St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-04-08

that distance lends enchantment to
ing we passed the crest of the range
and beheld the valley of the Pecos in
the distance. We saw nothing more of
our pursuers. =
"As we descended into the valley
Capt. Jack saw a solitary horseman ap-
preaching us from distance. As he
drew near we perceived that he was a
beardless boy, riding a fine black geld
ing, Capt. Jack turned to the right to
pass him. and | took to the left as a
measure of safety. With a slight mo-
tion of the hand the rider signaled that
|. too. must go to the right. ard he
appeared to "a heap sabe' what our
movements meant. / obeyed his COM
mand. When we met all three stopped,
and Capt. Jack asked him how far it
was to Fort Stanton. The answer cana
readily enough. and the boy asked us
how far it was to water. We informed
him, and told him that he had best
turn back. as the Indians were out.
He replied: I am going to Grant coun-
ty. and will keep on if the whole
Apache tribe is in the way He then
asked us for tobacco. and Capt. Jack
gave him supply. After rolling big
cigarette and lighting it. he demanded:
Say, amt you Capt. Jack Crawford, the
scout?' i am was the reply. i
thought so,' said the youth. Capt.
Jack then said: Are you not Billy. the
KIDD Yes he frankly answered. i
thought you were in the Lincoln coun-
ty JAIL said Capt. Jack, under death
sentence 1 was said the Kid. but
bade them adieu this morning Well
said Capt. Jack. 4 think you have not
had fair deal from what have heard.
l am glad to have met you. and ! SYM
pathize with YOU 4 know l have been
tough replied the Kid, but they made
out things against me that l am not
guilty Of
"About six o'clock we emerged from
the salt beds, when we met a negro on
horseback whom I 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 feller with black
hoss?' No. replied Capt. Jack.
Mighty strange said the negro. here's
his tracks in the trail In the mean
time was nodd;ng my head in the af-
firmative 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.
l again nodded my head in the affirma-
tive. and a broad grin passed over the
negro's face. Just then Capt. Jack
turned around and caught me nodding
and giving the lie to his assertions. He
was angry in moment, and started to
express himself when / 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. and then he told
us OF the escape of the Kid, and how it
was effected.
1.-THE Kid was in the Lincoln county
Jail under sentence of death for mur-
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 and took great delight in taunting
him with his approaching fate. All
their victim would say was:. L may
outlive you ducks yet and sure enough
he did. That morning OHinger went
across the street 10 get the Kid his
breakfast. Bell being left to guard the
Jail. The Kid asked Bell to get rag
and wrap it around one of his shackles,
as it was chafing 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
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
thedoor with a 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 fine horse tied to post. all sad
died and ready. 1t belonged to 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
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 fleet
est horse in the country and no pursuit
was made. 81
the Chisholm ranch. in Grant county,
where he found friends. Garrett,
of his whereabouts, went to
the ranch in the night and called on
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
G affirmative. The Kid, for it was he,
said he had come after fresh meat, but |
suspecting something
wrong he demanded: Who's herey
Garrett had recognized his voice. and |
before Chisholm could reply he fired in |
the direction from whence it came, well |
knowing that the time had come for |
him to kill the Kid or to be killed by
him. Fortunately his aim was well |
taken The desperate fell dead in his |
tracks with bullet through his heart |
md without groan. Thus perished |
Billy the Kid. whose blood-stained ca
reer is still talked of in the southwest. |
The negro who informed us of the |
kid'sescape 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 |
Apaches. We accompanied them. On |
roach;n0 fhe DriDninp SnrinuS wo