I really am enjoying this stuff.
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I really am enjoying this stuff.
Correct on so many levels!
Hey man! You can also acquire this book:
http://archive.org/details/hildebrandsamuel00hildrich
Hildebrand was a double tough, ah, shall we say, Partisan. Named his rifle, KILL-DEVIL.
"Most Civil War historians now agree that the guerrilla conflict shaped the entire war in significant ways. Some of these "bushwhackers"--Forrest, Quantrill, Mosby--have become quite famous. Illiterate Sam Hildebrand, one of Missouri's most notorious guerrillas--often compared to "Rob Roy" and the subject of dime novels--was one of the few to survive the war and have his story taken down and published. Shortly after this he was killed in a barroom brawl.
Hildebrand's reign of terror gave the Union army fits and kept much of Trans-Mississippi, especially Missouri, roiling in the 1860s. Over seven years of fighting he and his men killed dozens of soldiers and civilians, whites and blacks; he claimed to have killed nearly one hundred himself. He was accused of many heinous acts.
The historical significance of Hildebrand's story is substantial, but his bloody tale is eminently readable and stands quite well on its own as a cold-blooded portrait of a violent time in American history. Hildebrand's world is truly ruthless and his story brutally descriptive in its cooly detached rendering of one man's personal war.
Published in 1870, Hildebrand's autobiography has long been out of print and has been a rare and highly prized acquisition among Civil War historians and enthusiasts. "
Hey guys. . .
Ran across these on the web and as I figure, generally speakin', some of our followers might get a kick outta this old boys wit and wisdom :)
Wit:
They're a hair trigger outfit just meaner than a four-headed rattlesnake. — “A Family of Killers”
If this gun goes off, it'll be the first thing that ever was inside yer head" —“Hard Luck Henry” Festus to Jefferson Dooley.
If that ain't a ornery looksome polecat. Look at them beady eyes! —“Like Old Times” (Festus is looking at a picture of Frank Eaton, who also is played by Ken Curtis)
Them two cubs of yourn was triple distilled ornery. The worst I have ever saw. —“The Avengers”
Let me tell you somethin’ about some of these folks in Dodge. They’re the greediest, cheaten’-ist, double-dealin’-ist bunch of yahoos that I have ever saw —“Byline”
You're a mighty man, Ben Snow. But you ain't got the sense to holler suey if the hogs are eatin' you up. —Island in the Desert
Wisdom:
The onliest thing you get from straddlin’ the fence is a sore backside. —“Prairie Wolfer”
I'll tell you this, you keep a stuffing them vittles away like that, you're gonna get so blamed fat you can't even stand up. —“The Hiders”
The way it appears to me, a doctor is supposed to be patient with his patients expecting him to have patience. And you're just a gonna wind up to where you ain't got no patients if you don't start a havin' some patience, I'll tell ya that! —“Doctor Herman Schultz, M.D.”
Newly, you hadn't oughta be a squallin' at these folks like that...—“The Hanging of Newly O'Brien”
My pappy learnt me real early that they’s only three times when a feller handles a gun. That’s when he’s cleanin’ it or when he’s loadin’ it or when he’s fixin’ to use it. —“Killer at Large”
Here's another supremely cool Russell. We will cover this event: Buffalo Bill and Yellow Hand ("Yellow Hair") in the future:
http://media.wnyc.org/media/photolog...lide_image.jpg
Just an interlude. . . I've mentioned this before.
Miller-Frazier Feud
Here is a quote from an article that I cannot verify but it sounds reasonable: "On the morning of the 14th, Bud was playing cards with friends in a saloon, when Miller pushed open the door and fired with both barrels, practically blowing Frazer's (sic) head from his body. When Bud's distraught sister approached Miller with a gun, he said to her: "I'll give you what your brother got -- I'll shoot you right in the face!"' She then put down the gun and fled. . .
Miller was acquitted when it was considered that TWICE Frazier had assaulted Miller. Once emptying his .44 revolver into Miller and on a second occasion fleeing after firing four more rounds into the still standing Miller. (From what I can glean no one told Frazier about the plate Miller wore.***)
[The name Deacon Jim was given him because of his attire. He almost constantly, even in the hottest of weather, wore a long black frock coat. See below for explanation as to the plate.]
George Bud Frazier:
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/phot.../BudFrazer.jpg
Deacon Jim Miller:
http://www.jcs-group.com/oldwest/ahpeople/miller1.jpg
***About the pig iron plate, I wrote the following a while back:
"To be honest it is fashionable to "debunk" these old-timers and the Good Lord knows Hollywood has exaggerated their exploits. But the truth is some of these guys were truly DESPERATE MEN. Hollywood and fiction writers do not scratch the surface with guys like Harvey Logan and Killin' Jim Miller. Miller assassinated untold numbers of men. Remember the Eastwood spaghetti flic where he donned the iron vest? Well guess what? Jim Miller did it in real life, saved his neck. (Actually,might have done it TWICE.) Survived two attempts on his life by the same man [Bud Frazier] from almost point blank range. Eventually walked into the doorway of a saloon, leveled his trusty shotgun against the door and blew the would be assassin's brains out, LITERALLY."
