The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-13
A TALE OF
THE BORDER.


I think you have not had a square
deal from what 1 have heard. am
glad to have met you and I sympa-
thiZe with you L know / have been
tough replied the Kid, but they have
made out things against me that am
not to blame for
BILLY THE KID"
"All the time this conversation was
going on l had said nothing, but from
the moment he had signaled me to
take the same side of the trail as Capt
Jack was aware that he was B. lily the
Kid, for had seen him two years be-
fore at Las Vegas accompanied by
Dave Rudabaugh and others of his
famous band. l also assured him of
my friendship. After requesting US to
keep quiet about meeting him and to
say nothing about his destination, We
separated, little dreaming of the bloody
tale regarding him which we were soon
to hear.
About 6 o'clock we emerged from
the salt beds, where we met a negro
On horseback whom I recognized as
one of Billy the Kids band, having
met him before at Rincon, where he
was cook for John Kinney, the famous
cattle rustler.' Say, boss he said as
he approached, have you seen a yourg
feller with a black boss" No., replied
Capt. Jack Mighty strange, said
the negro, here's his tracks in the
trail In the meantime I was nodding
my head in the affirmative to the ne
gro, but without Capt. Jacks knowI-
edge. Sure you amt seen him?' asked
the negro. We have not was the re-
ply of Capt. Jack. I again nodded my
in h
grin passed over the negro's face Just
then Capt. Jack turned and caught me
nodding and giving the lie to his as
sertlonS. He was angry in a moment
and started to express himself when I
said, This mans name is Wash He
Is friend of Billy's, who would be
very glad to have him with him. This
gave the negro the desired information
ana ne then told US of the Kids escape
and how it was effected.
The Kid was in the Lincoln county
jail uEder sentence of death for mur-
der He was in charge of q sheriff by
the name of Pat Garrett. Two guards
Oliinger and Bell, by name, were plac-
ed In immediate charge of the Kid dur
ing the day time. Other men were on
duty at night. They were enemies of
the Kid and took great delight in taunt-
ing him with his approaching fate.
All their victim would say was. Il
may outl1Ve you ducks yet and he did
sure enough. 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 it around one of his
shackles, as it was chafing his leg.
Bell procured the desired article, and,
STOPPING down, was in the act of plac-
Ing 1t around the shackle when the
Kid reached over, took Bells gun out
OF his hip pocket and in an instant
shot him fatally, although he lived
some hours and was able to relate how
the affair occurred. The Kid then took
the shackle key out of Bells pocket
and In an instant was free Ollinger
heard the shot and came running
across the street. The Kid, however,
met him at the door with a Winchester
in his hands. With an oath he said,
Cll1nger, you must go to meet your
pard, and at that shot him dead
Across the street there was a fine horse
tied to asDost, all saddled and ready.
Il belonged to one of the county Off
GERS who said he was going into the
country to see his girl. but many be-
Heyed that he was a friend Of the
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 fleetest horse in the
country and no pursuit was made To
tell the truth, the men who were will
ing to pursue him We're decidedly
scarce. Just as he left the town he
met a couple of Mexicans To them
he said, Tell Pat Garrett he'll have
to put that hanging off. 1 thought 1
would outlive them ducks, but 1 am
sorry I can't stay to their funerals
The Kid made his way in safety to
the Chisholm rancho in Grant county,
where he found friends. Garrett, learn
ing of his whereabouts. went to the
rancho in the night and called on CHS
holm, 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 replied in
the affirmative. Billy said he had
come after some fresh meat. but in
stinctively suspecting something
wrong, he demanded, Who's there?'
Garrett had recognized his voice and
before Chisholm could reply he fired
in the direction from whence it came.
we'll knowing that the time had come
to be killed or to kill the Kid For
tunately his aim was we'll taken The
desperate fell dead in his tracks with
a bullet in his heart, but without a
groan. Thus perished Billy the Kid,
whose bloodstained career is still talk
ed of in the Southwest
THE negro who informed US Of the
manner of the Kids escape kept on in
his pursuit while we went on to Fort
Stanton. The next day a detachment
of soldiers was sent out in pursuit of
the Apaches. We accompanied them.
On reaching the Dripping Springs We
learned that the Indians whom we
had seen the day before, were lot of
Mescalaro ADaches in the employ of
the government, and who We're out
after the renegade Apaches. They had
fired off their guns and yelled only to
have some fun with us.
w. W. Williams"
ANGLO-FRENCH ENTENTE.