The JACKSONVILLE MINER Page 4 JAUNT INTO ‘BAD Here's ‘Hangman LANDS’ OLD NEW MEXICO THRILLS Poet Reynolds Takes His Readers on Flyer to Out­ law Land of Lincoln County in Early Days By J. C. REYNOLDS I mentioned once before how Bill Rogers and myself took a trip around in Lincoln county. New Mexico, for six weeks, but did not go into details. The spot we called home at that time was in the beautiful Whohatoya valley at the foot of the Spanish peaks. Leaving our horses, saddles and outfits, we started out afoot, intending to beat our way on the railroad. It was considered almost a crime those days to pay railroad fare, when the money could be used so much more profitably in other ways. The railroads were charging from eight to 10 cents per mile, which to us appeared to be plain robbery. Tak­ ing $150 apiece, we beat our way to Raton, N. M Then we walked Howard ‘’Hangman” Cantonwine a few miles till we encountered a who meets Bob “Eeeeow!!" section gang, who told us they Kruse in Mack Lillard’s armory were going to Otero with a hand­ show Thursday night of this week. Cantonwine, ex-football car and would give us a lift. Otero was nothing but a section star, gained his nickname by­ house, part of which served as a making the tying of adversaries depot, and a water tank about 200 in the ropes a regular habit. yards distant down the track. We Bob Kruse it was who last week bought our supper there and downed his former wrestling learned a freight train would be teacher, Ted Thye, who meant along shortly after dark. When it well hut mentored too well. The arrived we were hidden behind the show, starting at 8:30 sharp, tank. The engine took water, but w ill be a double nutin event, fea­ the train did not start and, observ­ turing Texas Wright, whirlwind ing several men talking on the from Dallas, and Chief Little platform by the depot, I became Wolf, in first half of the card. suspicious and, running up there. I sneaked close enough to hear one was an excellent opportunity to of the section men telling the con­ get square for. as Dick came close, ductor there were a couple of Hixenbaugh gave him a load of hobos waiting to beat his train to buckshot square in the breast. Springer. He immediately walked Dick fell dead and he had been the full length of the train clear so close to the gun that the dis­ to the engine on our side, looking charge had set his clothes on fire. closely everywhere with his lan­ Red River Tom. another famous tern. while one of his brakemen character of that region, who also did the same on the other side had a reward on his head of $1200. Going back to the caboose, they raised his hands in the air and stood on the lower step when the started across the street to put out train started, flashing their lant­ the fire in Dick’s clothes. Hixen­ erns ahead to be sure they would baugh waited till he got close and see us if we tried to get on. gave him the other barrel. Tom When one-third of the train had fell dead with his clothes on fire gone by and was getting up con­ also. Another young puncher siderable speed. Bill and I made started across to put out the fire a qyick dash from behind the in the clothes of the two dead water tank and climbed in between men and Hixenbaugh. grabbing two gondola cars in such fast time another shotgun, killed him too. that they fkiled to see us. We rode Then pandemonium started. For there several hours till we reached three days and nights the jail was Springer, which was where we besieged and everything that was were going. Springer was a typical seen to move inside of it was shot cattle town of a few hundred peo­ at. The grapevine telegraph was ple, with a liberal sprinkling of working and every hour saw rein­ Mexicans. One of the prettiest forcements of cowboys arriving to places imaginable. Several good ’.ake part in the riot. The city mar­ stores, a hotel or two. bakery, shal, who had arrested the cow­ three saloons and many nice resi­ boy and started all the trouble, dences. Nearly all the buildings simply vanished. No one ever knew along the main street had steel what became of him. Finally shutters over the windows and troops had to be brought in from when the cowboys started shooting Las Vegas to restore order and up the town, as they frequently rescue Hixenbaugh from the ven­ did, the citizens simply retired into geance of the mob. After every­ their houses or stores, closed the thing had quieted down. I was of­ shutters and let 'em shoot. No fered the job of city marshal, hard feelings about it. Took it as which I promptly refused. Bill a matter of course. Rogers was later invited to accept Bill and I looked the town over the position, but turned it down next day and, finding there was just as quickly. However, it was no church there as