Finally hanged in 1909. Miller = BADAXX! Anyone know who one of his relatives that he called on for legal advice was? Guy was living in El Paso at the time, uh, oh yeah, some old boy by the name, Hardin. :)
Many murders later, Jim was hanged along with three others. It has been said that the other three begged for mercy from the mob, Jim just asked for his hat.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...er_hanging.jpg
Gibson I love the stories about the James boys. I have been to St Joe to the house where Jessie was killed. Where I grew up the local History Socity put out a map of the route that the James boys took going to Northfield and to the train robbery in Adair,Iowa. I do not know where their info on the route came from. Both were within a few hundred yards of the house where I grew up. My dad's sister lived in Adair and had purchased a small table at a sale south of Adair. Later I learned that sopposedly the James boys had been feed on that table the night before the train robbery. The lady of the house found a $20 gold peice under one of the plates when she was cleaning up after they had eaten and went outside. They also spent the night in the barn of the owners of the property. I have also handled a watch that was found with other jewlery south of Bridgewater, where several men had camped the night after the robbery. The law told the kids that found the jewlery that they could keep one watch for finding the jewlery and telling the law. Don't have any way toprove some of the above it is just what I have been told over the years.
Steve
Superb work, Gibson. I'm enjoying the read IMMENSELY!
gunseller keep the personal stories coming! You might think I'm stupid for suggesting this. But, if you could write up any personal anecdote that you deem as likely factual and send it to the museum, library or archives, it could be valuable to researchers. Researchers can get help from such things. Often they find themselves piecing together a puzzle and may be able to prove or disprove your anecdote. The table and watch story and anything you recall being told about them are good ephemeral things. And again, keep posting, I love it!
Cole Younger was a tough SOB, you know it? I'm serious. Some men are just plain cut from different cloth. To me, even in the picture with his eye swollen shut, it just makes me think, yeah, that's Coleman. Battered, Bloodied, and still very much UNBOWED.
I do not mean to glorify these guys. But, I must admit, I find things in Cole's character, admirable. No, not robbing and killing. But mental and physical toughness. Those boys, and MANY others, grew up in a literal hell on earth. They saw the blood of innocent family members spilled time and again. Some were able to cope with it and live productive lives, some not so much. THERE IS NO WAR LIKE A CIVIL WAR. And in my opinion, when it's Americans it's worse :(
Sure is good to hear, or read, as it were :)
You know something? I was just thinking about Killin' Jim Miller and his alleged murder of Pat Garrett. . . Old Pat Garrett put several ****** outlaws in the ground, no kidding. I have no material on him but he was absolutely tough and way underestimated, IMO.
Over on rugerforum, I just finished one yesterday on Jim Levy (or Leavy) the Jewish Irish gunfighter. A genuine meet me in street and draw gunfighter. I'll get to that one, here.
9.3C62AL, I thank you, again. Glad to find you guys here that still enjoy the old tales. Don't ever let these modern revisionists sell the old-timers short. They were often leather tough and as gritty as a bulldog.
Need to see if I have posted on Dallas Stoudenmire here or not. Might put a sketch of him up later.
What about the TERRIBLE HARPE BROTHERS? They are somewhat local to me and I spent a year doing research on them. My Lord, theses "brothers" were the human incarnation of Satan. Not sure it fits here totally as they were extant ~1800 and were a scourge on the OLD old west, i.e. Kentucky/Tennessee.
"Dallas Stoudenmire: FOUR DEAD IN FIVE SECONDS" at 5:30 this evening, so put on a pot of coffee :)
For those who care, here is a link where you can get every episode of "Gunsmoke" the radio show. They are a 11 zipped CDs to include the first TV episode ever. It is TOTALLY FREE. I have them all and I burned them to CD. Here is the blurb and the link:
"First Show: Jun 26, 1952
Last Show: Jun 18, 1961
Number Shows: 480 shows, 2 auditions, 5 hour tribute
Audition Shows: Jun 11, 1949, Jul 13, 1949
Series Description:
Gunsmoke is one of those long-running classic Old-Time Radio shows that everyone knows and remembers. It's also one that is still respected for its high values, in all aspects. Gunsmoke first aired on the CBS network on April 26, 1952, billed as the first adult western. It was set in Dodge City, Kansas in the 1870's.
