Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-25
CHEATED DEATH SEVEN TIMES.
"Diamond Field Jack" Had Many Close
Calls With the GalIows.

Calls With the Gallows.
His eyes were Of kindly blue, and
as he began to talk they were filled
with a soft. faraway look that made
you feel the best of his life lay in the
past. But as he got we'll into the story
the eyes began to narrow and snap.
You found yourselves sitting tense on
the edge Of the upholstered seats. You
forgot you were in the Savoy hotel.
You saw, along with him, that sheep
camp in Idaho a winter morning fifteen
years ago. You heard the spat Of the
bullets as they buried themselves into
the logs of the corral. You fought the
battle along with him. That was when
Jack Davis was a young man. He is
so years old now, and the cattle and
sheep wars" Of Idaho are Of the past.
Jack Davis, known in the west as
Diamond Field Jack" was the first
man, he says, to find gold at Goldfeld,
New. 1t was he who opened up the
camp at Rabbit Creek, one mile from
the site Of the present town. His life
has been that Of soldier of fortune.
He has been cowboy, revolution maker
in South and Central America, outlaw
and fugitive from justice, protector Of
the weak and avenger Of the wrongs
done to cattle men by sheep herders In
Cassia county, Idaho. 1t was Of only
one incident in this last series Of ex-
element that he had the time to talk
about this morning. 1t was Of the
seven years of his life in which seven
separate dates were fixed on which he
was to be hanged.
1T was when I was a." he began.
II was foreman for the Spikes & Har-
rell ranch, in Cassia county. A bitter
war was being waged between the
sheep and the cattle men. Half Of
Idaho was settled by the Mormons, and
the sheepmen allied themselves with
them, so the war soon became a fight
between the Mormons and the Cen
-Gentiles, of course, meaning the
nom Mormons.
by name-who was known to be one Of
the destroying angels Of the Mormon
church, who had sworn to put me out
of the way. The county had Mormon
sheriff and a Judge who was a sheep
man, so he was fairly safe in whatever
he attempted. One day received word
that he was coming to the ranch to
get me. So I made up my mind to
meet him half way. That was now I
got the drop on him about five miles
down the road.
when he tried to draw his gun
beat him to 1t and sent bullet through
his arm. That marked the real begin
ming Of the determination Of the whole
crowd to put me out Of business for
ever. A little later two sheepmen were
killed in a fight with a cowboy and a
warrant was sworn out for my arrest.
told them I would give myself up,
but they knew that they didn't have
any case against me and preferred to
take me by force. In that way they
hoped to embroil me in a quarrel and
shoot me legally"
Then Diamond Field Jack recounted
several fights. He told how he finally
fought and forced the sheriff to take
him to the jail.
Seven times I was sentenced to be
hanged" he said with a smile. Il ap-
pealed seven times and lost every ap-
peal. 1t cost the state $295,OOO to pros
ecute me-"
The board of pardons finally settled
the matter. In 1902 Davis was granted
pardon, just seven years after he had
been arrested first.
Mr. Davis is in the mining business
now.-Kansas City Star.