yet, decided it taken by a young cowpuncher who might be a right lively little place. was out of a job and when we got Our previous experience with back to Springer six weeks later western towns had convinced us we found he was holding it down that nothing would so quickly kill in good shape. the life and pep of one as the in­ When the boys came to town, he troduction of the church element would politely request them to lay into it. We didn't have to wait long aside their artillery. Some did and for plenty of excitement. A young some did not and he never insisted. cowboy had been arrested for some When a fight of any kind started, trivial offense by the city marshal he would make himself convenient- and lodged in the jail, which was a substantial two-story brick Adultf Children building on one of the side streets. 10c Some circumstances connected 20c . THEATRE with the arrest had peeved the cowboy element in that section Friday-Saturday and Dick Rogers, the best-known cowboy outlaw in that country, had gathered a few friends and started for Springer to secure his release. Joined by others on the way, the bunch numbered about 40 when they hit town that morning. Zasu Pitts—El Brendel This Dick Rogers was a top James Gleason—Perl Kelton cow-hand, crack bronc-buster, Sunday-Monday lightning six-gun artist and the only man I ever knew who could plat a lariat with 64 strands in it. Ramon Novarro He had killed a few men and had Jeanette McDonald a $2000 reward on his head, though this never seemed to bother him in the least. He was a natural leader and had hundreds of warm personal friends throughout the cattle country. After a few drinks Dick said, ‘‘Well, boys, let’s go up and get our little pal out of jail." Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday Reaching the jail, everybody lined up on the opposite side of the street and stopped. Raising both hands into the air to show his in­ Bette Davis—Pat O’Brien tentions were peaceable, Dick started across the street to talk “Bureau of to the jailer, whose name was Hix­ enbaugh and who was standing Missing Persons” behind the grated door of the jail plus with a shotgun in his hands. Francis Lederer Some time before this Dick had killed Hixenbaugh's brother and Man of Two Worlds no doubt the jailer thought this “The Meanest Gal in Town” “The Cat and the Fiddle” 2 FEATURES ly absent till it was over and, as bothered with it, we gave the re­ all the boys knew him well and mainder to a Mexican kid who liked him, he gut by very nicely happened along. and seemed to be standing in well Then we held a consultation and with everybody. So perhaps the discovered we only hud u trifle job wasn't as dangerous as it ap­ over $5 between us with which to peared to be at first glance. negotiate the 250 miles of distance After everything had quieted to our happy home at the 8|>anlah down. Bill and I started out on our peaks. That would never do at all exploring trip. We had plenty of so, telling Bill to wait. I went over chances to ride in any direction I to the iaigest of the three saloons we wished to go. so we got aboard and found it empty, except for a a light rig that landed us at a big young cowboy who was tending cow spread 40 miles from Springer bar. Slipping my new gun from and. after staying there a couple its holster, 1 laid It on the bar and of nights, began to visit syste­ I inquirt'd, "Do you know where u matically all the cattle ranches fellow could sell a gun like this for und line camps along a certain I $5?“ He picked it up. looked it route we wished to cover Every­ I over carefully, whirled it on his where we were royally received. finger and coolly told mo I was a We had all the inside dope on the damn fool to sell a gun like that riot at Springer and all kinds of ■or $5. 1 said I knew 1 was, but other interesting news from the had to raise a few dollars some outside Also we had provided our­ way to get track to Colorado He selves before starting with two of told me the town was full of the latest model six-guns made, punchers and suggested I leave the Smith and Wesson double-ac­ the gun with him und he would tion forty-fours, which proved to I raffle it off that evening for a lot be subjects of intense interest to more money than that, to which 1 these gun-slingers of the cattle igreed. range These side-arms were not That aftermsm he let the news only Beautifully made and perfect­ out that there would be a raffle ly balanced, but wen* supposed to ut his saloon at 7 o'clock that eve­ be the speediest revolvers pro­ ning and by that time the pluce duced up to that time. Nothing was crowded, the prize exhibited seemed to be too good for us at and It was decided to throw hlgh- the camps we visited. Our worst dice for my gun, at a dollar a