The Lincoln County Journal (Stroud, Okla.), Vol. 4, No. 46, Ed. 1 Friday, January 28, 1910 Page: 6 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Lincoln County Journal/Stroud Star and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
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fecfeimms Wiklen\e/r
ment dates “that
tired feenrr- HER WEIGHT INCREASED
*V CliAPIXK-TROM
WGEiorrjzume m
THE MKMOIRy*
ARD times came on In
M ineola.
Itailr
oad
build-
lug was
at an
end;
crops
failed;
men
w ho
had
bought
goods
on
long
credit
could
not
pay.
“Bill" McDonald, i
is he
V
OF CArTAIN.HDlLI,“McPOKAXD OF TEXAT'
c^tzsvrxroscr S'*'
was now usuitlly t-niled,
lind been one to carry
long linos of credit Tor
his customers and lie was
hurt accordingly. lie
gave iiii business at last
and In 188" Invested whatever re-
mained to hlin In rattle nnd sot liis
step further westward, where there
was free (trass. Ho headed toward
Wichita county, which was almost an
unknown land In that day. driving his
cattle before him, his young wife at
his side, both eager to begin a new
life in a new land
To drive cattle across the wild
Texas prairies l!."» years ago was an
experience worth while. The grass
was free, hut there were always those
who wanted to form a trust of its
vast areas and mako trespassers of
the smaller men. McDonald had
scarcely located his herd and pitched
his tent when two of these magnates
notified him that he had better move
He asked in that quiet way of tils to
let him have a look at their titles,
atul when they could not produce
them he added that he thought he’d
stay where he was. They began to
tell him of some of the things that
were likely to happen If he did that,
but he did not seem Impressed by the
Information. lie repeated that he
would stay where he was and that
anyone who did not wish to be In his
neighborhood had his permission to
move on, to other free grass Perhaps they
looked him over a bit more carefully then and
noticed the peculiarity or his nose and Ills
eyes and the handy and casual way he had of
picking off ttie heads of rattlesnakes and such
things with a six-shooter while lie talked. In
a neighborhood where cattle thieves were be-
ginning to he troublesome a man tike that
would bo handy to have around. They were
to have an example presently of his willing-
ness and ability to defend the rights of owner-
ship—a small example, hut convincing
It was no easy matter to keep a herd Intact
in those days. The outlaw pure and simple
was had enough, but to ttie newcomer with a
■mall hunch of “cows" (cattle, regardless of
gender) the vast, roaming herd guarded by a
veritable army of punchers, whose respect for
any taw was smalt enough, was an even
greater menace. McDonald knew of these
conditions and when, soon after tits arrival
some of his cattle strayed away lie set out to
inspect the surrounding herds. After rtdtng
some distance he came upon a large drove,
evidently on Its way to market It was about
noon and the men were “rounding-in" for din-
ner. McDonald started to address a herder
when the man turned abruptly and started off
McDonald Immediately began looking through
the cattle, when the herder wheeled and
roughly asked him what he wanted.
“I was looking for (lobbied horses," was the
easy reply, whereupon the puncher made some
surly comment and rode away.
McDonald, presently satisfied that his stray
cattle were not with that portion of the drove,
continued his search further along and came
up with the “chuck wagon," where dinner was
being prepared. Cow men are hospitable and
the foreman invited him to dismount and join
them He did so and a little Inter the surly
puncher came in, giving the camp guest any-
thing but a friendly took. In the course of
ttie meal the visitor was asked where he was
fro n
“Mtneola." tie said. “Wood county."
The surly herder spoke lip
"These d—d sand tappers (east Texans)
are getting too thick out here."
McDonald Set down his coffee
"The d—d skunks and prairie dogs are al-
ready too thick,” he said.
An instant later the puncher tiad out his
pistol, hut the sand tapper was still quicker
The puncher was covered before he could
bring his weapon to bear. McDonald said:
"Turn It loose! Drop It!”
The herder still clutched the weapon which
he was afraid to raise.
