The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1910-01-28
SSSsG1%e<uze,v "a

some OF the men nearer at haD1
Who we're ih oas way or another connected
With the Cedar Brakes gang. Boil Brooken.
. notorious outlaw was the head of the
band and his brother Bood was one of IT,
chief members. The Brookens were wanted
not only for cattle stealing. but for train rob
bing and murder a. we'll. A certain Bull
Turner vas one Of their victims. Turner
was said to have been one OF the Brookea
gang At An earlier time. but had aban.
doned that way Of life and made an effort
to become = decent citizen. The gang believed
he had given information and somewhat later.
when hs was driving across the country with
. prominent stockman-a Jew named Lazarus
the Brookens and half q dozen Of their fol.
lowers suddenly dashed out OF roadside con-
cealment and began firing. Turner was In
stantly killed and Lazarus fell over the dash
board In a wild effort to get behind something.
The frightened horses. one Of them wounded
In the foot ran madly all the way to town
with Lazarus still clinging to the whifietrees.
With the assistance of Sheriff Alley-also
short horse. through the industries OF the
Broken gang-and one Pat Wolforth. who
was acquainted with certain of the silent
partners Of the outlaws and stood ready to
give information-several arrests were made
presently and trouble filled the air.
Threatening letters now began to come to
the new deputy. warning him against further
procedure-promising him death and torture
of many varieties II he did not suspend opera
tions. Such letters always stimulated Bill Mo
Donald to renewed enterprise.
Meantime the railroad had reached Harde-
man and the town of Quanah-named for
Chief Quanah Parker. son of tho historic Gym.
thia Ann Parker-had sprung up. 1t was the
typical tough place and certain bad men still
at large came there to proclaim vengeance and
to LAY" for the men who were making them
trouble Among these disturbers was one
n IA NJ ntv hA
borders Of which the Cedar Brakes gang was
located
Davidson appeared presently on tho streets
Of Quanah. nourishing his firearms and max.
ing his boasts Bill Mcdonald suddenly
rived on the scene and without any parley
whatever stepped quickly up to Davidson and
disarmed him 80 suddenly that the terror OF
Willbarger stood dazed and did not recover
himself until he was half way to the ONCE OF
Justice. where he paid . ine.
He tried 1t again the next week. with the
same result He kept on trying it and each
time settled for his amusement with a hns.
The Davidson crowd was still In town and
far from satisfied. Davidson felt that he had
support enough now to tackle even that hard
headed Mcdonald and he enlisted = big
butcher named Williams to stir up the mess.
The gang armed themselves with long butcher
knives from Williams shop and started out to
hunt up their victim. They located him in Q
e9lOon where tTOuOleB OF VARIOUS KINGS W0rO
likely to originate and the presence Of an on
Ger was desirable. Big Bill Williams. the
butcher. entered nrst and coming near to MO
Donald slightly bumped against him. Not
wishing trouble. Mcdonald walked away. fol-
lowed by Williams. who bumped against him
again. Deputy Bill then walked to the other
side of the room, which was unDccupied and
when Williams and his crowd started to fol-
low he warned them not to come any closer.
At this q number of cowmen who were pres
ent saw the trouble and being friendly to Mo
Donald stepped in. pushing Williams and his
crowd toward the door. Outside the disturb
gave vent to their animosity for McDon-
aid in violent language and opprobrious names.
Suddenly Mcdonald himself stepped out
among them and seeing a piece of scantlins
about four feet long lying by the door he
seized 1t and as Williams started toward him
he gave the big butcher a lick across the face
with 1t that nattened his features and put .
habitual crook in his nose. The crowd thought
Williams killed and his supporters began
to get out Of the way Of that scantling But
Mcdonald dropped 1t and had out his guns
in a moment.
Haiti" he said, every one Of you I'll kill
the irst man that runs" Then to the Rang.
ers. who at that moment appeared on the
scene. Search those men for weapons"
Search was made and long butcher knives
intended for Mcdonald came to light. knife
OF tne same kln0 was IOund on Williams.
Somewhat later word was brought to Dep
uty Bill that what was left Of the Davidson
and Williams crowd had collected In TIP Mo
Dowell's saloon. where a brother of Williams
tended bar. and were declaring war to the
death. Mcdonald promptly went down there
and entered. with a revolver in each hand
The crowd Of would-be assassins about .
dozen or So took one look and made a break
for the back window and fed
Mcdonald now resolved to hunt on his own
hook. As deputy sheriff he was restricted to
his own county, but this handicap was rs
moved through Ranger Captain g. A. McMur
ray. who had him appointed by Governor Ross
as special ranger. with sheriHs rights in any
county in the state One day he received Q
letter from Capt. George A. Knight of Dallas,
Texas U. 8. marshal of the northern district
Of Texas. asking him to come to Dallas and be
made U. 8. deputy marshal. with authority to
operate In southern Indian Territory and No
mans Land. Mcdonald went down without
delay and reported at Knights ONCE
Il have heard about you and your work up
in Hardeman." said Capt. Knight and I want
you for deputy. But first tell me what are
your politics"