threatened or broke out here and there--the newspapers carried a line
that Captain Bill was on the way to the scene. He arrived--often
alone--disarmed a mob; made an arrest or two, perhaps; gave out a few
quiet admonitions, and it was all over--next day to be forgotten. With
many another man such cases would have meant resistance, bloodshed,
troops, and the long animosities of years. That was his genius: to
settle matters--to dispose of them--to get through and to be at other
work without waste of time. Once when he was ordered to Galveston to
prevent a prize-fight, he arrived at the hall where it was to take
place, after the crowd had gathered. He did not bother to discuss
matters with the managers or principals, but walked out on the stage
and announced briefly to the audience that the fight would not take
place, for the reason that it was against the law which he was there to
enforce. That was a fair sample of his method--to know the law, and to
enforce it, without a fire-works and without violence. No man has ever
been his equal, perhaps, in that field.
It was true he was lucky, for bullets missed him, as a rule, and he
steered clear of many dead-falls. Among the Mexicans, and bad men
generally, there grew up a superstition that he was bullet-proof, and
after the Rio Grande affair there would seem to be some reason for such
a belief, for he stood up there in plain view, a tall and shining mark,
blazing away, and no bullet touched him.
He has been always modest concerning his achievements, discussing them
in the few words of an official report. When he has spoken at all it
has been his habit to present the general result, rather than his part
in it. It was this characteristic that made difficult the securing of
material for these chapters. In preparing for the Rio Grande battle,
for instance, I said to him:
"Of course you hit some of those Mexicans?"
"Well, you see, standing up as I was I had a good place to shoot from."
"Then you did hit some of them?"
"Well--of course, as I say, I had the best place to shoot from, and I
_felt_ as if I could pick the buttons off their coats."
"But, Captain, what I want to know is, if you think you _really hit_
any of them."
"Oh, well, hell (very reluctantly), I don't guess I _missed_ any of
'em!"
"Did you feel afraid?"
"No--I don't reckon I thought of that."
Yet every man is afraid of something. It was about the time of the
conversation just noted (he was then visiting New York City), that he
said anxiously to a companion who was steering him through the mess of
traffic at one of the Twenty-third Street crossings:
"Look here, you'll get me killed, yet, in a place like this. I don't
know the game."
The muzzle of a Colt 45, or of a Winchester, had no terrors for him,
but a phalanx of automobiles and traction-cars, mingled with a medley
of other vehicles, bearing down from four different directions--a
perfect tangle of impending death--proved disturbing to one accustomed
to simpler, even if more malignant, dangers.
With conditions of his own kind, however, he was at home, even in the
metropolis. Visiting Coney Island one night he came upon two tough
individuals, clutched in a fierce grip and trying to damage each other
vitally. Texas was a long way off, but it did not matter. He took hold
of those men saying:
"Look here, what are you men acting so sorry for? Stop this, now, and
go home!"
They were the sort of men who would have resisted a policeman--who
might have killed him. What they did now was to cease their warfare and
stare in a dazed way at the tall lean figure, the unusual features and
the large white hat of Captain Bill.
"You fellows go on home, now," he admonished, in his slow, homely way,
and the two set out in different directions, without a word.
It was on his way back to Texas that he paid his promised visit to
President Roosevelt. He was a bit nervous over the prospect, but found
himself altogether at ease a moment after his arrival at the White
House. For he was given the sort of hearty welcome that goes with the
wider life he knew best, and was introduced without formality to men
who were delighted to honor him for what he was, and had been. If
Theodore Roosevelt had enjoyed his visit to the plains, so no less
did Captain Bill McDonald find delight amid the halls and highways of
legislation.
Captain Bill McDonald of Texas--the last of a vanishing race and a
vanished day; of the race to which Crockett and Bowie and Travis
and Fannin belonged; of a day when a hip and a holster were made one
for the other--when to reach in that direction meant, for somebody,
post-mortem and obsequies. State Revenue Agent of Texas--such to-day is
his title--and the work he has undertaken in his new field goes bravely
on. Texas still needs his honesty, his courage, and his determination.
