[DL] Today in the Old West, August 15th

[Geir Carlstrøm <gcarlstr@online.no>]

1865- Kansas- the United States signs a treaty with Comanches, Kiowas,
Arapahos, and Kiowa Apaches at the mouth of the Little Arkansas River.

1873- Ellsworth, Kansas- Both Ben & Billy Thompson were drunk and argued
with two gamblers, John Sterling and Jack Morco. Sterling and Morco charged
into a saloon, guns blazing at the Thompson’s. Ben Thompson fired several
shots and drove them off, but Billy Thompson inexplicably turned his gun on
Sheriff Whitney, a friend of the Thompson’s who had been drinking with them
at the bar. Billy let loose both barrels from his shotgun, killing Whitney.
Ben Thompson shouted at his brother: "My God, Billy! You've shot your best
friend." Ben Thompson then ushered his brother outside, put him on a horse,
and sent him out of town.

1873- Fort Smith, Arkansas- John Childers became the first man to hang at
the new territorial court. Childers was led to the gallows by Marshal Sarber
and Deputy Messler. The lawmen offered his life in exchange for information
about the other gang members. Childers, however, was no squealer. "Didn't
you say you were going to hang me?" he asked. "Yes," Sarber replied. "Then,
why in hell don't you!" snapped Childers. Messler released the bolt,
dropping Childers through the trap. At that precise moment, a powerful bolt
of lightning crashed down on the frame of the gibbet. The rain poured down
on the hushed crowd, who truly believed that they had witnessed a
supernatural event. An examination of Childers' body confirmed that he was
quite dead, and that spiritual intervention had not saved him as some
townspeople had claimed.

1874- Arizona Territory- Chief Desaline reports his Indian scouts killed
nine Indians and captured 119 near the San Carlos Agency.

1888- Holbrook, Arizona Territory- after the Pleasant Valley War three
people are lynched.

1912- Lawton, Oklahoma- Heck Thomas died from natural causes. Heck was one
of three deputies known as the “Three Guardsmen”. At the age of twelve he
served as a dispatch rider for the Confederacy. When the Texas Rangers were
reactivated in the 1870s he served as a private. In 1880 he was appoint
Deputy U.S. Marshal by Marshal Valentine Dell of the Western District of
Arkansas. One day in 1881 Heck brought in 32 outlaws from Indian Territory
to Judge Parker. Heck served in a variety of law enforcement positions over
the years, mostly in Oklahoma. He was one of the deputies who helped shut
down the Doolin, Dalton, and Buck gangs. He teamed up with Bill Tilghman to
bring Bill Raidley’s career to an end. Heck brought in Ned Christie and
closed the file on Bill Doolin.

1935- Point Barrow, Alaska- "Cowboy philosopher" Will Rogers and aviator
Wiley Post were killed when their airplane crashed.