The sand tapper stepped nearer to him and
with a sudden movement rapped him smartly
on the head with the heavy barrel of his six-
shooter. It was a thing that as a deputy he
had done often and ft was always effective.
The puncher dropped hts gun One of his
comrades sprang to hts assistance, but was
covered ami disarmed with amazing sudden-
ness. The foreman Interfered now, and the
beginner of the disturbance was led away to
a brook to have his head bathed and ban-
daged. whereupon the sand tapper quietly fin-
ished his dinner, thanked his host, continued
the search for IiIb missing stock and when he
found them set out for tiome. Meeting a
group of punchers among which was hts surly
friend with a now bandaged head, he expect-
ed further trouble. Nothing happened. The
sand tapper and his missing cows had the
right of way.
Commercial Venture and Adventure.
The Inclination to commercial enterprise
still survived. At the end of a year McDonald
sold his cattle and Invested In the lumber
business at Wichita Falls.
There was a merchant In Baylor county,
Texas to whom lumberman McDonald sold
a good hill, on time. The account ran along
until one day the county judge of Baylor, one
Melvin dropped tn and stated that he had
called to settle the amount for his neighbor
He gave his own check for It and McDonald
supposed the matter had ended A few days
later the bank returned Melvin’s check as
worthless. Evidently the quiet, unobtrusive
life wlitch Bill Jess had been living as a lum-
ber merchant had given the impression that
he was an Inoffensive person, who would
pocket a loss rather than make trouble, espe-
cially with a county Judge, who added to his
ofllcial prestige the reputation of being u bad
USSR'S.t' jtbS&iZZASCs
man from “very far up the creek.” However,
thin was a mistake. McDonald ascertained
that hiH customer had really sent the money
by Melvin to pay his l)ill, and considered what
he ought to do. Morally, perhaps legally, he
could have demanded payment a second time,
on the ground that the said custodier, being
acquainted with Melvin, should have selected
a more reliable messenger. Hut that was not
the Hill McDonald way. What he did was to
write to Melvin, demanding an explanation,
adding in pretty positive terms that he ex-
pected immediate settlement. No reply came,
nnd a second nnd a third letter followed, each
getting more definite as to phrase. Then one
day Melvin and certain henchmen from Baylor
appeared on the streets of Wichita Falls. Mc-
Donald, who had heard of their arrival, sud-
denly confronted Melvin nnd delivered himself
in such terms and with what emphasis as he
had on hand at the moment. Melvin withdrew,
gathered his clans and laid for McDonald In
front of a saloon where the latter had to pass.
Though previously warned of the nmbusli, Mc-
Donald did pass, with the result that next
morning Melvin settled his bill in full, paid
for a glass door that he had broken and a tine
and costs amounting to $65, for carrying con-
cealed weapons. What really happened to
Melvin is best told In Hill Jess’s own testi-
mony, when that same morning he had him-
self been summoned to answer a charge for
carrying concealed weapons, disturbing the
peace and for assault—said action being the
result of Melvin’s Judicial pull. Arriving at
the courtroom, the prosecuting attorney asked
McDonald if he had a lawyer.
“No,” he said, “I don’t need anybody to
defend me for knocking a scoundrel over. I’ll
attend to ray own case, whatever is neces-
sary.”
The attorney then stated the charge to the
court. Hill Jess waited until he was through
and then asked permission to speak.
“Your honor,’’ he said, rising, “I’m a busy
man, with no time to be fooling around this
way with men who give bogus checks and
steal horses and such like, but if your honor
will spare about a minute I’ll tell what hap-
pened.” He then gave a history of the lumber
transaction and added the sequel as follows:
“When I wrote him as strong a lettei as
l could frame up and as would go through the
mail he come down with a crowd of what he
thought was fighting men and I met him and
tried like a gentleman to persuade him to
settle up and to convince him what a dad-
blamed rascal he was. which he plead guilty
to nnd didn’t deny. Then he gathers his feeble
hunch of fighters together, arms them up with
six-shooters and corrals them In Hill Holly’s
saloon, that I had to pass, going home. I
met Johnny Hammond, who tried to persuade
me not to* take that street said those fellows
were up there and I’d better go in some other
direction. I said I wasn’t In the habit of go-
ing out of my way for such cattle and pro-
ceeded on up the street. When 1 got in front
of Hill Holly’s, Melvin nnd his warriors
stepped out. Melvin wanted an explanation
of my former remarks and I gave It to him
and added some more which I would not like
to mention in the presence of this court.