The main character, Matt Dillon, was played by William Conrad. On August 6, 1951, William Conrad played the lead in a show entitled "Pagosa" in the series Romance, where he played the part of a reluctant sheriff in a tough Western town. Although not a true audition, Conrad's character role is very close the that of Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke. It was one of the "stepping stones" toward the production of Gunsmoke.
Other regular characters were Chester Proudfoot, played by Parley Baer; Kitty, played by Georgia Ellis; and Doc Adams, played by Howard McNear.
The series featured top-notch acting and well-developed scripts that set it apart from many other shows, not only Westerns; however, it was the sound effects that stood out the most. Listen carefully and one can hear many levels of sound that really helps transport the listener back to the old west.
Besides the US version, there was an Austrailian production of Gunsmoke. It began sometime in 1955, transcribed under the Artransa label, and aired Mondays at 7:00 PM on the Macquarie network. It is not known how many shows aired or how long the series ran.
This OTRR Certified Archival release contains all except six episodes, which are not known to exist. It consists of eleven zipped CDs. The first CD contains many bonus materials, including the Tribute Show, the first TV episode, all known Australian episodes, and a lot of other great stuff."
http://archive.org/details/OTRR_Certified_Gunsmoke
Coming up:
Contemporary view of where our next blazing sixgun incident occurred.
http://www.helloelpaso.com/Images/Bu...-Paso-1903.jpg
A Tough Hombre:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...toudenmire.jpg
El Paso. . . April 14, 1881. Get a cup of coffee and sit a spell. . .
FOUR DEAD IN FIVE SECONDS
VAQUEROS
Dallas Stoudenmire stood 6' 4" and was both athletic and fast. He was at times a good man and at times a bad man. He was smart. He was always well dressed. But above all he was tough and he had a mean streak. It reared it's head in his all too often drinking bouts (eventually his drunkenness led to his undoing).
Stoudenmire had been born in Alabama in 1845 and had entered the civil war as a 16 year old. Stoudenmire was rumored to have killed at least two men in gunfights during the 1870s. He moved to Texas and even did a stint with The Texas Rangers. He landed in El Paso. . .
In late 1880 a Kentuckian named George Campbell was given the job as El Paso City Marshal. A man noted for bravery and honesty in prior law enforcement work. However, he resigned in January 1881 over a pay dispute. However, he stuck around El Paso as he liked the place. . . On April 11, 1881 Dallas Stoudenmire took over the position of City Marshal. George Campbell would soon wish he left El Paso.
The newest Marshal took over a rowdy town replete with pimps, gamblers gunmen, lots of rustlers, plenty of whiskey and plenty of "soiled doves". He would within a short time make a great ways toward both cleaning it up and slightly contributing to it. Texas was a tough place and El Paso was a darned tough place. But Stoudenmire literally cast a giant shadow and a town full of gunmen, and outlaws watched him very carefully.
A civil war veteran with more than one gunshot wound and having likely three dead men to his credit. Dallas Stoudenmire knew that all eyes were on him from the outset. In three days he would deliver an object lesson.
Bosques, dark and foreboding, lined the Rio Grande and those along with briar encrusted thickets and scruff provided cover for the ever plentiful rustlers mostly but the occasional murderer/robber. Contemporary newspapers have stories of screams echoing from the area. Dead men that originated here were rarely identified. The rustlers were bold here and operated rather openly. Posses if small met with shotgun blasts when they entered this area and if large the outlaws just hid and waited. The biggest outfit of rustlers was run by the Manning brothers, Frank, John, and James. An adjacent ranch, that of John Hale, together with the Manning spread was the center of rustling operations. Hale was a tree tall man of English parentage and evidently also a hard case. The rustling enterprise had numerous gunmen associated with it, it seems George Campbell may have been one of them. An ironic twist. . .
The germ for what was to become known as "Four Dead in Five Seconds" involved two vaqueros. :) No! Not those kind. But hardworking Mexican cow-hands. To wit, "Sanchez and Juarique". These men had come across the border in search of 30 head of rustled cattle. They had involved the authorities and everyone knew where to begin the search. They had gone almost directly to the Hale ranch and within a short time had located three head of the stolen cattle at which time Hale began a vitriolic defense saying he had purchased the cattle from Don Ynocente Ochoa. A blatant lie. The couple of officers who had accompanied Sanchez and Juarique, eventually turned back since only three of the missing thirty head were located along with Hale's vociferous defense. The two vaqueros stayed to search further. Long story short they were ambushed and slain by two of the Hale/Manning men, Stevenson and Peveler. Shortly a contingent of 80 Mexican cowboys come across to get their friends bodies. The men asked one George Krempkau to accompany them to the ranch where they already knew they were. They located the bodies, loaded them in a buckboard and drove them back, this was long about daylight on the 14th of April. A private Fitch seems to have seen clearly that the vaqueros were ambushed and the Stevenson and Peveler were the culprits, he probably had inside information. Fitch went out straight away and arrested the two and put them in jail and released them under bond.