When those qualities direct the affairs of the body politic, the
prosperity and predominance of that commonwealth are assured.
THE END
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 24: For details of this report with tabulated statement of
all Ranger work for that period see Appendix C.]
APPENDIX
APPENDIX A
EXTRACTS FROM REPORT OF ADJUTANT-GENERAL W.H. MABRY OF TEXAS; 1896. THE
FITZSIMMONS-MAHER PRIZE FIGHT
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
STATE OF TEXAS.
AUSTIN, Feb. 27, 1896.
_Lieutenant-Governor George T. Jester, Acting Governor_:
SIR:--I herewith briefly submit a few facts connected with my presence
at El Paso.
Much of the views sent over the wires were all colored in the interest
of the managers of the prize fight. In fact, two reporters informed
me that Stuart exercised a kind of censorship over all dispatches;
that he demanded they be colored in his favor, with the threat that
unless it was so worded they could not see the fight. The dispatches
contained the denunciatory proceedings of a city council against the
Governor's order in sending the rangers, and by my action there, in
having close watch kept over all that was done so far as it pertained
to the bringing off of the fight, but failed, with one exception, to
contain the resolutions of the Ministers' Union, who represented a
large class among the best citizens approving the Governor's action and
upholding my methods. I talked with many of the best citizens, among
whom were district officials, who stated they believed the fight would
have been pulled off on some adjacent disputed territory about El Paso.
Of course, Mr. Stuart assured me that he would not bring the fight
off in Texas, but the Governor of Chihuahua also informed me that Mr.
Stuart assured him that he would not pull off the fight in Old Mexico,
and at the same time he had the dispatches to quote him as saying he
would never violate the laws of Texas. If he does not do so every day
in some of his gambling establishments, then common report has woefully
misrepresented him.
I had a close and constant espionage placed, not only on the
principals, but also on the passenger depot and the cars loaded with
paraphernalia of the ring, with instructions to follow the latter to
wherever hauled. Not only did I do this, up to the 14th, but kept it
up to the 21st, notwithstanding Mr. Albers' outburst of virtuous (?)
indignation, because I kept a surveillance over Maher when taken to
Albers' room, over the latter's place of business, on the night of the
13th, the day before the fight was to occur. I did this on the night of
the 20th, when Maher was domiciled in the same room. By the way, from
the report of Captains Hughes and Brooks, I find it hard to reconcile
Mr. Albers' high sounding document with his action in going on the bond
of some bunco men whom Captain Hughes arrested for swindling and placed
in jail. They were let out of jail, and Captains Hughes and Brooks
investigated the facts, and found Mr. Albers and a man by the name of
Burns, a keeper of a "red light" joint, were the bondsmen. Now, the
surveillance over men who were advertised to commit a crime which was
a felony in Texas, made these people very mad, and much was said about
the liberty of the citizen, martial law, etc. The drippings from such
sanctuaries should come very seldom, and then in very broken doses. I
usurped no authority, nor interfered with local officers in any duty
they saw fit to perform. I was ordered there to see that no such crime
as was widely advertised to come off near El Paso should be perpetrated
upon any isolated Texas soil, nor even on any so-called neutral
strip between Texas and Mexico. The presence of the ranger force was
evidently very much appreciated by a certain business element there,
when these people called on me for protection and to leave a detachment
in El Paso to protect the banks, while most of my force would be out
of the city on the day of the fight. The city was full of desperate
characters looking for spoils from whatever source.
From the utterance of Mr. Stuart, and most of his friends, as
expressed in press dispatches, it would appear that the rangers and
he were there for the same purpose--to prevent the fight in Texas.
