The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-05-13
ArizOna'S Rangers
A Picturesque Body

4 L Territory as the home of
1o< the bad man." the bandit,
the train robber and the cattle rustler,
have evidently not kept posted on the
work Of the Arizona rangers.
This most daring and picturesque
body of mounted police in the world
has literally 'cleaned out" Arizonas
rough element, a statement that means
a great deal in view of the fact that the
Territory has always held more than
its share of the law defying swagger-
ers and ruffians who have gone under
the descriptive name OF bad men,"
This work has not been accomplished
without loss. Several of the rangers
have been severely wounded, and two
of them have been killed in combat
with desperadoes. But for every ran.
ger killed or wounded many lawbreak-
ers have bitten the dust or have been
brought to justice. The ranks Of the
rangers have always been kept with
out a gap, as there are plenty of deter
mined men willing to step into the
charmed circle of twelve-for the ran
gers nave utN eI lncltuStu IVY oiiu tA"'
number.
Thanks to the rangers. cattle rust
ling is getting TO be thing of the past
in Arizona. Two years ago the largest
cattle owners in the Territory were
thinking seriously of seeking other
ranges. Cattle rustlers. recruited from
the ranks of Mormons. Gentiles and
Mexicans. preyed upon flocks and
herds. No mans sheep or cattle were
safe from the depredations of the law
less. Local authorities We're powerless
The cattle thieves in many instances
worked in organized bands. They
would descend on range, drive off
the cattle or sheep, and have the stock
disposed of before posse could be put
on their trail. Many ranchmen were
in collusion with the desperadoes. some
of them being frightened into an alli-
ance with criminals.
But the people of Arizona began to
bestir themselves in earnest, and soon
things took a different turn. The Ari-
zona rangers sprang into existence.
Burton w. Mossman, of Bisbee, the
first captain. was chosen because of
his known cooiness and his skill with
the revolver. Eleven men We're put
under his command and eleven are
under the command of the captain to-
day. The force is never enlarged. but
when member Is killed another
quickly steps into his place. These
twelve men represent the finest type
of fighters in the world 1t is the same
type that composed such large ele-
ment in Roosevelt's Rough Riders, and
that gained the admiration of the for
eign representatives on the field in
Cuba during the Spanish war.
Every member of the Arizona ran
gers is an expert shot with the rifle
or revolver. He has had experience
on the cattle range. and knows how tC
use the lariat that hangs at his saddle
! He knows the strength and weakness
of every criminal in the Southwest
| and he is even too ready to meet tht
most dreaded outlaws, even though th'
odds be all against him. Every range
! Is always armed and ready for emer
| gencies. He is always in touch will
his chief. and always ready to carr!
the law into any part of the chaparra
with the rifle. \ crime is reported
| from a horse stealing to n stage rob
| berry, and the rangers promptly hurr!
to the scene-'or such of them as ar
available. They never leave the trai
until they have something definite t.
report. Unless a ranger is too far from
civilization to do so he is expected t.
send in a report to Governor Brodi'
every week. A sample report from ont
of these brave and modest troopers i:
as follows:
"From first to third. left Clifton ant
secuted toward San Francisco River
Arrested Mexican at Rattlesnake gulch
turned over to authorities at Clifton
Went out after Jose Jacon, murderer
Killed resisting arrest"
Hardly less laconic Is the report OF
Captain Mossman concerning his cap
ture of Bert Alvord, the notorious train
robber, and Augustin Chacon, better
known as "Pelelo," n notorious MeXi
can bandit, who inaugurated relgr
cons career in Arizona and in Mexico
will be talked of as long as the career
of BILLY the Kid" After the organi
zatlon of his band of cutthroats people
living in the mining camps OF the Cliff
! ton mountains did not dare to trave
into the Businesses. With the utmost
boldness he rode through Central ant
| Northern Arizona, holding up gamb
| ling houses in Jerome, robbing a stag,
coach en- route TO Aqua Frio, neal
Phoenix, and returning to Clifton in {
trail of blood. The gang killed TIVE
hunters in the Bonita mountains with
out any apparent object. Friends whit
| found the bones of these men n montl
later returned in desperation. for Cha
con himself appeared before them ant
announced that In the future travellers
would not be permitted to so much n!
bury their dead in these mountains.
! Chacon had record OF killing TWEEN
ty-elght persons. and doubtless this rec
ord would be larger IL all his victim
were known. The capture or death o
this bandit was demanded by the peo
pie of Arizona and was one of Captain
Mossmans first expeditions. The ear
tain learned that Chacon mad gone t
Mexico with Alyord. who had he'd n
the Southern Pacific train at CochlsC
Alvord was tired of lying out in tn
bush and wanted TO surrender, but con
cuded TO betray Chacon. Captain
| H., A 1.