The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-03

the a uf SOUTHWEST the newly 81
rived settler often Ands that he
has strange neighbors- 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. aud respect the property and
rights cf their neighbOrs.
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-bred boys, Gilbert and
Charles Small bad. by steady labor
and economy, saved up a capital Of
sl700. with this they emigrated 70
Colorado and started a small stock
farm. fifteen miles from Alamosa By
availing themselves OF the Homestead
ace and the pre-emption law, they Sc
cured i tract Of 320 acres Of Land lying
upon 4 creek. with 4 rattge extending
back over the hills which was not
likely 10 be taken by other settlers.
At point q short distance below,
where a mining trail passed them and
where they judged there would IN time
be a railroad, they built frame house.
which they opened as a hotel, and IN
which they also kept . stock Of grocer
les.
Some eight or ten miles from them
lived a man named Peter Hergit, who
professedly worked a mine, but whose
place was really a rendezvous for rem
e1ade cowboys and other desperate
characters Of the Jesse James type.
1t was lntimaten that several dar-
ing robberies had been planned, and
also thar Clate Walker made it one Of
his stopping places.
Walker was a notorious gambler and
dead shot. He was supposed TO be the
leader Of a 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
because OF the lack Of excitement. he
would kill man "for fun" just to
keep his hand il.
he had a pleasing habit Of riding
through small towns and camps, shoot
ing promiscuously at everybody he
saw, to keep up the terror Of his name
"a matter be appears TO have been
vain Of
It win seem well nigh incredible thai
such a man should be allowed to es
cape justice and 10 run at large. Sucl
IA the ugly fact. however. IN scores O
similar cases. owing. probably to thl
circumstances that no officer likes 4
attempt the arrest Of these despera
does. who generally carry two, ans
sometimes. three. heavy revolvers. an'
are marvellously quick and sure o
/ aim.
AS an example Of the wonderful,
] rapid and accurate shooting Of som
J Of those frontier men the writer re
{ members seeing a cowboy at Eator
J New Mexico. ride his horse at full gal
Ion past telegraph post TO which wa
pinned the rocnd white cover OF
: paper collar box. and lodge four ball
D from his Colts pistol in this sma
= mark while passing. Afterward b
2 entertained us by throwing into th
{ air. one after another, a handful {
: peanuts. ana craking each as it e
I with a single bullet.
Q Then be did the same thing agail
9 tossing the nuts up rapidly, and twir
. ing the revolver round his forehngl
after every shot Finally. THROWN
= the nuts up more slowly. he replace
= his pistol in lts sheath at his hip aftl
. every shot. drawing It for each su
< ceeding nut. AID did not miss one O
:. u six. This shows the accuracy az
L Quickness cf aim of many IF the
lawless fellows: and such a marksms
/ was Clate Walker. who added TO b
D. reputation. moreover. the more mt
9 derous one of being a killer" whic
y in the phrase Of tais section. means
= dekpcrado who viii shoot q man mp
the least orov0catlon- Our two you
stockmen lad heard of this bord
n monster. but their arst actual {
-e quaintancc with him began the q
IS week after putting up their SIC
is aSman Broz. Hetel a.d Gr0cery" "
so Walker chanc-d 70 pass one mol
t~~ nt.r -s.alrr~ tto new xfvu and