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North Texas Star

OUTDOORS

BRAZOSalong the

James Bowie Indians prized, and raced, a good horse Death at the Depot

August 2015

August 2015 NORTH TEXAS STAR Page 2

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North Texas Star 4OUTDOORS ALONG THE BRAZOSA Coffe Pot and Simple ThoughtsBy Don Price

10INDIANS PRIZED, AND RACED,A GOOD HORSE

6JAMES BOWIEThe man and his knife

By Jim Dillard

By Wynelle Catlin

12THE WRIGHT STUFF Death at the Depot

By Erik J. Wright


OUTDOORSBRAZOSalong theBy DON PRICE

It's almost September. Remember Autumn Leaves? Remember September Song, Sarah Vaughn and Lena Horne? Of course, we all do. How could anyone think of anything else, and at the mel-lowest time of life. What a priceless gift to ponder, yes, indeed.

Wood smoke's in the creek bottom, permeating my dog's nostrils and mine; it even clouds my mind's eye with nos-talgia of long unhurried walks of none other than a sort of pur-poselessness, but just look at all the priceless walking exercises you'll perhaps outlive your competitors.

What else on earth smells more invigorating than oak wood smoke, or mesquite, hov-ering around sandstone fences and spider webs on the cool September morn' down in the shady creek bottom?

Chances are if you know of anything that smells better, you've never smelled wood smoke on a hoarfrost morning, not a breath of wind to distract you either.

Like woodsmoke, the things in life that should matter most are the simplest. Let's just take solitude for instance: what is simpler than solitude?

Quietude may be difficult to find in the city but the country's brimming with it: the coo of a mourning or white-winged dove, the bark of a gray fox, the rus-tling of an armadillo sort-of tanking through the brush; even the explosion of the water's surface, the frog that is no more, and the largemouth with the smug look.

Summer changes gears right about now; and one becomes more aware of it if he's out early, especially at aurora's first appearance, the thinest slice of orange.

Walking just a few paces through the pasture finds

one looking down at his soaking shoes and pants' legs, becoming aware of the silent dew that blanket-ed the earth's surface the night before.

Then slowly the aurora and sun join insurmount-able forces silent and soul moving to show a thinking person there surely is a God.

Then one becomes humble, finding, grasping a happiness he never knew exist-ed or could possibly exist.

The quietest hour is the one at early dawn, certainly the most glorious; trees stand, sentinels of the land, waiting to be bathed in the sunlight of life.

Tomorrow morning, observe the break of dawn, feel the coolness of lingering night air, pause to look at an orange ball lipping the horizon now you're in rapport with nature.

Maybe you can scoot from town to a hidden pond where the bass play and feed, wallow-ing near the stumps like feral hogs. Casting out your favorite popper is the ticket, hooking and releasing a few giant bass so that someone else can share your joy later by catching the same fish.

It'll make you glow inside just to know you've quietly released several prizes while the other

guys forget the number of times they've told the same old story.

While the morning's still cool, build yourself a tiny mesquite fire to inhale the aroma, while in the tiny fire's middle an old bucket serves the purpose. Black coffee, is there any other kind?

Part IIAlways the first crier to tell us of approaching

splendor, the sumac bush blushes scarlet, usually in October. Along our familiar roadsides it is to be

found, discovered aflame by those who will take a moment to notice.

Found in abundance in limestone country, sumac was particularly strong along that stretch of roadway between Palo Pinto and Brad. Two species were found there: shining and smooth sumac. Appreciating this crest of coloration is worth the wait.

The halcyon days of fall fuse together, blending pleasantly before our eyes. A simple soul who owns no worldly goods may be richer than we because he takes a moment longer to observe nature perhaps more than we do...

Before you know it, elms and pecans will be the guilded ones, each a pot-o'-gold taking over when the sumac denudes, affording abundant wealth for any-one who will stop to notice. One of the secrets to happiness: slow down.

Myriad roadside flowers are abloom at this time of year, even common broomweeds, gasping before Jack Frost oozes ...

Bobwhites used to be in abundance, found throughout the countryside. You'd have to search carefully, for their camouflage was often blending into pasture grasses. A good dog really helps.