difficulty was to get away from chance Twenty-five chances were them after from two to four days sold at $t a chance Also the bar­ visit, without making anybody tender, Bill and I took chances sore at us. And when we finally free, thus giving me the opportun­ insisted on going, they would stop ity to win back my own gun if i their work, saddle horses for us to I was lucky, but none of us three ride, or in some cases hitch up a I threw anything worthwhile. The light rig. and take us on to the game went on and 43 had been thrown by one rider, when in came next camp. We certainly had a glorious time I the ramrod of a cowspread over on and though we were never charged the Cimarron and the boys called a single penny anywhere along the to him to get in the game and line, yet we sluffed off most of our I take a chance. He examined the money in playing poker. You can gun and said "That's sure a fine believe it or not. but it is a fact gun. fellows, but I don't want it. that we deliberately let these cow-1 is I have two just like it now " boys win our money on many oc- "Oh, come on and be a sport," casions. simply because they had they coaxed. So he paid his dollar, put themselves to such a lot of picked up the dice and threw 44 trouble to contribute to our com- ind walked off with the gun. He fort and happiness that it seemed was about the luckiest guy T ever a dirty ahame to take their money saw. That afternoon, Bill and I watched him break a faro bank also. Both Bill and myself were pret­ And the bartender told ua that the ty dam good poker players, too previous evening, to liven things good for most of those range rid­ up, he had bet the drinks for the ers. but if we had won consistent­ house that nobody could shoot the ly, we might have got the name of billiard wire in two the first shot. a couple of tin-homs out on a trip The billiard wire, you know, hangs to pick up a little easy money. So high above the tables and is strung we preferred to be diplomatic with buttons for the accommoda­ about it. And we well knew if tion of the players. This same fel­ we had been made to pay our way, low who won my gun looked at it the expense would have amounted a minute, then took the bet, and to much more than what we at the crack of his gun the buttons sluffed off in the poker games. On flew all over the house. As they the last night of our trip we were drinking specially Imported, stayed at the Triangle-Dot ranch, high-priced Arkansas whiskey that 13 miles from Springer. evening, it cost the bartender This was a bang-up, upper-class about $15 to treat the crowd. As cow ranch, but we were made wel­ I had realized $26 for my gun by come and invited to stay one the kindness of the bartender, I more day. anyhow, promising to offered him $10 for his trouble, take us to Springer in a buckboard but he refused to accept a cent, the next morning, if we would stay so I spent several dollars with him, over. But Bill and I were about treating the house. The gun had fed up on visiting and decided to cost me $22 and I still had my belt walk. This was the only walking we did on the entire trip. Reaching town about 2 o'clock and being very hungry, we went to the bak­ ■ »VAB I Children 10c ery and started buying knick- knacks. I remember we bought Saturday Only three loaves of bread and a pound of butter, sardines, cake, jelly and HOOT GIBSON in several other items which amounted to $5.90 altogether. Bor­ rowing a gunnysack to put it in, we went out to the platform be­ hind the depot and proceeded to also ‘Fighting With Kit Carson' fill up. We soon discovered we Sunday and Monday couldn’t eat a quarter of what we had bought so, not wishing to be JANET GAYNOR 9 Friday, June 22, 1934 and holster. Along about 10 o’clock Bill und I heard a train come in and. racing down to the depot, found a double-header freight of empty gondola cava going north Climbing aboard, we beat our way to Raton. An no more trains were due for 13 hours going In our direction, we waited and had breakfast In Ra­ ton. then walked down the moun­ tain us fur us Morley, where we stopped to rest und wuit for the east-bound passenger into Trini­ dad While loafing there an ex- brakenmn came along who hud lost his arm In a wreik. He put up such a pitiful story of being with­ out funds to get buck to his relu t—--------- — —~~-------------- - -> DANCE CRATSiUAN End* Saturday I Frl-Sat together in CAROLINA” Tuesday and Wednesday LOVE tanti d ktd Starts Sunday z* 1c and “Orient Express” t> A V I % DONALO WOOOI MABOAtlf MNDtA* I Sun-Mon "There another man and I am going to marry him/* she said It wu • danger­ ous thing to »sy to a husband mad with k»l- ouiy ., . waiter Connolly Roicoc Karns L AO A© 9 61A IA 9 9^999^ •«••• Ar HtcAt CA of A m A4©r Art Aw A Aa^aA-aa—-e