The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1910-05-14

Within brief time the men were nearly all
back at work, doing better than ever before.
At various other points Mcdonald or his
Rangers quoted the strikers and prevented
troubles of various kinds. Usually Captain Bin
went alone. 1t was his favorite 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 a 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 l enough" was the response,
there's only one prizedght!'
But the San Saba affair was different mat
ter. 1t 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 AZ within period of ten years.
In an earlier day sort of vigilance commit
tee or mob had been organized to deal with
lawlcss 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 it had orig
inally claimed. either dropped out or were re
moved and were replaced by men who had a
private grudge against neighbor, or desired
y,
cral principles In time this deadly organza-
ton became not only a social but a political
factor and as such had gathered into its grue-
some momborship-aCtiv and honorary-Coun-
ty officials ranging from the deputy COnstabu-
larry to the occupant of the judicial bench. In
deed, It seemed that a majority of the citizens
of san Saba were associated together for the
purpose Of getting rid-either by assassination
or ntimidation--of the worthier element OF the
community
This society of death was we'll organized 1t
had an active membership of about 500, with
obligations rigid and severe. Their meeting
place was a small natural pool of water al
most surrounded by hills 1t bore the curious
ly appropriate name of "Buzzards 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 SUI.
pcrtuous 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-
creos passed accordingly.
70 break up the Buzzard's Wateruoe 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-1ohn Sullivan, bud
Barker and Edgar Neil--to investigate. The
tran wound In and out In hundred directions.
and gathered in regular knot around the seat
OF Justice Ngihaps there were town and coun.
~ officials who were not in the tolls of the
deadly membership but If so they were not
mStoNerable. sullivan promptly got into trou.
Que with the sheriff by Retailing nan whom
NE round outside holding a reception with his
lrlehus, when the state had paid a reward for
his capture Sullivan and the sheriff both drew
guns out were kept apart and the district
Judge who seems to have been a sort of hon
orary "Buzzard,' holding his ONCE BY virtue OF
society favor, undertook to get rid of Sullivan
by sending him a long way on after soma wit
ness supposed 10 be wanted though why they
should want any witness in a court like thai
would be hard 10 guess
Captain Bill himself now came down 20 looL
over the field. lie had his hands fun from, m,
start
Mcdonald interviewed the sheriff and IN,
county OFF cials in general and delivered hi
opinions OF them, individually ana collectively