Year: 1875

become domcsticated and was lounging
about one Of the Dallas hotels.


81 could tell you good many queer
stories, stranger" said the old fellow, in
conversation with the gentleman, but |
don't know of any that 'ud he more
likely to strike you than IN experience OF
Sam Longs in Harrison county, years
ago. Texas wuz rough place then;
you kin bet on thatw


And then the old fellow told the story,
which can scarcely be as graphic in print
as in his terse idiom:


Years ago Harrison county, in Texas,
was the haunt of about as desperate Il
gang of ruhians as ever infested any dis
trict west of the Mississippi. Their num-
Der was so great, and their organization
so complete that they set the but half
administered law at defiance, carrying on
a career of daring crime with impunity,
and making the region an undesirable
place of abode for all honest citizens.
Ostensibly hunters or horse-tradcrs; the
despcradoes made stock-stealing their
chief occupation, never heSitatng to COM
nit a murder when necessary for their
safety or for the execution of any of their
rascally plans. The controlling spirit in
this desperate organization was Il giant
named Dick Rcddctt, who, from his cX-
ceptional ferocity and daring, exercised
almost despotic control over his followers.
| A special pride of this man was in his cX-
traordinary skill in the use of rifle, no
one of the band being able to compete with
him in what was at that time considered
the chief accomplishment of western
| man.


1t was a favoritc practice with the
| band to c0ngregate at some one OF the
few small stores scattered through the
country and there engage in shooting
matches, and it was upon one OF these
occasions that Sam Long, the hunter al
ready mentioned, happened to be pres
cnt. Long was quiet, modest fellow
who lived with his wife and child in Il
small cabin in their ncighborhood and
who made hunting his constant occupa-
tion. He never appeared at the store
save to exchange skins and was favor
ably known for his sobriety and honesty.
Upon the occasion just referred to, when
Sam Long CHANGED to come while the
deSperadocs were engaged in one of their
shooting matches, they wished him to
take part in the sport. lie hcSitatcd at
first, but finally, not wishing to incur
the i'll will of the rulIians, consented.
His skill with the rifle was known to be
something remarkable, and the dcspcr-
ADDE'S were not greatly surprised when
he defeated them all save the captain of
the band. This man had not engaged
in the sport, but when Long had van
qushed all others, he came forward with
| the assurance of an easy victory. The
shots were made, and, to the surprise OF
all, Long gained the day.


The rage of the leader Of the rliiians
knew no bounds at thus being defeated


in the presence Of his followers, and, al
though refraining from any violence on
the spot, he intimatcd darkly to the
hunter that he would "yet get even
with him." Long paid little attention
to the threat, and soon atterward re-
turned to his cabin


At Just dusk, some days later sam
was living on the floor Of his cabin play |
ing with his child, while his wife was
getting supper The wife busy with her
cooking, asked Long to 90 to an adjacent
spring and bring some water Il request |
which he promptly complied with, lcav-
ing his gun in the house, a somewhat
unusual course with him. He had
reached the spring and was just STOPPING
to fill the pail which he carried, when
he was borne down by sudden attack
from behind, bound securely, and drag
ged some yards into the woods. When
he recognized his assailants he knew
what to expect. lie had fallen into the
hands of the Rcddett gang, and the
leader was about to "gct even with
him.


Long was stripped and bound to tree
by order of the captain. a supply of
hickory switches was obtained, and then
the captain took one Of Them and began
the whipping, announcing with an oath
that no man could beat him or his men
at shooting, and stay in the country.
The sufcrngs of the victim were terrible.
The flesh was cut from his back in strips
by the blows, and when the leader of the
rniiians had gratifcd his rage, Others of
the band continued the punishment.
But one man among the number showed
any mercy, and his assertions that Long
had been punished enough was received
with dcrision.


Finally the hunter tainted under the
pain, and the ruiians, having satisfied
their grudgc, departed, leaving the object
of their spite still bound to the tree.


In this position he was found by his
wife, who had become alarmed for his
safety, and who searching for him had
been attracted to the spot by a faint
moaning She assisted him to reach the
cabin, which he did with difficulty, and
then nursed him faithfully to recovery.
II was weeks before he was well enough
to move about.


Scarcely had Long recovered from his
wounds when his cabin was found de-
serted, and members of the Reddett band,
thinking he had fed from the country,
boasted openly of what they had done.
At the same time, they became bolder
than ever in the commission of crime,
always hunting or travelling together in
company between twenty and thirty,
and defying attack from any quarter.


One day, as they were engaged on
hunt, a member of the band became
separated from the rest in the excite
ment of the chase. He was found, lying
dead shot in the left eye. a few days
later. one of the rufans, riding alone,
was killed Again the bullet was found
to have entered the left eye, but no trace
of the slayer could be discovered; A
week or two passed, and another of the
desperadoes was shot, the same terrible
accuracy being exhibited in shot in the
left eye, proving all the shots to he from
the same source.


The robbers became alarmed and kept
always together in their raids, but there
was no escaping the death which seemed
always to be lurking near them. One