River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-03-09

thought you were in the Lincoln coun-
" Jail said Capt Jack, under death
sentence. 4 was. said the Kid but /
bade them adieu this morning Wen,'
said Capt. Jack, i think YOU have not
had a fair deal from what have heard.
| am glad to have met you. and | sym
pathize with YOU j know have been
tough, replied the Kid, but they made
out things against me that am not
guilty Of.
about six o'clock we emerged from
the salt beds, when we met negro on
| horseback whom l recognized as one
OF Billy the Kids band, having seen
him two years before at Rincon. where
he was cook FOR John Kinney, the ia
nous cattle rustler. Say, boss he
said, as he approached, have you seen
anything Of a young Teller with a black
hoss?' No, replied Capt. Jack.
Mighty strange said the negro, heres
his tracks in the trail l.. the mean
time | was nodding my head in the af-
tirmative to the negro, but without
Capt. Jacks knowledge. Sure you
amt seen him?' asked the negro. We
have not was the reply of Capt. Jack.
| again nodded my head in the atIrma-
tive. and a broad grin passed over the
Negroes face. just then Capt. Jack
turned around and caught me nodding
and giving the lie to his assertions He
was angry in a moment, and started to
express himself when | said: This
mans name is Wash. He is a friend of
Billy's, who would be very glad 10 have
him with him. This gave the negro the
desired information, and then he told
MS of the escape of the Kid, and how ii
was effected.
The Kid was in the Lincoln county
! jail under sentence of death for muir
der. He was in charge of sheriff by
the name of Pat Garrett. Two guards,
| Ollinger and Bell by name were placed
in immediate charge Of the Kid during
the daytime. Other men were on duty
at night. They were enemies of the
Kid ard took great delight in taunting
him with his approaching fate All
their victim would say was: 1 may
outlive you ducks yet and sure enough
he did. That morning Ollinger went
across the street to get the Kid his
breakfast, Bell being left to guard the
| jail. The Kid asked Bell TO get a rag
and wrap il around one of his shacllles,
as it was chatting his leg Bell pro
cured the desired article. and, STOPPING
! down, was in the act of placing it
around the shackle when the Kid
reached over. took Bells gun out of his
/ J.; inc hAf -,
! fatally. although he lived some hours
and was able to relate how the affair
occurred The Kid then took the
hackle key out of Bells pocket, and in
an instautWas free Ollinger heard the
shot and came running across the
street. The Kid. however, met him at
thedoor with Winchester in his hands.
With an oath he said: 'Ollinger, you
must go to meet your pard, and at that
! shot him dead Across the street there
was a fine horse tied to post all sad
| died and ready. 1t belonged o one Of
| the county officers. who said he was go
| ing out into the country to see his girl,
but many believed he was friend of
he Kid and had placed the horse there
for his use BE that as it may, the Kid
ran quickly across the street, united
the animal and mounted him, only TO
be thrown. However. he caught the
end of the lariat and was in the saddle
again in an instant BY this time a
crowd began to gather, but the Kid
stood them off with his Winchester and
| dashed out of town. He had the fleet
est horse in the country and no pursuit
was made.
THE Kid made his way in safety TO
the Chisholm ranch. in Grant county.
where he found friends. Garrett,
learning of his Whereabouts. went to
the ranch in the night and called on
| Chisholm, who denied knowing where
the Kid was. There was no light in the
room and while they were talking some
one came in and asked Chisholm if he
was there. Chisholm answered in the
affirmative The Kid. for il was he,
said he had come after fresh meat. but
! instinctively suspecting something
wrong he demanded: Who's here?'
Garrett had recognized his voice, and
before Chisholm could reply he fired in
the direction from whence il came, well
knowing that the time had come for
| him to kill the Kid or to be killed by
him. Fortunately his aim was wen
| taken The desperate fell dead in his
tracks with bullet through his heart
and without groan. Thus persisted
| Billy the Kid. whose blood-stained ca
reer is still talked of in the southwest.
The negro who informed Us Of the
mannerofthe Kids escape kept on in his
pursuit, while we went to Fort Stan
ton. The next day a detachment OF
soldiers was sent out in pursuit of the
tpaches. We accompanied them. On
reaching the Dripping Springs we
learned that the Indians we had seen
the day before were a lot of Mescalaro
Apaches in the employ OF the govern
ment, and who were out after the rene
gade Apaches. They had fired off their
guns and yelled only to have some fun
/ with as