American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1913-02-27

bpurT6O MS pony, the 1VUUDMNfNi
Kid after him, They \ NlW1TI}Y}UW
exchanged shots. and \"NMVM)W
the ofhcer escaped \'!AMj|V
with a few wounds. >Hi
From that time on 1t "*7sNo~
was dangerous for the
Kid to enter a community. He raided north
through Lincoln county. which was larger than
many eastern states. There was not a line of
railway or telegraph in II. and no telephones. It
was easy to get away.
At that time there was rivalry between the
different outfits. The country was filled with
bad men, and they were about evenly divided
among the cowmen. Cattle stealing was a COM
mon thing. The Kid became involved in a num-
Der OF rows. and he took sides. His reputation
as a killer" grew.
Undoubtedly a number OF these men were
killed as a result of trouble among themselves,
and the killing laid to the door of the Kid. 1t
was easy. He could not deny it. No one would
have believed him If he had. Besides, the more
murders credited to him, the greater the fear in
which he would be held.
Thus 1t was that 1t finally became impossible
to get any one to accept the position Of sheriff of
Lincoln county, for 1t was only a question of time
when he would run. across the youthful demon
The Kid knew that he had terrorized the coun
try. He knew that the instant he let down his
guard he would be killed His safety lay in con-
tinuing.
The Turn Of the Tide.
Then, one day, even those hard characters
who professed to be his friends were amazed bv
the report that for some trivial incident he had
killed a member Of his own band. The outlaws
were now as anxious to end his career as were
the law-abiding people of the village. His friends
commenced to murmur. The Kid was now re-
ported In a dozen places at the same time. and
these stories he turned to his advantage by an.
pearing at irregular. though frequent, intervals in
widely separated cow camps for more than a
hundred and fifty miles north and south of the
Pecos river.
Pat Garrett. a lanky Alabaman, who had help
ed organize the Texas Rangers and had assisted
In driving the bad men out of Texas to the first
water west of the Etaked Plains, was invited by
the cattlemen to locate in New Mexico. Thew
wanted him to restore order. The only way
that could be done was either to arrest or to
kill the Kid.
CARROTS record in Texas as a man-hunter and
pad man tanner was known all over the south
west. In addition to being quick with a gun, he
was absolutely without fear.
He was elected without opposition and took
hold with an iron hand. He was an organizer.
and men focked to his standard They felt, in
stinctively. that at last a man had arrived who
could cope with the situation.
The Capture Of the Kid.
In November. 1880. Garrett came upon the Kid
suddenly and captured him, with several others,
after killing one man.
Word had reached Garrett that the Kid and his
gang of three were located in an old house a
short distance from Sumner.
We had better make plans to get him." said
one Of the deputies.
THE plan is to get there before he gets away.
I'll tell you what to do on the way"
The way led down a sage-covered draw" with
several bends made by sand dunes around which
the road curved for a distance of about FIVE miles.
Before he reached the last bend he pulled up his
horse. and waiting for his deputies to come up
to him. and then. in the even voice for which he
was noted, said:
81 am Q0fOr RI rfdo obood All t<o,%l. It'll
be centered on me. That will give you a chance
to surround the house. l am going to take my
time and walk my horse. They may get me.
but If they do l want you to make certain that
you get him."
The deputies withdrew to right and left, ad.
vancing under cover of the sand hills In an ever
circle until they had SUR ounded the
house. Then Garrett rode forward. From his
he could see his deputies, who had dis
advancing cautiously through the sage.
brush. He permitted his horse to walk slowly,
rs though utterly unconscious Of the presence
Of the gang. At the door he called loudly.
Some one appeared at the window and. firing a
shot at the sheriff. lodged back. It was done
IN an instant. but in that fraction Of a second the
man who had fired dropped dead In his tracks!
Garrett had dismounted. and with his deputies
poured a fusillade of bullets through the sides of
the thinly boarded shack. A white handker.
chief at the window indicated the surrender OF
Billy the Kid and his gang.
"You Give Me a 'slx-Gun, Patti"
When Garrett reached the railroad with his
prisoner he was menaced by a crowd that sought
o lynch the Kid. ~
1T looks as though they are going to get me,
the Kid remarked.
1t was an ugly crowd, bent on dealing to the
10Y the fate he was certain to meet sooner or
alter.
Not II I can help 1t. Billy. You are under nv
and l intend to protect you"
You give ms a 'sixgun.' Pat. and stand aside
few moments, and I will clean out the whole
rowd. You'll see them stampede the minute you
i've me = gum"
You could help-if you played square,"
I'd have to. old man. I'm in the highest
lace I ever was in my life. They'll get us both.
you try It alone. They may get me. ANYWAY.
you are up against It. II you try to defend