Now in a two room adobe shack with Krempkau acting as interpreter the men of both races gathered, both inside and outside, for an inquest. . .
The Mexicans are riled up and the rustlers are too. It is easy to see why the Mexicans are upset when the bullet riddled bodies of the two vaqueros are viewed. Krempkau is at the Inquest and is vigorously advocating the indictment of Stevenson and Peveler, as it has become clear that they are the most responsible parties. The situation was becoming ugly, quick. Our Marshal turned outlaw, George Campbell sat in on the Inquest watching his friend, Hale vociferously protest that his two men are innocent. This back and forth proceeded until the authorities were made aware of the snarling and cursing going on in the street . The Inquest was unceremoniously adjourned.
Dallas Stoudenmire walked out of the Inquest and into legend. Strangely, shortly after the Inquest was adjourned the Mexicans took their two friends back across the border, Stoudenmire went to lunch and Krempkau was left there with the wrath of the rustlers. Poste haste, George Campbell began too heavily pound down whiskey. Campbell had stated publicly that he would dispatch with Marshal Stoudenmire within five days of his taking office. With Stoudenmire leisurely enjoying a meal, Krempkau finally left the Inquest and headed over to where he had left his arms. A rifle, a revolver, and holster and belt. Campbell shouted at Mr. Krempkau with epithets and accusing him of falsely interpreting what had been said by the English speakers to his Spanish interlocutors. He then yells, according to the outstanding El Paso area historian, Leon Metz, "hey, any American who is a friend of Mexicans ought to be hanged." Krempkau, embarrassed asks if he mean him, he replies, "if the shoe fits, wear it!" Thinking his witty reply is the end he turns and walks away. But now an also drunken Hale shows up. He sprints over to where Campbell is is attempting to mount his ride and yells to him that he has Krempkau as he grabs a heavy .45 caliber revolver from George Campbell, one of the two which he had strapped on. At the very same instant he squeezes the trigger hitting Krempkau in the chest near his heart, the big bullet crashed through his lung and out the other side of his body. He fell trying bravely to pull his own .45. Dead. Enter Dallas Stoudenmire. . .
The big Marshal jumps up and sprints through the door, Hale immediately sees him and ducks behind an adobe support pillar. Stoudenmire seeing Hale heading for cover snaps off a shot from one of his .45 revolvers, he is in a dead run and at a range of 90 feet, the bullets just passes over Hale's shoulder. Bad luck for a Mexican bystander as the bag of peanuts he just purchased will be his last action on planet earth. He is hit and killed. Two dead. Stoudenmire is still moving forward and re-cocks his revolver and fires just as Hale has peaked out from his blind. The bullet tears through the rustlers brain pan. He hits the ground dead. Three dead.
Now Mr. Big Talk AKA George Campbell decides its just not his fight and reckons he had better take his leave. As Hale is falling he runs to the middle of the street with his second revolver in hand and wildly proclaims it's not his fight. But Krempkau who lays dying grits his teeth and cuts drive on him hitting him striking him once in the foot and once in the hand tearing up his gun hand. Now old George is in desperate straights, he grabs his revolver in his left hand just as Krempkau's three other rounds go astray. Enter Stoudenmire. He turns from the dead Hale and opens up on Campbell, as all he sees is a man with a gun. The spinning shot hits it mark dead in the breadbox. Campbell hit his knees and yells, “you big son-a-bitch, you murdered me." Dies later that evening. Death number four.
This entire event, in actuality, took more or less 30 seconds.
Leon Metz relates a funny story that occurred at the end. Paraphrased:
George Campbell had a partner named Pat Shea. Pat could see George laying there in a river of his own blood, dying. Now ole Pat, being a great friend quickly assesses the situation and because he covets George's sixshooter, cries out, "hey George?"You want your gun?" He is running over toward George when two sixshooters with that fresh smell of burning powder are jammed under his nose by Stoudenmire. LOL! Nevertheless at around 2 am Campbell, dying, requests that his second sixgun be given Shea.
Stoudenmire, tough!
El Paso:
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/phot...et1888-500.jpg
Stoudenmire's Snubnose :)
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-04Z7-hLLRE...re1860Colt.jpg
http://www.farwest.it/FOTOxSITO/2010...ma-parte-1.jpg
http://image2.findagrave.com/photos/...7477430526.jpg
THIS IS THE TRUTH: Dallas Stoudenmire was the real deal. Leon Metz, some years back, published an excellent biography of him. I can guarantee he fought in more gun battles than most all of his famous contemporaries. Truth be told the only way he was defeated was by double teaming. And even then it took his only insurmountable demon, booze to cause his downfall.
