The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-06-02

| Graves administered the law at Rox-
ey's bar.
1t was customary for the Apaches
to steal stock from settlers north and
souh of the Mexican border, running
cattle, mules or horses from the U.
s. into Chihuahua and Sonora and
across the San Simon to the Chirac-
huas and by trails known only to
themselves, going across the range
to Tombstone. Frequently they stole
Mexican cattle and ran them over to
American side.
Another stronghold of the rust
lers was about 25 miles west in the
Chiracua mountains, not far below
the Dos Cabessas, and on one oc-
casion they took me with them across
the San Simon Valley and through a
wild pass called Cave Creek, at the
head of which was a wonderful cave
filled with dolomites and satellites.
II was an ideal hiding place for a
band of desperate men, with secret
exit known only to a few on the
other side of the mountain. This band
had about 80 members, some posing
as ranchers or as government terri
torial officials.
Eventually Curley Bill and his
mmediate-follower died as they had
wished, with their boots on. and some
of them did have dandy ones when
in full dress-calfskin and patent
leather, with high French heels. Some
of the members of this band occupied
good positions. but for one reason or
another had sought to obliterate the
past by joining Curley Bill's band.
II saw the life literally scared out
of man once while ! was in camp.
In one of the customary rows when
pistol shots were flying wildly man
crept behind a big log in the direct
line of fire. The log was hit several
times and bullets scratched the man
behind. After the little unpleasant
ness was over his dead body was
found with no sign of fatal wound;
he had died from heart failure caused
from fright.
Among Curley Bits efficient as
sistants were "Johnny-Over-the-
Fence" Cactus Bill" "San Simon
Jack" mad the kid whose father own
ed the Cienaga water in the San
Simon Valley. His adobe was re-
puted to be the rendezvous of the
Mexican outlaws who were in cahoots
with Curley Bits band. When
pressed by the Arizona and New Mex
leo authorities they jumped over the
line into old Mexico, and when press
ed by the Mexicans they jumped back
into the Stein Pass holdout or Cave
Creek stronghold.
AS a rule they were cowardly fell
lows when alone, but brave when
punched Some were dudes. One
was hanged, not for anything that he
had done, but for trying to prove
that he was a bad man. He was
known as Russian Bill. With others
he used to paint the town of Shakes
peare red, spend money freely with
Mexican girls, in gambling and in the
saloons, especially Roxey's. Russian
Bill was six feet tall, we'll proportion
ed, his jet black hair falling over his
shoulders, his buckskins having IS
gold pieces as buttons and his SOM
brero covered with silver work. He
always carried two silver mounted
sixshooters, was well supplied with
money, which no one knew where he
got it, for he never prospected or sold
anything or stole. He would disap-
pear for weeks at time, and boasted
of being one of Curley Bills men,
dropping hints of terrible deeds that
he had done and men that he had
killed. The better element of the
town determined upon a vigilance
committee, and on the night when
Sandy King, a horse thief, came to
town with a 15-year-old kid they
were arrested and taken over to
Smythe's corral, Russian Bill being
gathered in on the way. Judge
Lynch, assisted by Judge Graves, de-
cided that Sandy had lived long en-
ough, and after he had been permit
ted farewell drink and a cigarette
he was swung from cross beam.
Russian Bill fell on his knees,
protesting that he was innocent of
any crime, had been only braggart,
that ba WAS Russian nohIeman and