Then he pulled out a big, white hnndled forty-
five six-shooter, but being a little slow with it,
1 grabbed it by the barrel and hit him with
ray fist two or three times, which kinder
Jarred him loose from hla gun. Then I gave
him a rap on the head with It and knocked
him through Hill Holly’s glass front door. Into
the saloon. His pals pulled their guns, but I
covered them with the one I took away from
Melvin and they nearly broke the furniture to
pieces getting out of there. I didn’t see any
more of any of them until next morning. Then
I looked up the bunch and got a check In full,
with interest, from Melvin and made him pay
Bill Holly $5 for his glass door. So far as
carrying a gun is concerned, I had one, and I
got another from this fellow here, who had
pulled It on me. I took it away from him and
hit him with it nnd I have the same here in
my possession now, to turn over to the court “
Hill Jess reached down somewhere and,
drawing forth the big. white-handled six-
shooter laid it down in front of the court.
Then suddenly turning upon Melvin, who was
present, he looked him straight through
“Ain’t all 1 have said, so?” he demanded.
Melvin found himse’C unable to tell any-
thing but the truth Just
then.
“Yes,” he said.
McDonald was dis-
charged and Melvin paid
a fine as before noted.
Following this Incident
came another, which so-
lidified the Hill McDon-
ald reputation for nerve,
in Wichita Falls. Hill
Holly, the aforemen-
tioned—whose name In
another part of the state
had been Buck Holly-
becoming Hill after a mix-
up during which the other
man died—one day ab-
sorbed an overdose of his
own stock in trade and
set forth to shoot up the
town. He went afoot and
lot go at things generally,
emptying the streets and
bringing business to a
stand still. The city mar-
shal was organizing a
posse to take him and
summoned McDonald, who
said:
“Give me the key to the
calaboose and the’ won’t
be no need of a posse.”
He took the key in one
hand and a six-shooter In
the other and marched up
to where Holly was prac-
ticing on front doors and
hardware signs, stuck
the gun close up under
the nose of the disturber
and with his quick magic
disarmed him and set
out with him for the lock-
up. Holly begged and
pleaded and was finally
in the hotel. Ho broke a
f ROM 100 TO 140 POUNDS.
Wonderful Praise Accorded
getting] Perunathe Household Remedy
Mrs. Marla Goertz, Orienta, Okla-
homo, writes:
“My husband, children and myself
have used your medicines, and we al-
ways keep them in th house in cose of
necessity. I w as restored to health by
this medicine, and I>r. Hartman’s in-
valuable advice and books. Peoplo ask
about mo from different places, aud are
surprised that I can do all of my house-
work alone, and that I was cured by the
doctor of chronic catarrh. My husband
was cured of asthma, my daughter of
earache and catarrh of the stomach, and
my son of catarrh of tho throat. When
1 was sick 1 weighed 100 pounds; now I
which the bad men of Texas began
to hare when they heard the sound ■
of Bill McDonald's name.
With ids commission in his pocket |
Bill Jess was not long in
down to his favorite employment,
that of man hunting He began
quietly, for he wanted to identify
some of the men nearer at hand
who were in one way or another connected
with the Cedar Brakes gang Boll Brooken,
a notorious outlaw, was the head of the
hand and his brother Hood was one of its
chief members. The Brookens were wanted
not only for cattle stealing, but for train rob-
bing and murder as well. A certain Hull
Turner was one of their victims. Turner
was said to have been one of the Brooken
gang at an earlier time, but had aban-
doned that way of life and made an effort
to become a decent citizen. The gang believed
he had given information and somewhat later, we|ghiio.
when lie was driving across the country with
a prominent stockman—a Jew named Lazarus
—the Brookens and half a dozen of their fol-
lowers suddenly dashed out of roadside con-
cealment and began firing. Turner was In-
stantly killed and Lazarus fell over the dash-
board in a wild effort to get behind something.