Addenda:
Dallas continued a feud with the Manning brothers, eventually it was published in the El Paso Herald that the groups (well group of one in the case of Stoudenmire) had signed a peace treaty at the behest of the local citizenry. It did not last. The brothers and Stoudenmire met in a saloon (imagine that) to discuss a second treaty. In a sense it was the three Mannings versus a VERY drunk Stoudenmire. However, "Doc" Manning took the lead. Here is a reasonable facsimile of what occurred:
"'Dallas, you haven’t stuck to the terms of your agreement.” snarled Manning.
Stoudenmire roared:
“Who ever says I have not tells a damn lie!”
Walt Jones jumped between Doc Manning and Dallas Stoudenmire in an attempt to separate them. Nice idea, but too little too late. Doc Manning fired over Jones’ shoulder. Off balance, Stoudenmire was slow in getting his pistol out. Doc’s bullet passed through his arm and into the ribs, knocking his half-drawn pistol out of his hand. Stoudenmire staggered backwards, slumping against the doorframe. Doc closed in and fired again. Fortunately for Dallas the round was a squib load. The bullet struck Stoudenmire in the chest, punching through the wad of papers in his pocket, and a photograph. The impact knocked the tall man out the doors of the saloon and onto the sidewalk.
As Doc bounded out the door and closed in, Stoudenmire got his second pistol clear and fired. Doc Manning’s right arm was shattered, his pistol flying into the street. In agony, losing blood, Stoudenmire was slow to react. Manning rushed Stoudenmire, grappling with him and pinning his gun arm to his side. Cursing and swearing, Manning and Stoudenmire twisted and staggered on the sidewalk in a macabre “dance of death”. Stoudenmire was doing his damnedest to kill the little Doctor. Doc Manning was doing his damnedest to stay alive. Jim Manning came out of the saloon, a cutdown .45 in hand. He snapped off a shot, missing Stoudenmire and splintering the barber pole up the street. He took better aim and fired at the range of about eight feet. The bullet hit Stoudenmire just behind the right ear. Stoudenmire collapsed onto the sidewalk. The Dance of Death was over.
Texas Rangers J. M. Deavers and Ed Scotten were the first on the scene, Jim Gillett was close behind. They had to drag Doc Manning off Stoudenmire’s body. He had been beating the dead man’s head with his own pistol."
The way I figure it, both men were hit once and the smaller man, Doc, was NOT going to win the grappling match that was going on. I once surmised that the death shot was behind the left ear, but either way, it would be very difficult to be standing and shooting at a man on his back and hit him behind the ear. It seems reasonable that Dallas was on top wailing the guy when his brother killed him.
Another one who lived life wide open and by the gun. He died the same way.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lp2WQ8lxFz...ireSWBadge.jpg
From Metz's book to show how bad his drinking was this is near the end of his days:
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/8296/stoud1.jpg
Adios, for today. . .
To Gibson: Sent you a PM the other day, wanted to make sure you received it.
Bear River/American River:
http://cprr.org/Museum/Photo-Gallery...48b_detail.jpg
A view of Bear River City:
http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/railroa...nsion-047d.jpg
A real old west hero:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...s_J._Smith.jpg
"Bear River" Tom Smith was a heckuva man. Of that there can be no doubt. His reliance on his wits and "Marshal Big Fist" mentality was a hit with his frontier cohorts. He was LOVED by the citizens in his final job. Dwight David Eisenhower seems to revered Marshal Smith as a personal hero, visiting his grave multiple times.
Tom Smith was, by the end of his life, a lawman to be admired. Just a fact. He did not rely on his pistol first, he relied on a combination of brains and a right hand that could jar a man's eye teeth loose! But unlike some have written Tom Smith was plenty proficient with a sixgun and definitely used it.
Relying on the same article from the Kansas Historical Quarterly 1940, as yesterday, I quote the erudite Cushman again:
"In the spring of 1870 the board of trustees met again and elected T. C. Henry as chairman and appointed W. Fancher, a teacher in the school, as secretary. Thirty-two saloons were licensed, [47] closing hours indicated, houses of ill-fame in the city limits were outlawed, [48] and an attempt was made to recognize and enforce laws against the more flagrant crimes and secure some semblance of decency. City offices were created, including that of the city marshal, and ordinances were published. [49]
The particular ordinance which caused the most comment and turmoil Was the one forbidding the carrying of firearms within the city limits. It was announced on large bulletin boards at all the important roads entering town. These were first looked upon with awe and curiosity, and only gradually was their significance comprehended.