My best year in the bend behind Bud, an English Setter was in 1969. Ralph Lindsay, county agent, always said his best year was when the 7-year drought broke, 1957. I can just hear Bud barking over that little rise.

Grit is my hunting companion now, a 14-month-old Brittany Spaniel, and he thinks he knows all about it. I keep telling him Bud wore mighty big shoes.

An old bird hunter once told me to watch out for every sixth year ... my best year was 1969, and now it's 1975. Sure enough this year seems to be the best so far.

We'll hunt out the hollows some of these hazy, idyllic mornings, stopping at noon to perk a coffee pot, woof a sandwich. Come on, Grit, we've a lot of sniffing to do before December 1st, opening day of quail season.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said (I guess we learned about Ralph in seventh grade): He who knows the most, he who knows what sweets and virtues are in

A Coffee Pot and Simple Thoughts


the ground, the waters, the plants, the heavens, and how to come at these enchantments, is the rich and royal man.

Part IIIYour skill in dropping the bass lure where you want it

on the first cast will be a great aid in catching a bass, whereas your fishing partner might hang his lure in brush or on a tree limb instead, because of inexperience.

But don't razz your fishing partner too heavily, espe-cially since you've travelled to that remote lake in only one vehicle, because your partner may have the only set of keys to the car. Think before you pop off.

Every time a cast is made unless the angler is con-cealed or the distance great or water murky there is the element of exposure to the wary bass by now.

And the more you cast, the more cause for suspicion. The skilled angler who can lay his lure in the pocket on the first cast has a far better chance of bringing home the bacon.

In many cases it's not nearly as effective to cast your lure within inches of your target unless you fish the plug slowly, in fact, the slower the better, especially when you are working a top-water, such as the old favorite: James Heddon's Chugger Spook, black body, white ribs, proba-bly the most familiar top-water bass lure, starting in the 1940s. Catching one on a top-water is twice the fun

Suppose your first cast misses the pocket by ten feet.

The 5-pounder sees the lure splash, since it's not near enough for him to grab, he begins to wonder. (Aside: I've always wondered if a fish wonders.)

The second cast does little better, let's say five feet nearer, and this bass in question really studies the artifi-cial over with a dubious eye, growing way more skepti-cal.

The third time is one too many, as the 5-pounder's had plenty of time to collect his senses. Goodbye, opportuni-ty.

However, the pleasant part of learning how to bait cast with accuracy is that it can be practiced in your back yard.

It is unwise to tempt a 10-pounder before learning how to cast, because most amateurs scare away all bass with their vicious sidearms anyway: watch your buddy's hat; better still, watch his eyeballs. Some of your enemies will report you to the insane asylum for fishing in your own backyard, but it's simpler to become meek than try-ing to learn casting and catching fish at the same time.

I'll tell you what it is, causing all of these awkward thoughts ...

Did you hear about the 8-year-old kid who caught a 12-pound largemouth black bass on a $3 spin-cast reel, a Zebco 202, in Florida? It was his first trip, probably his first cast, and he didn't even learn the art of casting in his backyard.

TENNIS, ANNYONE?


JAMES BOWIE:The man and his knife by: JIM DILLARD

Part 1Going to antique stores, trade days and flea markets

is something I've always enjoy doing. I usually pick up something I really don't need and wish I hadn't bought it by the time I get home.

Nevertheless, over the years I have accumulated col-lections of glass oil lamps, old kerosene lan-terns, bricks, bait-casting fishing reels, padlocks, cookie jars, bottle open-ers and, my latest obses-sion, trivets.

When our daughter lived in Canton in East Texas, my wife and I vis-ited the vast Canton Trade Days grounds on many occasions and walked ourselves to the point of exhaustion searching for treasures. The Chicken House Flea Market west of Stephenville, First Monday Trade Days in Weatherford and Second Monday Trade Day in Bowie are also some of our favorite stomping grounds for building our collections.

The Second Monday Trades Day (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before the second Saturday of each month) in Bowie, located in Montague County northwest of Fort Worth, began in 1890 when farmers gathered each month to buy, sell and trade horses and mules. The trade day grounds, which are located near the rodeo arena south of downtown, have evolved into an exten-sive monthly gathering of vendors displaying their wares of everything from rusty-gold farm equipment to you guessed it Bowie knives!