Nevertheless, Mr. Stuart's side kept up their misrepresentations
until it became a foregone conclusion that no fight could occur on
any disputed or neutral ground convenient to El Paso, notwithstanding
the press dispatches reported him as having Mr. Bat Masterson and 100
men to protect his ring. I never heard of one cat squalling because
another cat's tail got mashed. They began looking for another place,
and Maher's eyes became very sore, and apparently remained in that
condition until a secure place was found in Old Mexico, some 400 miles
from El Paso. Then his eyes began to improve every day. Still, they may
have been sore, but Dr. Yandell, who was reported in press dispatches
as saying "Pete had acute ophthalmia," informed me that he never
diagnosed his case, nor saw Maher at the time.
The prize fighters were merely dough in the hands of Mr. Stuart and the
hundreds of others who were present for the money they hoped to win,
and would have fought in the ring, wherever located, if unmolested by
officers at that time. It is hard to believe that Mr. Stuart had so
much respect for law he regarded as wrong, and which he believed was
passed to affect his interests. To illustrate his great respect for
laws generally, Mr. Brooks, manager of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, came to me the night before the start was to be made for
Langtry, and demanded protection. He stated that a representative of
Mr. Stuart had come to him and informed him that unless his company
paid $10,000 to Mr. Stuart, that he (Mr. B.) could not use his own
office and his own wires to send off the report of the fight at
Langtry. This same representative of Mr. Stuart's informed Mr. Brooks
that said Mr. Stuart would place his (Mr. Stuart's) men in the office
and keep him out by force. I readily granted him protection to do his
legitimate business and had my rangers about the office, with the
proper instructions, and no such high-handed measures were undertaken.
The statement wired, that I and the rangers crossed the river to see
the fight, was palpably made to belittle the force. They knew it was
false at the time.
I desire to express my approbation for the intelligent and efficient
manner in which Captains Brooks, McDonald, Hughes, and Rogers executed
every order and performed every duty. The rangers conducted themselves
in such manner as to reflect additional credit upon the name of a
ranger--always a synonym for courage and duty well performed. They were
active in the execution of every order, quiet and orderly in manner,
determined in mien, fearless and vigilant on duty; they thus naturally
incur the displeasure of the law-breakers everywhere.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
W.H. MABRY, Adjutant-General.
Thanks are due Captains Orsay and Owen for the manner in which they
have performed their respective duties.
I beg to here express my appreciation for the thoughtful and courteous
consideration always accorded to me by Your Excellency, and my
obligations for the cordial and able co-operation and advice which you
have rendered to me in the administration of my department.
I have the honor to subscribe myself,
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
W.H. MABRY, Adjutant-General.
STRENGTH AND OPERATIONS OF THE FRONTIER BATTALION
As now organized, the frontier force consists of four companies,
commanded by Captains J.A. Brooks, W.J. McDonald, Jno. R. Hughes and
J.H. Rogers.
Three are stationed along the Rio Grande and one (McDonald) in the
Pan-handle, with headquarters at Alice, Cotulla, Ysleta and Amarillo.
They scout over a large section of country, and detachments are sent
to different sections where needed, if it is possible to send them.
Demands for rangers have been greater than this department could
furnish, because of the limited number of men in the service. But every
effort has been made to cover as much territory as possible.
The report of operations for the two years show that they have traveled
in scouting 173,381 miles; arrested 676 criminals; returned 2,856 head
of stolen stock to their owners; have assisted the civil authorities
162 times, and guarded jails 13 times.
The duties of the ranger are arduous and often dangerous. The most
desperate criminals would naturally seek that isolated section, and
when on the trail of the bold desperadoes, often life is the forfeit in
the encounter that may follow. Praise is due the commanding officers
and their men for the prompt and fearless manner with which they
perform their duties. While the pay is small, none but young men of
character, standing, and good habits are enlisted, and they so conduct
themselves as to reflect credit upon the State in the efficient service
they render.
Because of the limited force, and the great demands made upon the
service, there have been enlisted 82 special rangers, who serve without
pay from the State. They are almost exclusively located in the frontier
sections, and are paid principally by private interests, who claim they
are compelled to stand the hardship of the extra burden, or tax it
imposes, because, in conjunction with the regular force as a standing
menace to criminals, they are thus enabled to enjoy some of the
protection which a State really guarantees to them. These "specials"
are always enlisted upon the recommendation of the sheriff and the
district attorney, or the sheriff and some other officer of the county
or district.