Tom Smith, from Kit Carson, Colo., was one of the first to apply for the position of city marshal. He was rejected. Several local men were tried and found wanting, while conditions went from bad to worse. The cowboys insolently ridiculed the officers and the disregard for law continued. The posters upon which the ordinances were published were shot so full of holes that they became illegible. [50]
Construction began on a city jail, but the cowboys tore it down, and it had to be rebuilt under a day-and-night guard. The first person to be incarcerated was a colored cook from one of the cattle camps near Abilene. A band of cowboys came to town, drove away the guards, forced the lock on the door and released the prisoner. They ordered the business houses to close, even riding into some stores and giving their orders from the saddle. They then rode out and proceeded to shoot up the town. A posse of citizens was formed and they were pursued. A few were captured and imprisoned. This, however, did not halt the aggressions, of the cowboys. They continued their open flaunting of the law and the abuse of law-abiding citizens. Two men, recommended by the St. Louis chief of police, came and looked the situation over but returned to St. Louis by the next train. The job was too complex for them.
Finally the application of Tom Smith was reconsidered. He was made marshal at a salary of $150 a month and two dollars for each conviction of persons arrested by him. J. H. McDonald was later selected as an assistant. [51]
Smith was of a reticent nature. Facts about his past were difficult to secure from him. It Was known that he had had a prominent part in a riotous disorder in the railroad terminus of Bear River; Wyo., several years before. Afterward it was learned that at one time he had served on the New York City police force. He had served also in the capacity of marshal of several of the Union Pacific terminal towns. [52]
Smith's first showdown in Abilene was with a. cowboy desperado called "Big Hank," who refused to disarm and used abusive language in his refusal. Without argument Smith struck him a terrific blow, took his pistol away from him, and ordered him out of town.
To the cowboys this was a new method of combat. They did not understand the technique of fisticuffs. [53] Their pride was in the perfect execution of a "quick draw" and not a "right cross" to the chin. In the cattle camps the subject of Hank's treatment was discussed at, length, and before morning a leader of the desperadoes known as "Wyoming Frank" wagered that he could defy the new marshal and his gun ordinance.
He came to town the next morning and ultimately met with Smith in the street. Smith walked toward him and asked him for his guns, which were being worn conspicuously. Frank backed slowly away, maneuvering for an advantage, and finally backed into the door of a saloon. Here they were surrounded by a crowd. Another request for his guns was answered profanely by Frank, and Smith placed him hors de combat with two smashes to the chin. He took Frank's guns away from him, beat him over the head with them, and told him to leave town and never return. Frank followed his instructions promptly.
The silence following this encounter was broken by the saloon proprietor, who stepped from behind the bar and said, "That was the nerviest act I ever saw. . . . Here is my gun. I reckon I'll not need it so long as you are marshal of this town." Others followed his example, and from that time Smith had very little trouble over the enforcement of the gun ordinance. Each business house had a sign which read, "You are expected to deposit your guns with the proprietor until you are ready to leave town." New arrivals soon found that this sign meant what it said. "
He was a different kind of man than Wild Bill. The townsman admired his style more. He was far more revered but Hickok was every bit as real, just different.
"Bear River" Tom Smith, in my mind, a hero.
Stay tuned.
Some oft repeated but hard to nail down statements concerning Thomas J. Smith are:
1) He was born in 1830
2) He was born in New York and of Irish decent
3) He was on the NYCPD.
After some checking I take them all as reasonable. They have been handed down to us and none seem outrageous. And it appears that they have originated from Smith himself, put forth to the Abilene commissioners.
It has been stated numerous times that Tom Smith was, as a younger man, a national class middleweight boxer. Irishman-NYC-known to be a puncher as a lawman. . . checks out as reasonable, also. He got out of prize fighting and into policing, joining the New York City Police Department as a young man in his 20s. There seems to be have been a shooting incident that Tom was involved in, in which a 14 year old was killed. It was a clear accident. However, the incident so profoundly distracted Tom that he left policing and drifted into a railroad job. This is where it gets tricky.
The best I can make of it is that a lot of people have missed some things. It seems to me that Tom Smith landed in the VERY NEW city of Bear River, in Wyoming Territory. It was a railhead. I believe that in some fashion Tom was made a lawman, there. I cannot discern in what manner he was appointed but my guess is that some of the leaders got together and appointed Tom the man to police the town. His capabilities probably being manifest in his ability to quell folks who were over the top with a single blow. So, I think Tom Smith got his first policing job out west, in Bear River City. He likely left the railroad and took up his responsibility as best any man could. Within no time all hell and I mean all hell breaks loose.