The town owes its name to the man behind the legend-ary Bowie knife, James (Jim) Bowie. Bowie's death at the Alamo in 1836 propelled his name to Texas icon status as he fought to the death in defense of Texas. His adventure-some life as an American and Texas pioneer, soldier, smug-gler, slave trader, businessman and land speculator helped define the character of a man like none other of his time.

James Bowie (1796-1836) was born nine miles northwest of Franklin in Logan County, Ky., on March 10, 1796. He was the ninth of 10 children born to Elva Ap-Catesby Jones and Reason (or Rezin) Bowie, who were of Scottish-English ancestry. Reason Bowie was wounded during the American Revolution and married the young woman who nursed him back to health. They

moved from Georgia to Kentucky. At that time, James' father owned eight slaves, eleven head of cattle, seven horses and one stud horse. The next year they moved to a 200-acre farm on the Red River in Kentucky, only to relocate two years later in Missouri.

On May 1, 1801, Reason Bowie and his brothers, Dick, Rhesa and John, swore alle-giance to the Spanish govern-ment and emigrated to Spanish Louisiana. By October, they had settled on farms in present Catahoula Parish, where Reason Bowie became the largest slave holders in the area, with 20 slaves. His sons, James, John J., Stephen and Rezin P. Bowie, and all the other Bowie children, worked on the plantation and learned to read and write.

James and his brother Rezin also became fluent in Spanish

and French and learned to hunt, fish and how to oper-ate the farm and plantation. James became proficient with a pistol, rifle and knife and developed a reputation for fearlessness. In 1809, the clan moved to southeast Louisiana, where Reason Bowie purchased 640 acres on the Vermillion River, near the mouth of Little Bayou. He raised sugarcane and livestock on his plan-tation near Opelousas and bought and sold slaves.

James Bowie's brother, John, described him as "a stout, rather raw-boned man, of 6 feet height, weighted 180 pounds. He had light-colored skin, keen gray eyes rather deeply set in his head, a fair complexion, and high cheek bones." James was fond of hunting and fishing, and family tradition says he caught and rode wild horses, roped alligators and trapped bears. He was said to have an open, frank disposition but "when aroused to anger by an insult, his anger was terrible."

When Andrew Jackson called for volunteers to fight the British in the War of 1812, James and Rezin enlist-ed in the Louisiana militia during 1814, but arrived in New Orleans too late to participate in the final battle there. After mustering out of service, James moved to Rapides Parish and supported himself by cutting planks and lumber and floating them down the bayou for sale.

During June 1819, he joined the infamous Long Expedition from Natchez, La., to Nacogdoches in Spanish Texas to liberate the region from Spanish rule. James Long led the force that eventually totaled 300 men and captured Nacogdoches where he established the first Republic of Texas. However, Long and his men were forced into retreat later that year when 500 Spanish troops arrived to quell the uprising. Bowie escaped back to the safety of Louisiana. Long was taken into custody in 1821 by Spanish troops when he led another expedition into Spanish Texas to take Presidio La Bahia (near present Goliad). He was taken to Mexico City and, six months later, shot by a Mexican guard.

After Bowie's father died around 1821, he and Rezin received 10 slaves and livestock from the estate and began a partnership to develop several large estates in Lafourche Parish and around Opelousas. They also began a scheme to take advantage of increasing land values and speculation to sell land to the burgeoning population of settlers coming into Louisiana.

Without adequate funds to support their venture, they became involved in a partnership with pirate Jean Lafitte, who captured slave ships in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico and operated a slave market from his compound on Galveston Island. Although a law was passed in 1821 prohibiting the importation of slaves through any port in the United States, there was a loop-hole that allowed any ship to capture a slave ship. All slaves turned over to the customs officials would be sold within the United States with half the profits going to the people that turned them in.

Bowie and Rezin profited greatly by this illicit by purchasing the slaves from Lafitte at a discounted price and taking them to custom officials in New Orleans. Bowie and his brother would then purchase the slaves at the auction and be given half the purchase price. Once the slaves were in their possession, they could then resell them in New Orleans or take them to other markets in the south. The brothers made a profit of $65,000 that they used to fund their land speculation venture.

