The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-06-30
TEXAS WARRIOR
PASSES AWAY
"Chief" Clinton Was Well
Known All Over the
Southwest

ABILENE, Texas. June %
Chief Clinton is dead'"
All up and down the plains OF
western Texas and in the panhandle
the chief topic OF conversation for
several days when "old-timcrs" got
together has been the death here Of
John J Clinton, affcctionatcly known
as Chief Clinton
CHER Clinton had n notable ca
roer. ana TO those who kuc whim his
name Will 90 down In. history with
those " Buffalo Bll" and other
uO,ables OF the early days.
Born IN Dublin, ireland. In 1S4S,
young Clinton came TO this country
IN his seventh year, his parents set
Ting IN Wisconsin. In 1862. when
he was IA years of aye. Chief on
tered the military academy nj Little
Rock, Ark, one year later Joining
company OF cadets who volunteered
for service wlth the Coufudet dtv
army with which he fought during
the closing battles Of the civil war.
After the surrender Of General Ioe
clinton entered the government serv-
ice as "A scout. As such he particle
patcd in many battles with the In
diane. among The more notable be-
ing that OF the Adobe Walls. on the
Canadian river, the Lone Tree cross
ing and the Battle OF the Water Hole
in 1874 near Van Horn ToNas. un-
dor The command OF Big Foot Wal
lace" This latter battle was made
famous by the celebrated painting
by Frederick Remington, who sc-
cured his description OF the en-
counter from Clinton.
After a continued drought OF many
months duration water holes were
precious possessions, few and far be-
tween. As the band of scouts under
Wallace approached tho water hole
they observed a large party OF red
skins approaching from the opposite
direction, A thrilling race ensucd.
In which the whites reached the
priced water hole first. They were
almost Immediately attacked by the
Indians, but the scouts reserved their
fire until the Indians. circling closer
and closer and firing furiously from
the backs Of their ponies, we're al
most upon them, when their guns
spoke with telling effect.
Indians Fen Back.
The Indians fell back, but made
another attack the next morning. at
which time Sam Gibbs. n close friend
of Clinton, was killed and Clinton
himself wounded. The Indians held
the camp in a state Of siege through
out the day, but storm came up
during the night. and Wallace and
his band succeeded in making their
way through the Indian lines. only
to wander. almost exhausted. all
night long in an endcavCr 10 reach
Fort Davis. At dawn they were
found by small detachment OF
United States cavalry and escorted
to Fort Davis, where they ate like
tamished men, enjoyed good
nights rest. as did their mounts, and
were again ready for duty.
Clinton later became a peace Of
ficer at Dodge City. Kan, known as
the widest settlement on the from
tier. where gambling ran wide open
and where dance halls and saloons
We'd with each other for the patron
age of the wild west" cowboys.
While at Dodge City Clinton met
and became "A close friend of the
late Bat Masterson.
Clinton had been for the last 81
years chief of the fire and police de-
partments OF Abilene and was one of
best known characters in the south
west. He was active almost to the
day of his death. and 1t is said he
never failed to respond to fire
alarm.
timers from all over the
southwest attended his funeral. many
or whom recalled the days when
"Chief" Clinton rode as q govern
ment guard on the trail from Fort
Davis to Fort Bliss, El Paso, at a
time when encounters with the
Apaches and Comanches We're almost
daily occurrence.
During the course Of his career
"Chief" Clinton had many narrow
escapes, but he was n modest man
and never told narratives OF his re.
markable prowess with tho six
shooter.