It appears to me that two groups kind of became "organized" one was a group of- the closest they could come to- respectable citizens, strangely they were started by railroad tie drivers, and another group was the rather LESS respectable class of citizens. The vigilantes as they have been known was very likely aligned with Tom Smith in that he was the law in the town. Shortly they went too far. They lynched three men. I do not figure this set well with Tom and they bought a further group of men to jail. There was widespread rioting and raids at this point. Open war. The "less respectables", 250 strong stormed the jail and freed the prisoners. They captured a local newspaper office (it must have been makeshift, as it seems to have followed the railroad crew) and burned it to the ground. There was indeed a pitched battle. This is where Tom Smith became Bear River Tom Smith. From the best I can make of it, in the midst of this battle Tom managed by sheer will and some brutality to keep the entire town from being utterly destroyed. Tom held things down after a horrific amount of bloodshed early on. Someone managed to get word to the military and they showed up the next day to find 14 killed and 35 wounded. But Tom Smith was credited with keeping it from being untold more killed and wounded. Thus began the legend of "Bear River Tom Smith".
Tom next drifted to Nebraska and Carson City, Colorado in both areas he worked in law enforcement. Continuing to build his reputation as a no nonsense but honest and fair officer. In 1870 Smith drifted into a den iniquity known as Abilene Kansas. This place was a mess. They set up a council and appointed officers, they drafted ordinances, etc. They licensed 32 SALOONS! and ran the houses of ill-repute out of town, they also drafted an ordinance to restrict totally the carrying of arms in city limits. The last two failed miserably. The sign that disallowed arm in town was immediately filled full of lead by the cowboys. Enter Tom Smith. He applied for the newly created office of Town Marshal. Denied. The town tried at least three prior residents as town Marshal. They had been put on the road. The town was sinking into a cesspool of crime and licentiousness. The people of Abilene built a jail. Guess what? The cowboys rode into town and tore it to the ground. It was rebuilt and then had to be guarded against being torn down again, day and night. Next they even rode in, liberated a prisoner, rode into businesses on horseback and closed them, then rode out of town blasting away with sixguns. The town next tried to bring in two St. Louis officers they looked the place over and pronounced the job "too complex". The board of trustees decided that maybe they needed a man like Tom Smith. He was given the job at $150 a month and $2 for every conviction he made.
Tom immediately enforced the ban on firearms in the city limits and began to close down the soiled dove palaces. "Abilene Chronicle, September 8, 1870, it states that Smith told the “vile characters” to “close their dens–or suffer the consequences.” According to the article, all of the “houses of ill fame” quickly closed down and the women involved in that work left town shortly after."
The ban on firearms was mostly accepted but got challenged here and there. "The new Marshal Smith’s first order of business was to enforce an existing ordinance which prohibited the wearing of guns within the Abilene town limits. Smith began collecting firearms throughout the town so as to disarm everyone. All guns were returned when a person was leaving town. Smith was known for his preference not to use a gun and he attempted to enforce the law with his fists. On one occasion a burly man known as “Wyoming Frank” and his partner Hank Hawkins both known for their bad behavior had a run in with Marshal Smith. He
gave both men a public beating with his bare hands and banished both of them from Abilene. Marshal Smith’s feat quickly spread throughout the town and the law abiding citizens began to see that the right man was in the job. During his few months Smith had been very effective in reducing the rate of shootings and killings in town. However, the Marshal was unpopular with the Texas cowboys and the criminal element who resented being relieved of their guns. Marshal Smith would survive two assassination attempts in his first few months."
Smith's success got him a pay and title raise. His pay wen to $225 a month and his title was extended to Deputy U.S. Marshal. The next major incident is reported by the Republican Valley Empire of August 2, 1870 reported on Bear River Tom's capture of the notorious horse thief "Buckskin Bill":
“Under Sheriff Tom Smith, of Dickinson County, called on us on Monday. He had just returned from Brownsville, Nebraska, whither he had been in pursuit of Buckskin Bill, who stole horses at Abilene not long ago, an account of which we published. Bill had sold some of the stock at Pawnee City, and they attempted to prevent the sheriff from getting the property by telling him he had better get out, or he soon would have nothing to go out on. He does not speak in favorable terms of Pawnee City – thinks that a man who has anything loose about him had better give the town a wide berth. The sheriff captured nearly all the stock. Foster, Bill’s accomplice was in jail at Nebraska City, having shot a colored man in a fracas. The sheriff says that he was aided by the officers and people of St. Joe, Atchison and Marysville. Bill was safely lodged in jail at Brownsville. He has a father there who is a prominent citizen and a worthy man, and who feels keenly the bad conduct of his son.”
Tom Smith had gotten a hold on Abilene and even his death would not allow it to go back completely like it had been. . .
