The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1910-05-21

Within a brief time the men were nearly all
back at work. doing better than ever before.
At various other points Mcdonald or his
Rangers quieted the strikers and prevented
troubles of various kinds. Usually Captain Bill
went alone. It was his favorfte way Of han
ding mob disorders, as we have SEEN 1t is told
of him in Dallas how he once came alone to
that city in response to a dispatch for COM
pany of Rangers, this time to put down
prize fight.
where are the others?" asked the disap-
pointed mayor, who met him at the depot.
Hell! amt / enough?" was the response,
there's only one prize-fght!"
But the San Saba affair was different mat
ter. It was in 1897 that certain citizens Of
San Saba county petitioned the governor to
send Rangers to investigate the numerous MUIR
ders which had been committed in that local.
ity-the number of assassinations then aggre-
eating 43 within a period Of ten years.
In an earlier day a sort Of vigilance commit
tee or mob had been organized to deal with
lawless characters. but In the course OF time
the usual things happened and the committee
itself became the chief menace of the commu-
nifty. Whatever worthy members 1t had orig
inally claimed, either dropped out or we're ere
moved and were replaced by men who had
private grudge against neighbor, or desired
his property or were fond of murder on gen.
eral principles In time this deadly organiza-
ton became not only social but political
factor, and as such had gathered into It's grue-
some membership-active and honorary-coun-
ty officials ranging from the deputy constabu-
larry to the occupant of the judicial bench. In
deed, 1t seemed that majority of the citizens
of San Saba were associated together for the
purpose Of getting rid-either by assassination
or intimidation-of the worthier element Of the
community.
This society Of death was well organized. It
had an active membership of about 800, with
obligations rigid and severe. Their meeting
place was small natural pool Of water al
most surrounded by hills. 1t bore the curious
ly appropriate name Of "Buzzard's Water
Hole" and here the Worthy Order Of Assassins
assembled once month, usually during full
moon, to transact general business and formu-
late plans for the removal of offending or su-
perfuous friends.
Members in good standing would make
known their DESIRES setting forth reasons why
citizens in various walks Of life were better
dead, and the cases were considered and de-
crees passed accordingly.
To break up the Buxxard's water-Hole roost.
and to discourage its practises In and around
San Saba was the job cut out for Bill McDon-
aid and his Rangers during the summer and
fall of 1897
Captain Mcdonald began the work by send
ing over three Of his men-John Sullivan, Dud
Barker and Edgar Neil-to investigate. The
trail wound in and out In hundred directions,
and gathered In q regular knot around the seat
of justice Perhaps there were town and coun-
: ty ofiicials who were not In the tolls Of the
deadly membership, but II 30 they were not
discoverable Sullivan promptly got into trou.
BILE with the sherih BY retailing man whom
he found outside holding . reception with his
friends. when the state had paid reward for
his capture. Sullivan and the sheriff both drew
cvx,uo hsr< lar AM ho frk