The frightened horses, one of them wounded
in the foot, ran madly all the way to town
with Lazarus still clinging to the whiffietrees.
With the assistance of Sheriff Alley—also
short a horse, through the industries of the
Brooken gang—and one Pat Wolforth. who
was acquainted with certain of the silent
partners of the outlaws nnd stood ready to
give information—several arrests were made
presently and trouble filled the air.
Threatening letters now began to come to
the new deputy, warning him against further
procedure—promising him death and torture
of many varieties if he did not suspend opera-
tions Such letters always stimulated Hill Mc-
Donald to renewed enterprise.
Meantime the railroad had reached Harde-
man and the town of Quanah—named for
Chief Quanah Parker, son of the historic Cyn-
thia Ann Parker—had sprung up. It was the |
typical tough place and certain bad men still j ...... . ...... ,
at large came there to proclaim vengeance and p0'!nd: Add‘hfe to “I,,nt °f,B0°d
1 whiskey: Take a tablespoontnl be-
"I have regained my health again, and
I caanot thank you enough for your
advice. May God give you a long life
aud bless your work.”
WHERE IT WORKED.
ffwe
“While we were on our honeymoon.
I always spoke French to my husband,
so that no one should understand us.”
“So you went to France, did you?”
TO CURE RHEUMATISM
Prescription that Cured Hundreds
Since Published Here.
“One ounce syrup of Sarsaparilla
compound; one ounce Toris corn-
locked In a rowti* •- .
window before morning and promptly paid for
It by McDonald’s request.
Removing to Hardeman county was the
only thing that saved Bill McDonald from be-
ing drafted into official service where he was.
In the counties bordering on Indian territory
ami up through the Panhandle a man had to
“stand pat” whatever his hand and hold his
own by strength of arm and quickness of
trigger. Cow thieves and cutthroats abounded
Officials often worked in accord with them or
were afraid to prosecute. The man who would
neither co-operate with outlaws nor condone
their offenses was already on the ground and
would presently be In the field.
Hardeman county had lately been organ-
ized and the settlers were cowmen, cowboys
and gamblers—lawless enough themselves—
and another element, which pretended to be
these things, but in reality were outlaws, pure
and simple. The latter lived chiefly off the
herds, driving off horses and cattle and hiding
them in remote and inaccessible places. Often
the cattle were butchered, their hides, which
were marked with brand and earmarks, de-
stroyed to avoid identification and the meat
sold. Men who did these things were known
well enough, but went unapprehended for the
reasons named. In certain sections of the
territory itself and in No-man’s Land (a piece
of disputed ground lying to the north of the
Panhandle, now a part of Oklahoma) matters
were even worse. In these places there wa9
hardly a semblance of law
It was in 1885 that Hill McDonald disposed
of his lumber Interests in Wichita Falls, re-
invested in cattle and set out once more for
the still farther west. He had filed some
school land on Wanderer’s creek in Hardeman
county, about four miles from where the town
of Quanah now stands, the heart of what was
then the wilderness. He did not go there im-
mediately. however; he conducted for a brief
time a lumber business at Harrold. Willbarger
county—a circumstance hardly worth men-
tioning save for an incident of another sort
which occurred at this place and period. Mc-
Donald, whose reputation as a man of nerve
had traveled to Harrold. was one night called
upon by Ranger Lieut. Sam Platt to assist him
in handling a gang of outlaws, known as the
Brooken band, that infested that neighborhood.