This was the event that began the end of the great Tom Smith's life. The Abilene Chronicle from October 27, 1870 wrote:
"We regret to learn that a fatal affray took place on last Saturday afternoon, near Chapman Creek, between two neighbors named John Shea and Andrew McConnell. The facts as related to us are substantially as follows: it seems that McConnell had been out with his gun hunting deer, on his return he found Shea driving a lot of cattle across his land. Some words passed between them, when Shea drew a revolver and snapped it twice at McConnell who stood leaning on his gun, and being on his own land. As Shea was cocking his pistol for the third time, McConnell drew up his gun and shot Shea through the heart, killing him instantly. McConnell went for a Doctor, and afterwards gave himself up, and had an examination before Mr. Davidson on last Tuesday, when a neighbor of both men, Mr. Miles, testified substantially to the above facts, and McConnell was discharged – the act having been done in self-defense. Shea leaves a widow and three children."
The Chronicle follows up this story noting further investigation by Marshal Smith and declaring that an arrest warrant has been reissued as it has become clear that the action was anything but "self-defense". On November 2nd, he and a deputy McDonald rode out to McConnell's dugout.
Abilene Chronicle November 3, 1870:
"Officer Smith informed McConnell of his official character and that he had a warrant for his arrest, whereupon McConnell shot Smith through the right lung; Smith also fired, wounding
McConnell; the two being close together grappled; Smith, although mortally wounded, was getting the better of
McConnell, when Miles struck him on the head with a gun felling him senseless to the ground, and seizing an ax chopped Smith’s head nearly from his body. At this stage of the tragedy officer McDonald returned to this place for assistance. A posse was raised, and repaired to the scene of the murder, but McConnell and Miles had fled, and up to this morning had not been arrested. They were both wounded, and it is reported were in Junction City last evening. It is hoped that they will be speedily arrested. We give the above named particulars as we gather them from reports current in town. The body of Mr. Smith was brought to this place last evening, and will be buried at 10 o’clock tomorrow. The sad event has cast a gloom over our town. Our citizens had learned to respect Mr. Smith as an officer who never shrank from the performance of his duty. He was a stranger to fear, and yet in the private walks of life a most diffident man. He came to this place of the wild shouts and pistol shots of ruffians who for two years had kept orderly citizens in dread for their lives. Abilene owes a debt of gratitude to the memory of Thomas James Smith, which can never be paid. Although our people will never again permit the lawlessness which existed prior to his coming to the town, yet it will be a long time before his equal will be found in all the essentials required to make a model police officer. Sacred be the memory of our departed friend and green be the turf that grows upon his grave. In years to come there will be those who will look back to the days when it required brave hearts and strong hands to put down barbarism in this new country and among the names of the bravest and truest none will be more gratefully remembered than that of Thomas James Smith, the faithful officer and true friend of Abilene.”
"During the fight, McDonald, the officer who arrived with Smith, returned to Abilene to find help. He raised up a posse, but when they returned to the dugout, Smith was already dead, and the murderers were gone. Evidently McDonald did not receive much blame for Smith’s death, since he continued working in law enforcement in Abilene throughout 1871."
Sure do not understand that one. . . Unless Smith ordered him to leave. Several accounts use words like "fled". You can bet one thing Smith never intended to leave. Double tough and as brave as they come. Even though he was a Yankee :)
McConnell and Miles were captured and tried and given sentences of 12 and 16 years, respectively. The near decapitation of Marshal Smith in what was by all accounts a two on one situation cried out for revenge. The two were exceedingly lucky not to have been lynched even though the trial was in Manhattan, Kansas.
Let's let Ike finish it:
"According to the legends of my hometown he was
anything but dull. While he almost never carried a
pistol he...subdued the lawless by the force of his
personality and his tremendous capability as an
athlete. One blow of his fist was apparently enough
to knock out the ordinary 'tough' cowboy. He was
murdered by treachery."
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~4000 hits in 20 days. Not bad for a thread on gunman. Well, lawmen, outlaws, cowpunchers, gamblers, and such.
Check in if you want me to keep plugging away. I will be glad to accommodate.
I would have thought that the Dallas Stoudenmire sketch would have stirred some comments. The man lived a life most of us have been told was a myth. . .
Great stuff. Thomas J. Smith, an American Hero. Back in the day, a trained fighter was a rare thing. Big advantage over most any "tough guy" cowboy. Seems he was born to fight/punch. Thanks for the hard work.
Just a guess, but pugilism was likely learned during his time in NY as a cop. Cops who could box was a must when dealing with British and Irish immigrants. I had a partner who was a Bobby in London in the 60s. He said only special constables had guns and so they relied on their fists. He moved to Canada and worked corrections there where boxing skills were the only tools they had. He emigrated to the US, joined the Army and became a citizen, later working corrections in Calif.
One night, his partner was head-butted and knocked out. Brian threw two punches, two knockouts. Brian was 5'10" maybe 175 lbs, these two crips were both over 6' and 240 lbs plus. He cuffed them both and then revived his partner. I asked him about it later and he just smiled and said "like I told you mate, if you box their ears they won't bugger with you. You have to learn to box." I think Smith learned to fight out of necessity on the streets of New York just like Brian did in London.