(This is a two-part series on the life and times of James Bowie, revered for his name-sake Bowie knife and death at the Alamo in San Antonio during the Texas Revolution against Mexico in 1836. His larger-than-life persona gave rise to myths and legends that to this day remain in the cultural folklore of Texas.)

James Bowie


ALLISON

JAMES BOWIE:


Duels were often conducted during this time between individuals who sought to preserve their personal char-acter and dignity or to settle some other injustice that had occurred between two men. On September 19, 1827, Bowie was in attendance at such a publicized duel on a sandbar outside Natchez, Mississippi, between Samuel Levi Wells III and his opponent Dr. Thomas Harris Maddox. Also in attendance was Norris Wright, sheriff of Rapides Parish, with whom Bowie held a grudge for his role as a bank director in turning down his application for a loan. On an early occasion, Wright had fired a shot at Bowie during a confrontation in Alexandria, Louisiana. From that point on, Bowie always carried the large nine and one-quarter inch knife given to him by his brother Rezin.

As the duel unfolded, two shots were fired by each man with none of shots finding their mark. Although the two men resolved their differences with a handshake, several men in the crowd who had grievances against each other began to fight. Alexander Crain fired at Samuel Cuny and when Cuny fell, Bowie shot at Crain but missed. During the melee, Bowie was shot in the hip, but regained his stance and charged his antagonist, only to be hit on the head with an empty pistol. Sheriff Wright shot at Bowie, who was lying on the ground but missed, and Bowie returned fire with his pistol, possibly hitting Wright. Wright then impaled Bowie in the chest with his sword cane. As Wright attempted to extract his sword, Bowie grabbed and pulled him down, disemboweling him with his large knife. Wright died instantly, but Bowie, with the sword still in him, was shot and stabbed again by Alfred Blanchard. Bowie then rose and cut Blanchard severely with his knife.

The doctor who originally fought in the duel patched Bowie up and he lived to fight another day. This event became known as "The Sandbar Fight," and word spread far and wide about Bowie and his prowess with a knife. There are several differing accounts of the duel but, needless to say, it was surely a bloody affair.

There are many stories, legends and claims as to who built the first "Bowie knife," and I will not go down that road. According the Texas State Historical Association, James' brother Rezin claimed to have designed the first large "Bowie knife" that James used in the Sand Bar Fight. It was forged by blacksmith Jesse Clifft, a close friend of the family who lived in Bayou Boeuf, La.

In profile, it was a large butcher knife with a thin blade, which James wore in a silver-mounted black leather sheath. After the Sand Bar Fight, such knives became popular. In 1828, James Bowie went to Philadelphia, Pa., and showed his knife to cutler Henry Schively. The "Clifft knife" became the pattern for a fancier "Schively knife," which Rezin wanted made with a silver sheath. Rezin had several other Schively knives made by Daniel Searle, of Baton Rouge, La., during the 1830s. Rezin presented the Searle Bowie knife, now on display at the Alamo, to H.W. Fowler, United States

Dragoons, whose name is engraved on the sheath. The term Bowie knife became synonymous with any

large knife produced during that period, as blacksmiths throughout the country fashioned a wide variety of knives with different shapes and lengths. The Bowie knife would remain popular until after the Civil War when Mr. Colt's revolver was put into use. Blacksmith James Black in Arkansas also is reported to have made a knife for Bowie in 1830 from a wooden pattern he had carved. Black modified the blade with a clip point, and by the 1850, this style of knife was manufactured in cut-lery factories in Sheffield, England. The location of the original Bowie knife is unknown.

During the late 1820s, James lived in New Orleans and continued the land speculation venture in southern Louisiana with his brother Rezin. Along with their brother Stephen, they established the 1,800-acre Arcadia sugar plantation near Thibodaux, La., and set up the first steam-powered sugar mill in Louisiana. After Rezin was

elected to the state Legislature, James began to travel to eastern cities, Arkansas and Mississippi. During 1829, James became engaged to Cecelia Wells, who unexpect-edly died in Alexandria, La., two weeks prior to their wedding date. The brothers sold the Arcadia sugar plan-tation, along with other landholdings and 82 slaves, to Natchez investors in 1831 for $90,000.