The Brookens had ridden into Harrold and
were running thlnes pretty much in their own
way. Platt and McDonald promptly bore down
upon them and a running fight ensued as the
Brookens retreated. About 100 shots were
fired altogether, but It was dark and the range
too great for accuracy Nothing was accom-
plished. but the event marked the beginning
of a warfare between Hill McDonald and a
band of cutthroats, the end of which would
he history It was soon after this first skir-
mish that McDonald sold out his business In
Harrold and set out for his Hardeman county
ranch. As on his former migration, he drove
his cattle to the new land and after the first
hard day’s drive camped at nightfall In a
pleasant spot where grass was plentiful and
water was handy
The next morning, when preparations for
an early start were under headway, it was
suddenly discovered that four of the best
horses and a fine Newfoundland dog were
missing. Two of the horses were found astray,
evidently having broken loose from their cap-
tors. It was further discovered that the
Rrooken band had a rendezvous in what was
known as the Cedar Brakes, a stretch of rough
country, densely covered with scrubby cedar,
located about 12 miles to the south westward
McDonald naturally felt that It was now hl9
turn to move again in the Brooken game, but
it did not seem expedient to stop the Journey
with the herd and undertake the move Just
then, so. biding his time, he pushed on to his
land on Wanderer’s creek, where he estab-
lished tils ranch, fenced his property, built a
habitation for himself and the wife who was
always ready to follow him Into the wilder-
ness. then promptly he rode over to Margaret,
at that time the county seat, and asked Sheriff
Jim Alley—a good man with his hands over-
full—to nppoint him deputy, that he might be-
gin the work which clearly must be done in
that country before it could become a proper
habitation for “white men.’’ The commission
was readily granted and from that appoiut-
to “lay” for the men who were making them j
trouble. Among these disturbers was one
John Davidson of Willbarger county, on the j
borders of which the Cedar Brakes gang was
located. |
Davidson appeared presently on tho streets
of Quanah. flourishing his firearms and mak-
ing his boasts. Bill McDonald suddenly ar-
rived on the scene and without any parley
whatever stepped quickly up to Davidson and
disarmed him so suddenly that the terror of
Willbarger stood dazed and did not recover
himself until he was half way to the office of
Justice, where he paid a fine.
He tried it again the next week, with the
same result. He kept on trying it and each
time settled for his amusement witli a fine.
The Davidson crowd was still in town and
far from satisfied. Davidson felt that lie had
support enough now to tackle even that hard-
headed McDonald and he enlisted a big
butcher named Williams to stir up the mess.
The gang armed themselves with long butcher
knives from Williams’ shop and started out to i
hunt up their victim. They located him in a |
saloon where troubles of various kinds were
likely to originate and tlie presence of an offi-
cer was desirable. Big Hill Williams, the
butcher, entered first, and coming near to Mc-
Donald slightly bumped against him. Not
wishing trouble, McDonald walked away, fol-
lowed by Williams, who bumped against him
again. Deputy Bill then walked to the other , . , , . . „
. , , . . , . . , were in such a hurry I brushed them
side of the room, which was unoccupied and ,,
fore each meal and at bed time;
| Shake the bottle well each time.”
Any druggist has these ingredients
in stock or will quickly get them from
his wholesale house. Gopd results are
felt from this treatment alter the first
few doses but it should be continued
until cured. This also acts as a system
builder, eventually restoring strength
and vitality.
Saving Time.
The family was to leave on the two
o’clock train from Broad street station,
so the mother was all in a flurry as
she hurried the children in a certain
West Philadelphia home.
“Now, children, get everything ready
before luncheon,'’ she said. “Don’t
leave everything until the last min-
ute.”
And the children said they wouldn’t.
Luncheon ended, they hurried into
their wraps and started. In the hall
the mother said:
“Edward, you didn’t brush your
teeth.”
“Yes, ma’am, I did.”
“But you couldn’t,” she said, “you
fidn’t have time. Why you just got
up from the table.”
“I know that,” said Edward; “but we
when Williams and his crowd started to fol-
low he warned them not to come any closer.
At this a number of cowmen who were pres-
ent saw the trouble ami being friendly to Mc-
Donald stepped in, pushing Williams and his
crowd toward the door. Outside, the disturb-
ers gave vent to their animosity for McDon-
ald in violent language and opprobrious names.
