Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-11-16

A Kansas Town to Erect 4 Shaft In Q
Brave Marshal's Memory.

Brave Marshal's Memory.
Preparation is being made to erect
, monument in the Abilene Cemetery
to the memory of Thomas Smith, the
first marshal who brought order out
of the cowboy chaos that existed after
the opening of the Texas trail. Tho
railroad was built through here in
1867 and in two years the trail had
one-quarter million cattle year COM
ing up from the Southwest. In the
spring of 1870 the town was so bad
that the marshals engaged by the city
council held the job only for a day
at time. Two bluecoated police
came from st. Louis on the promise OF
$3.50 dollars a month. They got OH
the afternoon train, walked down the
street, took look at the town and the
problem before them-and resigned.
They knew they could not manage the
wild and reckless cowboys that ruled
the frontier.
Then the mayor, I. c. Henry, after
ward known as "the wheat king" sent
for tom" Smith, a small, quiet man,
with no hint of the daredevil in his
makeup. When Smith came to town
the mayor was disappointed at his
appearance, but Smith agreed to bring
order and buckled on his revolvers ans
went out into the night. He was go
ing from saloon to saloon when he
came upon Hank" Hawkins, a big
cowboy who was the terror OF the
camp. The marshal ordered him to
obey the general order to disarm and
Hawkins refused. In an instant he
was laid out on the sidewalk by Q
blow from Smiths strong right arm.
Hawkins rallied and tried to pull his
revolvers when he went down again.
Then he gave up and left town before
daylight to avoid the jeers OF his COM
panions. There had been calaboose,
but the cowboys tore it down as fast
as it was built and the town could not
keep prisoner in it for day. Under
Tom Smiths rule it was not needed,
for the marshal ruled IN town with .
rod of iron and even the huge "Wyom'
ing Frank" who was the terror OF
every officer, gave up when the sturdy
little athlete came upon him and or
dered him to obey. 1t took two or
three knock-downs to enforce this or.
der, but it came at last.
After the close of the civil war
Smith was on the police force Of New
York city. He followed the building
of the Union Pacific through Wyom-
ing and was shot during a riot there.
Then he came to Kansas, and at Kit
Carson and Hayes City he acted az
marshal and was the representative of
the Union Pacific in several times Of
lawlessness, compelling obedience in q
way that was convincing.
The circumstances of his death were
tragic. Two Scotchmen living three
miles northwest of this city had trou-
BILE over the depreciation of some cat
tie belonging to neighbor, an Irish
man. The cattle had ruined some Of
their corn. The herd law had just
gone into effect and such troubles
were common. One of the Scotchmen,
after some words with the neighbor,
shot him and, with his companion,
took refuge in their cabin and defed
arrest. The sheriff and his crowd
were driven off when they tried Ia
take the murderer and came back
to this city for assistance. Smith,
who seemed to court danger, at once
volunteered to take couple OF men
and bring the criminal in. When they
approached the cabin or dugout one Of
the Scotchmen was in the rear, chop
ping wood. The one on the inside dis
covered the approach of Smith and
used a Winchester, the shots taking
effect in Smiths side. The two depu-
ties fed, but Smith, wounded as he
was, charged forward, threw the MUIR
derer on the floor and nearly had him
handcuffed when the other Scotchman
came in and with his AK almost cut
off Smiths head. The gunshot wound
would of itself have been fatal. Like
his successor, "Wild Bill" he faced
many dangers, and at the last met
death from a blow in the rear.
When he was in Hays City, Smith
saved Judge Garfield from death. Can,
field, for many years resident of
Junction City, was presiding over the
District Court, and had case to de-
eide In which a number of cattlemen
were on one side, and they threatened
to kill him if he did not decide in their
favor. He held the case over and .
friend sent for Smith. The famous
marshal stood around the town and
court room and made himself promi-
nent. The cattlemen took the hint,
and when the decision was rendered
against them they did not dare make
sny demonstration against the judge.
II had been intended to call in lot of
troops to protect the court, but Smith
did just as we'll
The shaft the city will erect to
Smiths memory Is to be simple one,
but 1t will be paid for by the old tim.
ers alone.-Kansas City Times.
Wash Xour EvcgIasses.