The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-25
BAD MEN CALL
: HIM A TERROR.
Marshal PIunkeit Of Oklahoma
Is Always on Deck.
DOES NOT KNOW WORD FEAR.
Remarkable Adventures Hs Has Had as an
Officer Of The Law In The
Far West.
DOES NOT KNOW WORD FEAR.

Among the Infinitely various surprises of
which the far West is prolific. none Is
more remarkable that "A marshal wNo, ex-
ercising his Official functions in communi-
ties famous for their bad mem" arrcsting
hundreds of the most desperate criminals
under exceptionally perilous conditions
going up against gun plays without
number, and generally cognizant OF the
avowed purpose of noted desperadoes 10
shoot him at sight, has habitually gone
with no other weapons than his bare
hands or light bamboo cane, ana has
never yet found Il necessary to kill
human being
Numerous scars In all parts OF his body
evidence the earnest endeaVors 20 Kill
him, but not only have the efforts failed,
but the men who made them have IN
no instance, succeeded In getting away
from his clutch. however desperately he
has been wounded
And this surprising officer never smokes
or chews tobacco never swears, and
never was known TO be angry. Even
when fghting for his lie he laughs and
seems TO enjoy the excitement And
when he has his antagonists down. dis
armed and handcuffed. he cares kindly for
them, even hndipg legal counsel IL de-
sired, TO protect their rights, before
taking time to have dug out of his flesh
any casual bullets he may have accumu-
lated IN the course of the proceedings.
So much statement OF fact concerning
him would be sufficient anywhere west
and southwest of the Missouri river for
prompt identification by almost anybody
OF Colonel Dick Plunkett OF Oklahoma as
the exceptional person I'm question
And by this TIME hts fame has spread
pretty well through the entire country.
especially among the sporting fratern y
who made his acquaintance when he
was manager and general controller of
the Fitzsimmons- Maher fight i'm Mexico.
He is also well known TO and affection
ately regarded by all army ,offcers who
haze been in Western service, and has
won the liking and respect OF all square
officials who have had cognizance Of
his devoted aud self-sacrihcing efforts
in behalf OF the Indians, who have no
more earnest and efficient champion and
protector than Dick Plukett.
TIRES or SHEEP RAISING.
Colonel Plunkett was born in County
Down Ireland. was one of eleven broth
ers-all big. athletic men-snd has sold
cattle I'm every country in England. SO
that he was by no means green. tn-
sophisticated lad when he came TO this
country on the last voyage made by the
Inflated Oregon.
Without waiting even day TO see
something OF the East, upon his landing
at New York, he went out TO join his
brother-in-law i'm the sheep-raising bus
ness. near Bagosa Springs. I'm southern
Colorado. Seven weeks OF the lonliness ana
monotony Of "A sheep ranch were all
she could endure. With his buoyaut
spirits, tireless energy, and fondness for
excitement and activity, the free. Wild
life surrounding that dismal sheep ranch
irresistibly attracted him, and almost
from his first plunge into IT, he became
what he has been ever since, leader
and ruler among men.
IL was his remarkable prowess in athe-
letic sports and demonstrated courag sc
that first commanded popular attention
and interest The town OF Montezuma,
lust then infested by an unreasonable
large element of the toughest bad men
I'm the land, offered him tae perilous honor
OF a marshalship, and he entered upon
its duties with an enthusiasm and sue
cess that amazed and dsgusted the bad
men.
Naturally, they tried 70 kill him. II
seemed TO them that il would not be DIFF
ncult They had guns and knew well how
TO use them quickly and skilfully, while
he carried only a cane. The idea OF MS
arresting one of them with his bare hands
seemed only ndicuousiy absurd. But 90
their astonishment and shame he did II.
They shot him many a time, but a
few bullets more or less in hts powerful
frame did not appear to have any effect.
Broad e,leep-Chested, trong-limbod,
weighing $50 to 26O pounds, and always IN
condition, skilled rs few men-eYen pro-
fessionals--arc i'm sparring and wrestling
so agile that he could jump over horse
or turn somersaults and handsprings
forward or backward. and absolutely un-
conscious OF the sensation of fear, he
soon taught them to know him as their
master.
WILL NOT SHOOT TO KILL.
4 criminal whom he purposed arresting
might get one shot into him, but before hs
could fire a second would find himself on
his back with Dicks grip ON his throat
the handcuffs on his wrists in a moment
more and II he did not happen 20 have
broken limb or rib. rs a result OF the
sudden mix-up, ne might consider him
self I'm luck
And no provocation, imminence of dan
ger. or NUMBERS pppoS'u W hiih N'NAN
make Dick shoot TO kill IL they opened
fire on him at too great distance foi
him to close quickly with them. he might
use y revolver-and he could shoot very
straight 30 hit their legs and bring then
down. but that was as much a. he woult
do
I'm always ready to die" said CoIoue
Dick when asked about this recently by 3
friend. in the discharge ~ my duty
without regrets fur the past or fears fol
the future. and I'd rather Give my hf'
am tiine-ycs. ten lives if l had them %
than have on my soul the launching OF Z
human being into eternity however oat
he might he
TEXAS Sam" and his gang were amonI
the worst characters afiiicting Montezu
ma when Dick Plunkett essuyed the es
tablishing OF law and order there sam wa
a notorious desperate and an extraordi
narily powerful animal 6 feet Inches u