Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-03-22
NOTED GUN FIGHTER
Adjutant General Canton Was
Once a Texas Ranger.
Governor cruee Always Commissions
National Guard oncer to Super
Wise Prize FIghts--Was In the
Famous Cattle War.

GU. hrie, Okla-To enforce the pro
visions OF the Oklahoma prize fight
law and to see, particularly, that nc
blood is shed. Governor Lee Cruce
always commissions Ad1utant General
Frank Canton. Oklahoma National
Guard, to attend the nights In person
and report TO him oInclally just what
occurred. Canton has acted In this
capacity, as the eyes OF the governor
at every night OF any consequence that
has been pulled OF in the state dur
ing the last two years. Such a course
was adopted by the governor follow
ing his now famous ultimatum. issued
during 1910, that forbade the Carr
Morris-Jim Flynn fight being held iu
Oklahoma.
Especially commissioned by the gov
ernor, Canton attended the Abbott
Smith fight at McAlester the Shaugh'
Messy Roman fght in Tulsa. the
Ferns-Magirl bout at Dewey, the Nor
is-Comiskey meet at Sapulpa. ana
several others.
A native of Virginia-born within
few miles of Newfoundland a Texan
by adoption. with varied experiences
covering two continents, a Texas
ranger and a COW puncher In his
youth. real product OF the real
southwest is 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
year. however, he had become Texas
ranger and served in that capacity
for about four years. He was one oil
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 Creek valley. Satank was shot
and killed while trying to escape from
Cantons party; Satanta 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. IL
was there he gained notice as 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
vlcting 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 expedi'.
ed for the campaign in China. He
! was present at the relief of both Pc
king and Tientsln.
Returning to the United States Can
ton located in the Usage Indian coun
try. In northern Oklahoma. as a detec.
tive for the Texas Cattlemen's assu.
citation and with deputy marshal's
: commission; 1t was there that Gov c
N. Haskell, Oklahoma's first state gov
ernor. found him In 1907 and commits
stoned him adIutant general. He was
| retained In office by Gov Lee Cruce.
| who succeeded Haskell