APPENDIX B
PART OF TWO YEARS' REPORT OF ADJUTANT-GENERAL THOS. SCURRY
December 1st, 1898--October 31st, 1900
THE RANGER SERVICE
The fact that the State has had for some years past a force always
ready to suppress disorder, arrest criminals and aid the civil
authorities in the protection of courts and jails, has been the cause
of hundreds of criminals taking refuge in the border States, outside
of the jurisdiction of Texas, and in Mexico, who would return to Texas
to continue their depredations and murders were it not for the ranger
force. Instances can be shown where the moral effect of having the
rangers ready to co-operate with the civil authorities anywhere in
the State has been a deterrent to the commission of lawless acts, and
numerous instances can be shown where whole counties have been purged
of their criminal element by the presence of the rangers, who alone
were able to restore peace and good order in the community.
In reality, the so-called Frontier Battalion is but four small
detachments. The reports received at this office indicate that these
men, while fearless and prompt in the performance of their duty, have
always acted with discretion and in the most orderly manner. Their
well-known reputation for courage of itself has had a most salutary and
good moral effect on the lawless element of the communities where they
have been stationed.
Since January 1, 1899, the officers and men of the Frontier Battalion
have been very actively engaged in running down the criminal element in
the west, and in subduing lawlessness in other portions of the State.
The rangers have only been used in other portions of the State when a
direct request on your Excellency was made by the civil authorities of
cities or counties needing them. That their work has been effective
and to the satisfaction of those requesting their service, it is only
necessary to refer to letters on file in this office in reference to
their efficiency received from citizens and officials of the various
cities and towns to which rangers have been ordered. It is probably
appropriate to mention some prominent features of the work of the
rangers during the past two years, outside of the duties usually
performed by them in the way of scouting in the sparsely settled
district of the west, and the work accomplished in recovering stolen
cattle, arresting thieves, murderers, etc.
During the month of March, 1899, Captain McDonald, with two men, was
ordered to Columbus, Colorado county, for the purpose of preventing
trouble there between the Townsend and Reece factions. Captain
McDonald went alone, his men not being able to reach him in time, and
his courage and cool behavior prevented a conflict between the two
factions. The district judge and district attorney both informed him
that it was impossible to handle the situation, but he told them that
he could make the effort, and he gave the members of each faction
a limited time in which to get rid of their weapons, stating that
he would put those in jail who refused to comply. His order had the
desired effect.
Captain McDonald was ordered by your Excellency to Henderson county to
work on the cases against the lynchers of the Humphreys. In reference
to this affair, I take the liberty of quoting from a letter from Hon.
N.B. Morris, ex-Assistant Attorney-General:
"You will remember that at the request of the sheriff, county
attorney and other local authorities of that county, Captain McDonald
and Private Old were sent there to assist them and myself in the
investigation of that horrible murder which was then enshrouded in a
mystery that it seemed almost impossible to uncover. Before the rangers
reached us the people in the neighborhood of the murder seemed afraid
to talk. They said they would be murdered, too, if they took any hand
in working up the case. About the first thing that Captain McDonald did
was to assure the people that he and his associates had come there to
stay until every murderer was arrested and convicted, and that he would
see that all those who assisted him would be protected. They believed
him, and in consequence thereof they soon began to talk and feel that
the law would be vindicated, and I am glad to say that it was. The
work of the rangers in this one case is worth more to the State, in my
opinion, than your department will cost during your administration. In
fact, such service cannot be valued in dollars and cents....
"The rangers were at all times sober, orderly and quiet, and left that
country on good terms with all factions. They paid no attention to the
criticism of the mob sympathizers, but went straight along, did their
duty and now have the confidence not only of the good citizens, but of
the members of the mob and their friends."
