The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-03-29
that Of ~wnd Rnl' HickoL. peace te

his aShes.
Few men who know him would care
to rouse his ire, for although a man oi
wonderful nerve, unlike most men OF
his class, he is possessed of fearful
temper. Sometimes it gets beyond bis
control, and then he throws all eau
ton to the wind and becomes utterly
reckless.
About four years ago he was shot at
from ambush near Green River by a
cowboy known SIS "Hackey'' Hughes,
whose only object was TO secure the re-
ward offered by the State authorities OF
Utah. The bullet pierced the lobe OF
his ear, and the blood streaming down
his face acted upon Cassidy as a red flag
might to a maddened bull.
With howl of rage he turned his
horse just as another bullet passed
through the rim Of his sombrero. A
puff of smoke from clump of bushes
showed where the assassin was conceal
ed. For picturesque profanity 'Butchn
Cassidy hasn't his equal in the States,
and on that occasion he is said to have
fairly surpassed himself Ripping out
a string of oaths that would reach from
Dan to Beersheba he jumped from his
horse and dodged behind a boulder.
He waited for twenty minutes, and
then the cowboy shot the outlaws
horse, which had been grazing in the
open. That was more than "Butch"
could stand. Throwing caution TO the
winds he ran towards the clump of
bushes, with pistol in each hand bark
ing at every step.
But Hughes, considering discretion
the better part of valof, had jumped on
his horse and succeeded in making
good his escape. But the vindictive
nature of "Butchp Cassidy asserted
itself He had recognized his assailant,
and every member of the band receiv-
ed instructions to be on the watch for
him. Hughes left the Green River
country, and it was not until six
months later that he was located, on
the north fork of the Powder river, up
in Wyoming.
Cassidy was notified, and with doz-
en- picked men he reached the ranch
where Hughes was working. 1t was
during the spring roundup. The two
men met face to face. Hughes knew
what was coming and pulled his gun.
But he wasn't quick enough. Cassidyis
pistol cracked first, and the cowboy
dropped from his saddle with a bullet
through his right eye.
THAT'S the way l serve any d-d
skunk that tries to shoot me in the
back, p remarked Cassidy. "If any of
his friends want to take up the quarrel,
I'm ready"
But If the dead cowboy had any
friends they failed to respond. "Butch"
Cassidy was well known and it wasn't
safe to pick quarrels with him. So he
rode away with his escort, cursing
the cowboys for pack of cowardly
COYOTES.
Cattle stealing is the chief source of
income to Cassidy and his followers.
One company alone in Central Utah
has lost two thousand head during the
past two years, worth at the present
prices $50 These were driven
through Colorado and into New Mex
leo. 1t is in driving these stolen cattle
from one State to another and out of the
country that their system of co-opera-
ton is beneficial.
However, any operation that promises
adventure and financial reward is ney-
er overlooked. Trains are held up, ex-
press companies and banks are robbed,
and even individuals, when known to
We money in their possession, are re-
lieved of their possessions in true road
agent style.
There are women among these out
laws, too, who ride with them on their
wild forays and take pride in their as
ISOLATION with these bold and daring
freebooters. Even Calamity Jane" :"
in the old days of her association with
"Deadwood Dick" could not surpass
these picturesque females in their wild
career.
About year ago Butch" Cassidy
and "BilI' Ferguson, one Of his trusted
lieutenants, dashed into the town Ct
Price in broad daylight, held up tte
paymaster of the coal company and
rode off with $500 before the crowd of
bystanders realized what had happen
ed. This is bat sample exploit.
Bank robberies are but side issues
with them merely incidental to their
grand chief occupation of cattle steal
ing. If victim resists or an officer
pursues murder is regarded as profes-
ional duty, TO be chez rfully performed,
but they are not given to wantoR
slaughter.