The Green Forest tribune., 1910-05-13

Within a brief time the men were nearly. all back at work, doing better than 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 favorite way of han ding mob disorders as we have seen. It is told of him in Dallas how he came alone to that city in response to dispatch for a com pany of Rangers this time to put down prize fight.
 Where are tRe others?" asked the disap- pointed mayor who met him at the depot
 "Hell ain't l enough?" was the response there's only one prize-fght.'
 But the San Saba affair different mat ter. It in 1897 that certain citizens of San Saba county petitioned the governor to send Rangers to investigate the numerous mur ders which had been committed in that local ity-the number of assassinations then ~Sggre- gating 43 within a period of ten years.
 In earlier day sort of vigilance. commit tee 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 it had orig inally claimed, either dropped out or were Ire moved and were replaced by men who had a private grudge against a neghbor, desired his property, or were fond of murder on gen. eral principles. In time this deadly organiza- tion became not only a 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- lary to the occupant of the judicial bench. h. 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 intimidaton-of the worthier element of the community.
 This society of death well organized It had an active membership of about 800, with obligations rigid and severe. Their meeting place small natural pool of water al- most surrounded by hills. It 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 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 Buzzards Water-Hole roost. and to discourage it's 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 a regular knot around the seat of justice Perhaps there were town and coun- ty officials who were not in the tolls of the deadly membership but if so they were not discoverable. Sullivan promptly got into trou. ble with the sheriff by rejailing man whom he found outside holding a reception with his. friends when the state had paid reward for his capture. Sullivan and the sheriff both drew guns but were kept apart, and the district judge, who seems to have been sort of hon. orary "Buzzard, holding his office by virtue of society favor, undertook to get rid of Sullivan by sending him long way off after some wit ness supposed to be wanted though why they should want any witness in a court like that would be hard to guess
 Captain Bill himself came down to look over the field. He had his hands full from the start
 Mcdonald interviewed the sheriff and the county officials in general, and delivered his opinions of them, individually and collectively,