Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-10-30
CAPT. JACK FOSTER,
HISTORIC FRONTIER
CHARACTER, IS DEAD
Border Ruffians Had No Terror
for This Intrepid South
Dakotan.

Chamberlain, S. d, Oct. 20.-Captair
Jack Foster, one of the best known
frontiersmen of the Northwest, and the
past four years government detective,
stationed at the Rosebud Indian
agency, lies dead at the enc He
expired suddenly yesterday morning,
after a brief illness. Two week. RgT.
when residents OF this city saw him al
the agency, he was in splendid physical
condition, and apparently in as good
health as he ever was in his life.
Captain Foster was about 50 years
old at the time of his death, and had
been a resident OF South Dakota more
than 30 years. He was captain OF
Troop b, G~rigsby's Rough Riders, dur
ing the Spanish American war and was
one Of the most popular officers OF the
regiment.
A Unique Figure.
! Probably no one of the frontiersmen
of the Northwest had a more eventful.
life h Captain Jack Foster. He was
a typical westerner and might have
been taken as the model from which
Remington. the artist, drew his pic
lures of the scout
He was absolutely fearless and as
ranchman and officer had many thrill
ing fights in the war to wipe out the
horse thieves and cattle rustlers OF
South Dakota. In lie strip OF country
from Jackson Hole, Wyo. through.
South Dakot and down into thu sand
hills OF Nebraska, no name was more
generally detested and feared by the
rustlers han that OF Jack Foster. Four
years & he became a government de-
tective and was stationed at Rosebud
agency. He maintained order on the
reservation and patrolled 1t constantly
on the watch for rocked half breed
thieves, who up to the time OF his
coming to the agency, had been the
y Ln-A 80 NLn 40 nA,na n~I IAVnanf In
dams OF the reservation. Foster usual
ly made his arrests single handed. He
would ride down q band of rustlers and
keeping watch Of them in camp, take.
one after another into custody, driving
them to the nearest settlement ahead
OF him.
This Shows His Nerve.
His nerve was always good in the.
I face Of the greatest danger. Ten or II
years ago, citizens of this town had an
opportunity on the streets to see a
display Of courage that convinced them,
Fosters reputation as a fearless man
was not without reason.
A drunken ranChman, who was guar
relsome and considered q vicious fight
er, terrorized the residents one day by
walking about the streets declaring he
would kill the first man who attempted
to stop him. He carried a loaded Win
chester rifle and practically kept the
| street Clear, WLllle lie WdS dDiOdu. fcS-
ter was marshal at the time, and as
soon as he heard of the ranchman's
conduct, he hurried up town. The.
| ranchman heard that Foster had been
sent for and he loudly announced his
intention OF killing him on sight.
Never Feazed Him.
Foster walked around a corner and
ran almost into the ranchman. The.
latter threw his Winchester TO his
shoulder and sighting along the bar
rell shouted:
IF you come another step. Jack, III
shoot"
Foster. smiling good naturally, new
err paused. He strobe straight up to-
the rife, seized the barrel, turned IL
aside, and reaching over %grapptod with.
the ranchman. They rolled on the
walk, but when the dust cleared. Fos-
ter was sitting astride the bad man
and calmly Handwriting him.
Foster was deputy United States
marshal and for a numbe OF years
deputy sheriff and a detective. He has
a wife, son and daughter.