Hutchinson gazette., 1900-12-27
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HOW IT WIS 00NE
By A, A. Beckwith.
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q nus bUHnRe uelSHDOTb-uOl Only
Indians, but white desperadoes, who
are more to be feared than even Utes
and Apaches.
Two young friends Of mine--good,
steady, New England born young men
--were so unfortunate as to buy land
In the Vicinity Of an especially ugly
member of this outlaw fraternity.
They had been brought up to obey the
law, and respect the property and
rights Of their nelghbors.
They could be brave enough In the
defense of any Just cause, yet they
dreaded and shrank from the use of
deadly weapons against afellow-being.
Plain. farmer.brcd boys, Gilbert and
Charles Small had, by steady labor
and economy, saved up capital OF
S1700. With this they emigrOted to
Colorado and started a small stock
sarm. ilfteen miles from Alamosa, BY
Avalllng themselves Of the Homestead
Qce and the preemption law, they Sc
cured tract of 320 acres of land lying
upon a creek, with a range extending
back over the hills which was not
likely to be taken by other settlers.
At q point short distance below,
where mining trail passed them and
where they judged there would in time
be q railroad, they built frame house,
which they opened ag a hotel, and in
which they also kept stock of grocer
les.
Some eight or ten miles from them
lived n man named Peter Hcrglt, who
professedly worked mine, but whose
place was really a rendezvous for rem
cgade cowboys and other desperate
characters of the Jesse james type.
1t was intimatcd that several dar-
ing robberles had been planned, and
also that Clate Walker made 1t one Of
his stopping places
Walker was q notorious gambler and
dead shot, He was supposed to be the
leader Of band of train robbers, and
was said to have killed not less than
ten men In various ARRAYS.
It was said, too, that occasionally,
when times became too monotonous
because Of the lack Of excitement he
would kill man "for fun" just to
keep his hand In.
He had q pleasing habit Of riding
through small towns and camps, shoot
ing promIscuously Nt everybody he
saw, to keep up the terror Of his name
IA matter he appears to have been
vain of.
1t will seem well nigh incredible that
such a man should be allowed to es-
cape justice and 10 run at large. Such
is the ugly fact, however, in scores Of
similar cases, owing, probably to the
circumstances that no officer likes to
attempt the arrest Of these despera-
does, who generally carry two, and
sometimes, three, heavy revolvers, and
are marvellously quick and sure Of
aim.
AS an example Of the wonderfully
rapid and accurate shooting Of some
OF those frontier men the writer re-
members seeing cowboy at Ration,
New Mexico, ride his horse at full gal
lop past telegraph post to which was
pinned tho round white cover of a
paper collar box, and lodge four balls
from his Colts pistol In this small
mark while passing. Afterward he
entertained us by throwing into the
air, one after another, n handful of
peanuts, and craking each as 1t fell
with n single bullet.
Then he did the same thing again,
tossing the nuts up rapidly, and twirl'
ing the revolver round his forefnger
after every shot. Finally, throwing
the nuts up more slowly, he replaced
his pistol In It's sheath at his hip after
every shot, drawing 1t for each sue
ceeding nut, and did not miss one out
Of six. This shows the accuracy ana
Qulckness Of aim Of many Of these
lawless fellows; and such a marksman
was Clate Walker, who added to his
reputation, moreover, the more MUIR
derous one OF being "klller" which,
In the phrase OF this section, means n
desperate WHO will shoot n mnn upon
the least provocation. Our two young
stockmen Ind heard of this border
monster, but their first actual ac-
qualntaucc with him began the first
week after putting up their sign,
"Small Bros, Hotel d Grocery"
Walker chnnccd to pass one morn
Ing aEd sccjog .he new sign, and by
way Of calling attention to himself,
rclncd In his hcrse, drew his revolver,
aud opened tre on the sign, shooting
the first letter. 'S," to pieces. Then,
dismountIng, he klekej the door open,
Gnd walking In, demanded "cock-
tall
Gilbert, who cEaaced to be inside at
the time, told him clyIlly that there
was no bar In connection with the
house. fer, true to Il cir home princi-
plrs, the you1S nsn had determined to
keep q "NeiDpersucs aouse"-o greater