in twelve hours.
Aid for the cavalry company was sum-
moned from Fort Russell, Wyo., where
Col Merritt. now a very important
figure in the army of the United States
was in command. Joe Rankin had to
In rid 10 M
the man who left here recently and
Jim. then sheriff of Carbon County,
WvO.. with Bob, deputy sheriff, were
sent with Merritt as guides, scouts and
cOuriers.
At daylight after Joe left the Thorn
burg command the Indians fred a few
parting vOlleys and drew away. They
went over to the agency, killed several
Da0pIe there and with the three or
four women of the place started
south. This part of the story may be
disposed of by saying that through
some maneuvering in the east peace
was declared and a commission came
out from Denver, Colo, met the In
dians with the women and fixed mat
ters up. All westerners and the friends
of Thornburg, Agent Meeker and the
other victims of butchery were indlg-
nant.
a lieutenant of Merritt's command
was killed by the Indians after peace
had been declared. He was out scout
ing with the Rankins and against their
advice made a wide detOUr alone and
was picked off from cover. A fine
hotel at Laramie, WyO., is named for
Mai. ThOrnburg.
While Jim Rankin was sheriff of
Carbon County stage and train robbery
were rife Some men who had wreck
ed and robbed a train were pursued by
officers and being Overtaken made a
fight which they won. They intrench-
ed themselves in a favorable position
in the mountains. The leaders of this
laWIeSs gang were two notorious
criminals and fugitives known as Big
Nose George" and Dutch Charlie.
Vincent and Widdifield were the names
of two of the special officers killed in
the fight They had bravely led the
posse. Both were young men of the
country and were very we'll liked. In
time Big Nose George" was captured
at Miles City, Mont. and brought to
the RawIins jail. He was decorated
with ball and chain. One evening
he disabled Bob" Rankin with the
heavy ball. Bob's family residence
was in the court house and jail build
ing. His wife heard the noise Of Big
Nose Georges" attempt to escape and
quickly appeared on the scene with
six-shOOter She held the prisoner till
help arrived. Bob is still alive. but
has never recovered from the effects
Of the blow. big Nose George" was
taken out of the jail by mob the
next nighr and hanged at the stock
yards.
Dutch Charlie" was captured at a
robbers rOost within a hundred miles
of the scene Of derailment Of the train.
While he was being brought to Raw
Inns he was taken from the train at
station called Carbon, about forty
miles from RawIins, and hanged by q
mob. This was in the dead of win