The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-05-19
BRAZLEToN's SUCCESS IN SINGLE
HANEED HOLD-UPs.
lever Was Another Such Outlaw in
the Territory. Says an Expert
Two Years Plundering of Stage
Coaches Nine Men Needed to
Dispose of Him Finally.

I b Z
r. mi We had heap of experience
<><ASIaf with bandits along the
I zSt Southwest border said ex-
H Sheriff Bently of Globe, Ariz,,
"and I say it deliberately,
there never was, in Arizona
at least, another such outlaw as Bill Bra
zleton. If3ever an outlaw run things his
own way Brazleton did in Pima, Cochise
and Pinal counties for a few years. The
2leton.S If ever an outlaw ran things his
so reckless and formidable man. and
sheriffs and their posses managed to keep
out Of his way. a-t & -, III. - .4.s So.
4" A dozen bandits in the West have been
credited with inventing the lone bandit
style of holding up stage coaches, but
Brazleton was the originator. He was a
marvellous shot, and II have seen him
perform feats with the revolver that are
almost Incredible. Once at Yuma I saw
him throw a roll of yucca of the size and
shape Of q, croquet ball into the air aud
then whirl completely about Oh hts heel
and put two bullets through it, before it
reached the ground. I saw MIN sight a
six-inch circle on a board ninety feet
away, and, then, when some one had
suddenly blindfolded him, he raised his
weapon and put ball into the circular
mark. He was the, quickest-eyed and
shooter / ever came
across. 1t seems that there was a long
chapter in his career, before he game
to Arizona IN 1877. He was known as
Hunter at Albine,i Kansas, from where
he was driven away for murder by Wig
lance committee. We have heard that
a man of his: description bearing the
name of Henderson served a term at
Fort Smith prison in Arkansas for the
MURDER Of a soldier. In May, 1877, he
made his appearance in Arizona. This
was when two unusually bold robberies
OF, the Florence and Yuma stage were
committed by a lone highWayrnan. Each
time the booty amounted to more than
,OOO. In July, 1S17, another stage was
robbed by lone highWayman near Dem
Ing, n. M, and two gold bricks were
taken taken from the express companys treas.
ure box For two subsequent years this
lone highwayman committed !. daring
crimes with impunity.
Inc lone hlghWayman, as he came to be
called, was magnificent specimen Of man
hood. He stood six feet in his stockings;
was handsortk his black eyes were bright,
MS countenance open. The method pur-
sued was always the same. He always
carried a. brace Of revolvers and rifle.
Resting on his right hand, by the side of
the trigger of his rifle, was placed one of
the revolvers, So that in case the cart
ridges, in the rifle became exhausted the
revolver would: be brought into play He
could fire with either hand or with both
hands, and could hit a scent piece in
the air with a revolver AS the stage .ad-
vanced at full speed the lone highwayman
would jump from his hiding place, cover
the driver and guard with his rifle and
order every man and woman to get out:
then he would take the valuables. order
all back into the coach, warn them that
an cutlery meant certain death, mount
and ride away as rapidly as his splendid
horse could carry him. @..,,gr !. ..,.,.
!. Ihere was prosperous little gold camp
known as Orc Emo in the southern part
OF Cochise county, close to the border be-
tween Sonora, Mexico, and Arizona Some
OF the hardest characters among the Mexi-
cans and yhalfbreeds were; there Every
man IN Orc Elmo went armed and there
We're many good shots there. Not one
person person, In 10000: would think of, hold
up OF a gambling game In such a com
mun1ty. It seemed almost like inviting
sure death. But Brazelton was never
daunted by odds. Late one night, when
i the men men in the camp who drank hard
were the worse for the evenings dissipa-
ton and the crowd had thiTned out, sud
denly the door; of the Bella Union saloon
swung open, and in walked Brazelton with
q revolver in each hand. The men there
told me that he looked enormous as he
strobe into the saloon. He wore no mask.
and he was dressed with uncommon care
Ills great moustache was waxed to fine
points and an immense sombrero was on
his head. pushed back from his forehead.
Several men WHO We're gaming in the sa-
loon when he entered said that his con-
7summate coolness. his. extraordinary dar-
Ing and his impressive mien all had pow
serful effect like hypnotism upon them,
and while they would have instinctively
reached for the weapons had any other
outlaw Come to rob them. they sat there
and simply gaped at Bill while he picked
up some 500 in gold of the faro dealers
money. @
" Hands up, boys, he called as he
crossed the threshold. Keep your mouths
shut and hands up and you won't 60 to
hell tonight
Brazelton stood a second at the door,
to make sure that he took in the whole
scene and that no one was behind to shoot
him. Then he strobe forward to the faro
table, while a masked confederate an
peared from out of doors and stood upon
the threshold to keep watch upon every
one there while Bill BrazeIton played the
Important role
The faro dealer made feint at reach
ing down under the table for his pistol,
but Bill called out: Hands up, you deal
ser. One more. move and I'll shoot you
as full CT holes as a sieve No tne made
an objection by word or act TO Bill as,
still keeping his black eyes upon the lit
tie assemblage, and having his cocked
pistol in his right hand, he calmly picked
lip, with his left hand, several six-irieh
stacks Of ten and twenty-doilar gold
pieces and dropped them into a hunting
bag he carried at his side. Twice he
pistol in each hand, surveyed the crowd
as If debating whether to shoot his vic
tins to death then or wait.
- Now, gents, don't be foolish, and coax
yonr death Mind what I say and you'll
be glad I'm Bill Brazletons and never
miss my shots Keep your hands ii,
sight, he said as he moved slowly back
ward toward the open door, where his
confederate held guard.
AT the door he stopped ard gave an
ether sweeping glance over the gambling
lo.,u r hen with. his bfpr#wea non still