At the age of 34, James Bowie and a friend left Thibodaux on Jan. 1, 1830, and traveled through Nacogdoches to San Felipe, Texas. There they presented a letter of introduction from Thomas F. McKinney, one of the Old Three Hundred colonists, to Stephen F. Austin, and on Feb. 20th took the oath of allegiance to Mexico. From there they traveled to San Antonio with William H. Wharton and his wife, Isaac Donaho, Caiaphas K. Ham, and several slaves with a letter of introduction to two influential Mexicans, Juan Martn de Veramendi and Juan N. Segun. Bowie's party traveled on south to Saltillo, Mexico, the state capitol of Coahuila and Texas, where he learned the Mexican law of 1828 offered its citizens grants of eleven-leagues (48,708 acres) in Texas for $100 to $250 each. Bowie convinced a number of Mexicans to apply for the elev-en-league grants and then bought 15 or 16 land grants from them. Although Stephen F. Austin disapproved of Bowie locating his grant lands in his colony in southeast

Texas, he eventually allowed them.Bowie returned to San Antonio and posed as a

wealthy man, becoming friends with the Veramendi family, who sponsored his baptism into the Catholic church. That fall he traveled to Mexico with the Veramendi family and officially became a Mexican citi-zen, contingent on his establishing a wool and cotton mill in Coahuila in partnership with Veramendi. Through a friend in Natchez, he purchased a textile mill for $20,000.

On April 25, 1831, he married 19-year-old Ursula de Veramundi after pledging to the mayor of Saltillo to pay her a dowry of $15,000 pecos in cash or property within two years of the marriage. They settled in San Antonio on land given to them by Ursula's father near San Jose Mission, but soon moved into the Veramendi Palace to live with Ursula's parents. They had two children, Marie Elve in 1832 and James Veramendi in 1833.

While in San Antonio, Bowie became infatuated with stories he heard about the Lost Almagres Mine, supposedly located in the vicinity of the ruins of the old Santa Cruz de San Saba Mission near present Menard, Texas. After obtaining permission from Mexican govern-ment officials, Bowie and his brother Rezin and nine men left San Antonio on Nov. 2, 1831, on an expedition deep into Indian terri-tory to search for the mine. When they were within six miles of the old mission, they were attacked by a large band of Tawakoni, Waco and Caddo Indians and fought for their lives for the next 13 hours. After the Indians finally retreated, only one of Bowie's men had been

killed, with several wounded. Around 30 Indians were killed and 40 wounded.

When word reached San Antonio that Bowie and his men had been wiped out, Ursula Bowie went into mourning and began wearing black widow's clothing. Miraculously, Bowie and the surviving members of his expedition arrived back in San Antonio on Dec. 6th, undeterred by the adventure. A month later, as "colonel" of citizen rangers, he led another expedition with 26 men from Gonzales to the headwaters of the Colorado River in search of Tawakonis and other hostile Indians, only to return two and-a-half months later without results.

As the winds of revolution against the tyrannical Mexican government began to blow throughout Texas during the next few years, James Bowie would rise to the occasion and become inextricably tangled in the web of conflicts to come that would forge his name into the annals of Texas history.

(To be continued.)

Sources: Handbook of Texas Online (tshaonline.org); wickapedia.org; and other internet sources.

Jim Dillard is a retired wildlife biologist and freelance writer from Mineral Wells. Question/comments to [email protected].

Bowie knife

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A GOOD HORSEIndians prized, and raced,

By WYNELLE CAITLIN

History in this part of the country is interwoven with association with Indians. As we write about our historical legacy, we tend to focus on murder and mayhem. But there was a lot of interaction with Native Americans in other areas, too horse racing was one.

Kiowa chief Satanta was the first Indian to be tried for murder in a white man's court, with the trial taking place in the courthouse in Jacksboro.

Long before his arrest and trial, Satanta took part in a horse race on the prairie near Fort Larned, Kan. Excited soldiers and Indians gathered for the big event.

Ferocious Kiowas, who roamed the plains of the southwest following their ancient traditions of raid-ing and plundering, were pitting their best race horse against the best steed of the soldiers who were stationed at Fort Larned to protect the frontier from the ravages of the savages.