Three of the lynchers turned State's evidence and eight of them were
sentenced to the penitentiary for life.
In March, 1899, Company E, Captain J.H. Rogers commanding, was ordered
to Laredo to assist the State health officer to enforce the quarantine
laws, there being an epidemic of smallpox in that city. The Mexicans
living there objected to being moved from their homes to the hospital,
and the State health officer, considering it absolutely necessary for
them to be moved in order to stop the spread of the disease, required
force to accomplish his object. The Mexicans showed a disposition to
riot on the 19th, collecting together in hundreds, some of them being
armed. The city officials had a fight with them, several shots being
fired, and on the 20th, Captain Rogers, followed by one ranger and
a special ranger, went with the sheriff of the county to search for
arms secreted in the house of an ex-policeman, it is supposed, for the
purpose of making an assault upon the State health officer and his
force if approached. These officers met resistance from the inmates
of the house. A fight ensued in which Captain Rogers received a wound
in the right arm, and one of the Mexicans was killed. The remaining
detachment of Company E, having been advised of the fight, and having
met Captain Rogers in a disabled condition, and presuming that the
lives of the ranger and special ranger were in jeopardy, went to the
scene of action without hesitation, and immediately upon reaching
the street in which the Mexicans were assembled were fired upon by
the latter. The six rangers proceeded up the street firing as they
went, being under the impression that a man seen lying in the street,
dead, was one of the rangers who accompanied Captain Rogers. Several
disinterested citizens have said that these rangers showed remarkable
pluck and daring in coming down the street, fighting several times
their number without the slightest hesitation. Several Mexicans were
wounded. After this the work of moving the smallpox patients to the
hospital was an easy task.
In April, 1899, two rangers of this company were sent into Wharton
County by request, and were successful in breaking up a gang of cattle
thieves operating in that locality. Several were arrested, including
the recognized leader.
In September, 1899, Captain Rogers and several of his men were
ordered to Orange by request of the civil authorities, on account of
an organized mob killing one negro and wounding another, and sending
anonymous letters to others directing them to move out of the country.
Several arrests were made. Captain Rogers was removed from Orange on
account of his wound, and Captain McDonald and several of his men were
ordered there to relieve him. Captain McDonald succeeded in arresting
and having indicted four men for murder and a great number of men for
conspiracy to murder in connection with the above mob. It is to be
regretted that Ranger T.L. Fuller, while in the discharge of his duty
at Orange, Texas, found it necessary to shoot and kill Oscar Poole in
self-defense.
On the 15th day of October, 1900, while Captain W.J. McDonald,
Lieutenant T.L. Fuller and Private A.L. Saxon, of Company B, were
attending court at Orange, Texas, as witnesses, and Lieutenant Fuller
to answer the charge of false imprisonment (for making an arrest
while a private),[25] the latter was shot and killed by Tom Poole, a
brother of Oscar Poole, while in a barber shop talking to one of the
barbers. From the information received it is certain that Lieutenant
Fuller did not know of the presence of Tom Poole when shot. While this
ranger was enlisted on account of his previous good record as a deputy
sheriff, he enlisted with the hope of saving sufficient money to finish
his education in the University of Texas, having at that time just
completed his freshman year. He was a young man of temperate habits,
quiet in his manner and a fearless ranger.
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend that the law governing the ranger service be so amended
"that the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates of the
ranger force be clothed with the powers of peace officers to aid the
civil authorities in the execution of the laws anywhere in the State;
that they be given authority to make arrests, and in such cases to
be governed by the laws regulating and defining the powers and the
duties of sheriffs when in discharge of similar duties." That this
force consist of not to exceed four companies of twenty men each. The
commissioned officers to be four company commanders, each with the rank
of captain, one quartermaster with the rank of captain, and four 1st
sergeants. The pay of the officers and non-commissioned officers to
be as heretofore prescribed, and the pay of privates to be $40.00 per
month. By increasing the pay of the privates, the State will secure
the service of a better class of men, who will remain in the service a
longer time and do more efficient work.