Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-05-12

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. 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 a
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 prize-fght!"
But the San Saba affair was a 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
lty-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 it had orig
inally claimed, either dropped out or were ire.
moved and were replaced by men who had a
private grudge against a neighbor, or desired
his property, or were fond Of murder on gen.
eral principles. In time this deadly organiza-
ton became not only a social but a political
factor, and as such had gathered into its 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 a 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. 1t
had an active membership of about 800, 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 "Buzzard's Water
Hole" and here the Worthy Order of Assassins
assembled once a month, usually during full
mooe, to transact general business and formu-
late plans for the removal of offending or su-
p%erfluous 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 Buzzard's 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, bud
Barker and Edgar Neil-to investigate. The
trail wound in and out in a 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-
BILE with the sheriff by retailing a man whom
he found outside holding a reception with his
friends, when the state had paid a reward for
his capture. Sullivan and the sheriff both drew
guns, but were kept apart, and the district
Judge, who seems to have been a sort of hon.
orary "Buzzard," holding his office by virtue Of
society favor, undertook to get rid of Sullivan
by sending him a 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 now 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,