Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-04-04
Adiutant General Canton Was
Once a Texas Ranger.
Governor Cruce Always Commissions
National Guard officer to Super
wise Prize Fiehts-Was in the
Famous Cattle War.

Guthrie. Okla-To enforce the pro
visions of the Oklahoma prize fight
law and to see. particularly, that no
blood is shed, Governor Lee Cruce
always commissions Adjutant General
Frank Canton, Oklahoma National
Guard, to attend the fights In person
and report TO him officially just what
occurred Canton has acted in this
capacity, as the eyes OF the governor,
at every fight OF any consequence that
has been pulled on in the state dur
ing the last two years Such course
was adopted by the governor follow
ing his now famous ultimatum, issued
during 1910, that forbade the Carl
Morris-Jim Flynn fight being held in
Oklahoma.
Especially commissioned by the gov
ernor, Canton attended the Abbott
Smith fight at MeAlester. the Shaugh-
nessey-Roman fight in Tulsa, the
Ferns-Magirl bout at Dewey, the Nor
ris-Comiskey meet at .Sapulpa. and
several others.
A native of Virginia-born within
few miles of Richmond-and Texan
by adoption. with varied experiences
covering two continents, a Texas
ranger and a COW puncher in his
youth, a real product of the real
southwest 10 Canton. the man who
officially attends all the fights in this
state
Canton left Virginia for Texas when
he was fifteen. The call of the west
was too strong for him, and he want
ed to be a COW puncher. Within a
year, however. he had become Texas
ranger. and served in that capacity
for about four years. He was one Of
the party, in the early '70s, that guard
ed Satank. Big Tree and Satanic, the
Kiowa and Comanche Indian chiefs.
following the Indian massacre in the
Salt Greek valley Satank was shot
and killed while trying to escape from
Canton's party; Satanic took his own
life when he was given a life SEN
tence. and Big Tree was ultimately
pardoned and lives with the Okla
homa Kiowas today
Canton tired of Texas in 1878 and
went to Montana and Wyoming II
was there he gained notice as a re-
lentless foe of the cattle rustler. and
this fact obtained for him the cleo
ton In 1881 of sheriff of Johnson
county. then larger than any New
England state.
After one year as sheriff, Canton
was placed in charge of the criminal
work OF the Montana and Wyoming
Cattle Raisers' association. with q
commission as deputy United States
marshal. He participated in what is
known as the Wyoming cattle war,
which resulted in disbanding and con-
victing an organized gang of thieves
and the dispatch of the members to
the penitentiary. In this war Canton
and few cattle men ley in trenches
near Johnson county ranch for three
days and fought force of 200 men
which had collected to resist any in
reference with their depredations.
Canton went to Alaska In 1897 with |
a deputy's commission in charge of |
the United States marshal's office at
Circle City. on the Yukon river and
north of the arctic circle
After two years in the cold region.
Canton joined. as chief packer with
two pack trains, the Ninth United
States cavalry. QUILTED and expedit-
ed for the campaign in China. He
was present at the relief Of both Pc
king and Tientsin.
Returning to the United States Can
Ton located in the Usage Indian coun.
Try. in northern Oklahoma. as a detec-
i've for the Texas Cattlemen's asso-
citation and with deputy marshaI's
commission. 1t was there that Gov. c.
\. Haskell. oklahoma's first state gov
ernor. found him in 1907 and commits