The Kiowas bet everything they owned on the outcome of the race. So did the soldiers, but their possessions were fewer.

The items bet against each other were put togeth-er. Horses were tied together, saddles placed togeth-er, or if a saddle was bet against a blanket then the two were placed together. All bets were placed under the watchful eye of a stakeholder trusted by both Indians and soldiers.

The race track was staked out on the smooth prai-rie. The two racehorses, with riders in place, stomped nervously at the starting line.

A gunshot signaled the start. The racers were off. Dust boiled as the horses thundered down the track. Excited onlookers yelled.

The soldiers' horse was gaining. It was ahead. It won!

The winners ran to collect their loot. Satanta was one of the losers. Brawny and burly,

he was noted all along the frontier for his ability to drink whiskey, steal white women and children, and most of all for his powers of oratory. He spoke long and well with a silver tongue. Most likely he had boasted about how the Indian horse would fare against the puny horseflesh of the soldiers, for that was his way. But he lost graciously, maybe because he knew that he could stealthily visit a certain set-tler in Texas who had a black stallion that ran with the speed of the wind.

Satanta, as did all the Kiowas, liked good horses. He knew every horse on the plains and frontiers of Kansas, New Mexico, Texas and Indian Territory.

The Kiowa tribe had not always owned horses.

About 200 years before, according to tribal legend, the Kiowas had lived in the far north, where it was cold much of the time. They used dogs to carry their belongings when they moved from one loca-tion to another.

Then a young man went on a hunting trip, far to the south where it was warm much of the year. He met Comanches who had wonderful animals they could mount to go very, very fast.

He was given one of the horses. He took it back to his northern home and told about the tribe who rode these animals. And he said it was warm instead of cold where they lived.

Some members of the tribe did not believe him, but most of them did, so they packed their posses-sions and made the long trek on foot to the south-western plains. Soon everyone had a horse.

They used horses to move from one campsite to another. They raided enemy tribes to steal horses. They raided deep into Mexico to get horses and women. Then, as strange pale men moved closer to their hunting grounds, they raided them to steal horses and women.

Horses became a sign of wealth. One who acquired many horses was considered industrious, for he must have gone on many raids. The Kiowa were proud of their horses. They took good care of them, and raced them at the drop of a hat.

The settlers who began coming to Texas after it won independence and later joined the Union also admired horses. Many got them the way the Indians did, but others went into Mexico and bought horses. A few brought horses from the east.

The Texans were also proud of their horses, took good

care of them and would also race them at the drop of a hat.

Satanta knew the black stallion in southern Texas was fast as the wind and beat everything he'd raced against. He formed a raiding party and crossed the Red River into Texas. He and his band sneaked the stallion away from the settler's safekeeping and returned home as fast as possible without injuring the newly acquired horse.

Back in Indian Territory, Satanta and his tribe spread the word. The Kiowas had another horse. They wanted a chance to recoup their losses from the soldiers at Fort Larned.

A date for another race was set. People flocked to the fort from 300 miles around to witness the big event. Again the betting was fast and furious.

The horses were taken to the starting line, with the black stallion prancing nervously.

The gun cracked. The race was on. The black stallion lived up to his reputation, leav-

ing the soldiers' horse far behind.Satanta had not boasted in vain this time. His

arrogant face filled with pride as the Kiowas col-lected their spoils and began to carry them away.

The soldiers got their heads together. They want-ed the fast black stallion. How much money could they raise? It was a struggle but by pooling all their resources, they raised $2,000.

Going to Satanta, they offered him the money for the fast black horse, fresh from a Texas barn.

Satanta was just beginning to appreciate the peculiar trading value of white man's

currency. He accepted the offer. Some of his band questioned his selling the fast

horse. No doubt they planned to win races all along the frontier.

But Satanta shrugged, say-ing, Unless they take

him east of the Mississippi, I can get him again when I

want him.


Shop Historic Granbury


On Tuesday, Feb. 4, 1908, Mamie Ledford and Myrtle King were on the inbound train from Fort Worth to Weatherford. Mamie was married to, but separated from, 27-year-old Orion Ledford, a streetcar motorman in Fort Worth. Mamie had since been involved with another one of Fort Worths motormen, Edward Stoke Clark. Clark was generally regarded by many in the area as a dangerous man and was deeply involved in Fort Worths gambling circuit.

