The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1913-02-14


story told, shot all lll0hllllN KY
three men. The deputy Y 'ViDnliNUflH1NDIl
spurred his pony the SllUMRHl{NlAlll
Kid after him. They n NilnDDN|k)H
exchanged Shots and - 'Wlllnell
the officer escaped NtsllHlt
with few wounds. 'n
From that time on 1t ~ =@S -
was dangerous for the
Kid to enter community. He raided north
through Lincoln county, which was Larger than
many eastern states. There was not line OF
railway or telegraph In it, and no telephones. II
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 COM
mon thing The Kid became involved in NUM-
Der or rows, and he took sides His reputation
as '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 It
was easy He could not deny it. No one would
have believed him II he had. Besides, the more
murders credited to him. the greater the fear In
which he would be held.
Thus it was that 1t finally became impossible
to get any to accept the position Of sheriff Of
Lincoln county, for It was only 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 by
the report that for some trivial incident he had
killed 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 dozen places at the same time, and
these stories he turned to his advantage by APP
widely separated cow camps for more than
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 tot the first
water west OF the Staked Plains, was Invited by
the cattlemen to locate in New Mexico. They
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 manhunter and
bad man tanner was known all over the south
west In addition to being quick with 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 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.
I'VE had better make plans to get him." said
one Of thu deputies.
"The plan 10 to get there before he gets away
I'll tell voc what to do on the way"
The way led down sage-covered draw" with
several bends made by sand dunes around which
the road curved for distance of about five miles,
ho 1srs nod "a hor ho Had hfc
horse, and waiting for his deputies to come up
to him. and then, In the even voice for which he
was noted. said:
4 going to ride ahead. All attention win
be centered on me- That will give you q chance
to surround the house. / am going to take my
time and walk my horse. They may get me-
but If they do want you to make certain that
you get him"
The deputies withdrew to right and left, adj
yancing under cover of the sand hills in an ever
widening circle until they had surrounded the
house. Then Garrett rode forward. From his
position he could see his deputies who had dis
mounted advancing cautiously through the sage
brush. He permitted his horse to walk slowly,
as though utterly unconscious Of the presence
of the gang At the door he called loudly.
Some one appeared at the window and. firing
shot at the sheriff, lodged back. It was done
in an instant but in that fraction of second the
who had fired dropped dead in his tracks.
Garrett had dismornted and with his deputies
poured fusilIade 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 ssi,eGun,' Pail"
When Garrett reached the railroad with his
prisoner he was menaced by crowd that sought
to lynch the Kid.
1T looks as though they are going to get me.
Pat,Ythe Kid remarked.
Itlwas an ugly crowd bent on dealing to the
boy the fate he was certain to meet sooner or
later.
Not If can help it. Billy. You are under my
care. and intend to protect YOU"
you give me sixgun. Pat, and stand aside
few moments. and / will clean out the whole
crowd. You'll see them stampede the minute you
give me gun"
you could help-if you played square"
I'D have to, old I'm in the tightest