Suddenly McDonald himself stepped out
among them and seeing a piece of scantling
about four feet long lying by the door he j
seized it and as Williams started toward him j
he gave the big butcher a lick across the face i
with it that flattened his features and put a
habitual crook in his nose. The crowd thought j
Williams was killed and his supporters began !
to get out of the way of that scantling. But
McDonald dropped it and had out his guns
in a moment.
“Halt!” he said, "every one of you. I’ll kill
the first man that runs.” Then to the Rang-
ers. who at that moment appeared on the
scene, “Search those men for weapons.”
Search was made and long butcher knives
intended for McDonald came to light. A knife
of the same kind was found on Williams.
Somewhat later word was brought to Dep-
uty BUI that what was left of the Davidson
and Williams crowd had collected in Tip Mc-
Dowell’s saloon, where a brother of Williams
tended bar, and were declaring war to the
death McDonald promptly went down there
and entered, with a revolver in each hand.
The crowd of would-be assassins, about a
dozen or so, took one look and made a break
for the back window and fled.
McDonald now resolved to hunt on his own
hook. As deputy sheriff lie was restricted to
his own county, but this handicap was re-
moved through Ranger Captain S. A. McMur-
ray. who had him appointed by Governor Ross
as special ranger, with sheriff’s rights in any
county in the state. One day he received a
letter from Capt. George A. Knight of Dallas.
Texas. U. S. marshal of the northern district
of Texas, asking him to come to Dallas and be
made IT. S. deputy marshal, with authority to
operate in southern Indian Territory and No-
man’s Land. McDonald went down without
delay and reported at Knight’s office.
“I have heard about you and your work up
In Hardeman,” said Capt Knight, “and I want
you for a deputy. But first tell me what are
your politics.”
McDonald did not hesitate McDonald was
a Republican.
“Capt. Knight,” he said. "I am the damned-
est. hell-roaringest, all-flredest Democrat you
ever saw. If politics has anything to do with I
this appointment I’d Just as well go back.”
“Well," said Knight, “you’re pretty era- j
phatlc. but I guess you’ll do. Your kind of poli-
tics seem to suit your job pretty well.”
it was only a little while after this that’
Hill McDonald was made also Deputy TJ. S.
marshal of the southern district of Kansas.
He brought in Hood Brooken last, got him
sentenced for five years and broke up the
gang utterly. Bill Brooken himself escaped
to Mexico, was captured there, brought hack
aud sentenced for 127 years.
before I ate.”—Philadelphia Times.
A Natural Sequence.
Bell—1 felt Jack perusing my coun-
tenance.
Bell—Well, what then?
Belle—Then 1 felt my face getting
red.
In the Ark.
Noah—I know what I’m going to do.
Mrs. Noah—What is it?
Noah—Hold the elephant’s trunk for
board.
^25
‘Guara*1
Your Liver
is Clogged up
That’a Why You’re Tired—Out of
Sorts—Have No Appetilr.
CARTER’S 1 ITT! F t
LIVER PILLS
will put you right Aygffl® r.tvj
il a lew day*. I
They do WlTT
their duly. I IVI
Cure gPIL
Coustip. ^ \\ fed
lion, Bil- * - =
ioutnets, lndigeitioa, and Sick R*adacke.
SMALL PILL SMALL DOSE. SMALL PRICE
GENUINE must bear signature:
Don’t Cough!—Use
Piso’s
> CURS W
Will instantly relieve your aching
throat. There is nothing like it for
Asthma, Bronchitis and lung
troubles. Contains no opiates.
Very pleasant to take.
All Druggist*. 25 ernts.
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Bell, F. C. The Lincoln County Journal (Stroud, Okla.), Vol. 4, No. 46, Ed. 1 Friday, January 28, 1910, newspaper, January 28, 1910; Stroud, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc925127/m1/6/?q=j+w+gardner: accessed June 27, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.