Mamie Ledford phoned Clark and asked him to join the two women during their stay in Weatherford, but also sensing trouble, she con-tacted Texas Ranger Homer White, Company A, who had been appointed just a few months before on Dec. 1, 1917, to escort the ladies through town in case a confrontation should arise between Clark and Ledfords estranged husband.

Before White could arrive on scene, Clark and

Ledford had begun arguing at the Texas and Pacific Railway depot immediately west of downtown Weatherford. Though White was hesi-tant to intervene at this point on what he saw as a personal matter, local citizens were persistent and Clark stepped forward and announced his intention of arresting Clark. The best evidence suggests that what happened next was typical of the dangerous character of Stoke Clark.

Witnesses reported hearing several small-cali-ber gunshots, followed immediately by several large-caliber gunshots. White had dropped to the darkened railroad depot platform with wounds from a .38-caliber pistol and Clark suffered severe wounds from a .45-caliber revolver. Private White would die moments later. Clark, though shot through and bleeding, managed to stagger back to his hotel, where he surrendered to local authorities, The Daily Herald (Weatherford) reported.

BY ERIK J. WRIGHT

THE WRIGHT STUFF

Death at the depot

Train Depot Ranger White was shot and killed by area badman Edward Stoke Clark in 1908 at Weatherfords old train depot. (Photo by Ron Reiring).

Author Erik Wright, a Weatherford native, publishes regularly for history magazines and journals. A former Southwestern archaeologist, Wright is recognized by many as an authority on borderlands violence

with special emphasis on Arizona and Australian banditry. He now lives in Arkansas with his wife, Laura.


The report is that Clark at once unlimbered a .38-cal-ibre Colts revolver and opened fire on the ranger, fir-ing six shots in rapid succession. One of the shots struck White in the left arm and passed through his body near the heart, producing a wound that caused his death almost instantly. Although White was mortally wounded and in the throes of death, he got his .45 Colt into action and fired five shots, one of which passed through the left hip of Clark and the other through the calf of his left leg.

Clark was tried and convicted of second-degree mur-der of Texas Ranger Homer White on Nov. 18, 1908, in a Parker County courtroom. Yet, just six months later Clark appealed the ruling and, on May 26, 1909, the case was reversed and remanded by the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals because, the trial judge did not prop-erly instruct the jury that Clark had a right to a jury charge on self-defense.

A few months after this ruling, on Aug. 12, 1909, Clark was likely involved in the shotgun ambush and death of Fort Worth policeman William Campbell as he was on foot patrol at Twelfth and Rusk Streets in front of the Jockey Club Saloon. Though the killer was iden-tified as Stoke Clark, he was not charged.

Only 23 when killed, White was buried in a family plot in the Graves-Gentry Cemetery in Hamilton, Texas. Clark would die on May 15, 1911, after suffer-ing wounds from an automatic shotgun blast following a violent street fight with Oklahoma hard cases Mart Bannon and Lige Gable. Texas Ranger Frank Johnson eulogized White upon hearing of his murder.

Homer White was a credit to the Rangers force of Texas during his short time of service. He was a neph-ew of Ben Plasters, one of the leading cattlemen of Colorado City. His father, who lived in Hamilton County, was a longtime and highly honored citizen of this state. White was a man of exemplary habits. He never dissipated and was cool and considerate under all conditions. He made friends among his brother officers from the very beginning of the service as a state ranger and there is profound distress over his untimely death.

****

SourcesThe Weekly Herald (Weatherford). Feb. 5, 1908.The Weekly Herald (Weatherford). Feb. 6, 1908.The Weekly Herald (Weatherford). May 18, 1911.Edward Stoke Clark file (authors collection).Homer White, private, Texas Rangers, Co. A, by

Helen Parker (unpublished manuscript in authors col-lection).

Additional research provided by Helen Parker.

Company A, Weatherford Company A, Texas Rangers. Homer White is fifth from the left, wearing a dark vest, and Captain Johnson is the tall man to

his left. (Courtesy of Helen Parker)

HomerWhite Homer White, Texas Ranger. (Courtesy of Helen Parker)


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