The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-02-05

NHS hl southwest, the newly ar
rived settler often finds that he
6 has strange neighbors-n only
indians, but white desperadoes. who
IRE more to be feared than even Utes
IND Apaches.
Two young friends of mine-good.
teady' New England born young men
We're so unfortunate as to buy land
N the vicinity of an especially ugly
pember of this outlaw fraternity.
They had been brought up to obey the
law and respect the property and
lights of their neighbors.
They could be brave enough I'm the
iefense Of my just cause, yet they
dreaded and shrank from the use of
ieadly weapons against fellow -being.
Plain, farmer bred boys, Gilbert and
charles Small had, by steady labor
ana economy, saved up a capital of
$500. With this they emigrated to
Colorado and started a small stock
farm, fifteen miles from Alamosa. BY
awaiting themselves of the Homestead
ace anu the pre-emption law, they Sc
cured tract of 800 acres Of land living
Upon a creek, with n range extending
back over the hills which was no.
likely to be taken by other settlers
At point short distance below.
where mining trail passed them and
here they judged there would in time
a railroad, they built frame house.
hich they opened as a hotel, and In
hlch they also kept a stock Of grocer
Some eight or ten miles from them
ed man named Peter Hergit, who
lfofessedly worked mine, but whose
place was really rendezvous for rem
egnde cowboys and other desperate
characters OF the Jesse James type.
1t was intimated that several dar-
ing robberIes had been planned, and
also that Clate Walker made 1t one of
mis- stopping places.
Walker was notorious gambler and
dead shot. He was supposed to be the
leader Of n band of train robbers. and
was said to have killed not less than
ten men in various ARRAYS.
1t was said, too, that occasionally.
When times became too monotonous
ccausc Of the lack of excitement. he
'ould kill a man FOR fun" Just to
eep his hand i'm.
He had n pleasing habit of riding
trough small towns and camps. shoot
lg promlscuously at everybody he
slw. to keep up the terror of his name
"a matter he appears to have been
vain OF.
1t VIII seem well nigh incredible that
such man should be allowed to es-
cape justice and to 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 apd accurate shooting of some
frontier men the writer re-
seeing n cowboy at Ration.
leo. ride his horse at full gal
q telegraph post TO which was
the round white cover Of
ollar box. and lodge four balls
Is Colts pistol I'm this small
While passing. Afterward he
taned us by throwing into the
one after another. a handful of
utsf and craking each as # fell
aslngle bullet.
en- he ala the same thing again,
ing the nuts up rapidly. and twlrl.
As the revolver round his forehnger
FER every shot Finally, throwing
he nuts mp more slowly, he replaced
rs pistol I'm lts sheath ut his hip after
very shot, drawing Il for each sue
eeding NUT and dld not miss one out
f six. This shows the accuracy and
quickress Of MIN Of many Of these
'0wiegs felf1ws; and such a marksman
was ClatC Walker. who added TO his
oputoti0n, moreover. the more muir
rous one Of being a Killer" which.
the phrase Of this section, means
esDerado who win shoot a man upon
be least prOvocotion Our two young
'ocimen had heard OF this border
lnster, but their FIRST actual ac-
'ntance with him began the FIRST
ter putting up their sign.
rOs. Hotel q d Grocery"
CHANGED to pass one morn
seeing the new sign, and by
ling attention to himself.
is horse. drew bis revolver.
Gre on the sign. shooting
tier 49," to pieces Then,
he kicked the door open
demanded q cock
be inside at
ly that there
ion with the
home princi
tcrmined to
o. rrraafos