The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-05
IS BOUND F08 TEXA.
Fourteen-Ye Old Boy Wants
to be a RanCher
LANDS IN CITY JAIL
Left His Home in Iowa to Sat-
iSfy Ambition.

Yesterday afternoon boy. who gave his
name as Fred Edwards. was rested n
the Santa Fe yards and was taken to he
police station and locked up. At first it
was thought that he had stolen some
thing. as boy Of his description was
wanted Then it was thought that per-
haps he was a runaway and he was hell
He says that he is on MS way to Texas
ana wants to work on ranch and be a
cowboy. He says that this has been his
desire for some time ana for that reason
ne left MS home in Des Moines and
started this way
A reporter Tor the Eagle called on the
boy, who is Il years OF age, al the police
station and asked nm about his aIn0i-
ton. Young Edwards said: u want 10
go to Texas. L thought that l would like
il down there and 1 want TO get Oh a
ranch. Ia Like 10 be q cowboy and that
IS the reason / came away from nome.
aid not like it in Iowa and l thought
/ had just as We'll start cut one time as
another. SO l just left home. 1 had
little money when 1 left. but it did Iol
last long and then l just 'bummel
Didn't have anything else 10 do l guess
got along all right. l got this far and
finally the police locked me up. They
won't keep me long, guess, and then 1
VIII 60 on 10 Texas"
What part Of Texas are you going?"
was inteTrogated.
oh. 1 don't know: down by the gulf
Scr,9a y1tace INV rgana where 7 oar
on d cattle ranch. l don't want to stay
in town. I want TO get out in the coun-
try on some ranch. IL could find a good
place on a ranch l might stop in Okla
homa, but l believe I'd rather 60 on to
Texas.
Well how do you expect to get there?"
Just like got this far. When the po-
lice let me out 1 will ride the trains.
will get there ali right and I'll get on
that ranch, too.
Every conversation that was held with
the boy wound around again to the ranch
question. lie is a lively fellow and small
for his age. Young Edwards was dressed
in a very common suit of clothing and
wore a sweater, which had seen much
service. He did not care for that, for his
only thought seemed 10 be to get to
Texas
Are there any ranches around hers?'
ne asked When the answer came he was
rather disappointed that there were none
close to Wichita On being told that
there were many in western Kansas. he
promptly asked about the distance and IL
it was thought that he could easily get
there. and then he talked about Texas.
When asked how he happened 10 get to
Wichita, young Edwards eyes snapped
and he told how he left home He sai3
that when he got as far as Kansas City
he worked in the packing houses for d
time. He did not like it there, for the
treatment cid not suit him He said that
he stayed as long as he could stand it
and one night he got on train coming
toward Wichita, or as he expressed it,
toward Texas" I did not have a bit
of trouble. The other fellows treated me
all right and called me the Kid and I
suppose that was all right, too. got
stuff to eat where could and have not
starved"
When questioned about his education,
young Edwards said that he had been a
student Ia the public schools. That he
had no trouble with his teachers. but he
just simply got tired and went to work
about town. And then came the desire
to get on a cattle ranch and he thought
of Texas
"1Iy father and mother are dead" he
said, but 1 have been living with my
people. They treated me all right, but I
didn't want TO stay there with them. I
wrote to them once before I got to Kan
sas City and some of these times l viii
write to them again. They cant write TO
me, though. for they don't know where
[ am. I guess I couldn't tell them where
would be-
Don't you suppose that your folks
would come after you if you should tell
them where YOU are?
They might, but 1 am not scared OF
that If they did start I would 60 on,
and then they could not fad me. say.
they are not going to try TO send me
home. are they? They hadn't better. III
pull out as soon as get out Of here"
The chances are that Edwards VIII be
turned loose unless some substantial
charge is brought against him. It is not .
known that his people want him. and il
is very evident that the boy dees not
want 20 g home. He IS very determia-
ed fellow ana IS the kind Of a boy who
VIII take care Of himself almost any
where and in every condition. 1t has
been long time since the city jI his
contained such a determined character
fer a boy and II he sets TO Texas he ST.
make typical COWBOY L determination
has anything 10 DO with K