MS6.3779 Jpgs

three leaders, Stephens, Gillespie and Berry, registered at Iowa Falls this morning and were heard from at Ackley this afternoon. One of Berry's horses is said to be failing. It is confidentially whispered that all the cowboys have contracts for an engagement with Buffalo Bill in their pockets.

Will Reach Dubuque To-day.

DUBUQUE, Iowa, June 23.-The cowboys are expected to reach this city to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock, while unreliable dispatches say they will not arrive before evening. Three of the cowboys, "Doc" Middleton, Berry and Gillespie are well known in this city, having been born and raised near here, They worked on a railroad being constructed near this city many years ago. A corps of bicyclists will meet the cowboys near this city and escort them into town.

GALENA, Ill., June 23.-Oscar Little, agent of the Illinois Humane society, went to Dubuque to-day and will await the arrival of the cowboys there. Upon the condition of the horses when they get there will depend his future action. Should they show signs of having been overridden he will hasten to Galena and swear out warrants for the arrest of the riders. These warrants will be served at Warren or some point near there in the eastern part of the county, as the cowboys are likely to keep just north of the Illinois line between East Dubuque and Warren. They would be intercepted at East Dubuque, but the warrants could not be made out early enough to arrest them there.

Evening Journal June 24

"DOC IN THE SADDLE"

MIDDLETON HAS STARTED AGAIN IN THE COWBOY RIDE

One of His Horses Goes Lame, but the Ex Bandit Keeps Up the Race- Interesting Incidents in the Life of a Man Who Is Famous All Over the West- Buffalo Bill's Humane Society Prize

"Doc" Middleton is again on the road with the cowboy riders and, although he is twenty-four hours behind the other contestants, many Western men think he will be well up in front when the winner rides into "Buffalo Bill's" camp at Sixty-third street. Middleton was making good time until one of his horses strained a leg just before reaching Sioux City and he was obliged to lay up for a day. This was bad news to many ranchmen who had wagered large sums of money on Middleton's ability to win the special prize of

(DRAWING) THE COWBOY RIDER

$500 offered by Buffalo Bill to the rider who brings his horses into Chicago in the best condition. Buffalo Bill, by the way, is one of the oldest Humane Society men in the country. He was active in the work of preventing cruelty to animals years ago, and has never let up in it. To this day he insists upon kind treat ment of every dumb animal about his Wild West camp. When the cowboy race was first proposed to Colonel Cody, fearing that the desire to win the prize might lead to some of the riders to overdo their horses, came to the front with the liberal purse of $500 to the man whose mounts showed the least fatigue on reaching Chicago, and there is more interest on this part of the race, thanks to Cody's generosity, than in the mere crossing of the line first.

To win the $500 prize is now Middleton's object, and he is making his way across Iowa on one horse which is reported to be in good condition.

"Doc" Middleton, the most prominent starter in the cowboy race, has had a very checkered career. he is not what he used to be, though, if occasion demanded it, he could draw and fire as fast, and probably with as much accuracy as he showed in the days before civilization had spread so far toward the setting sun. In 1880 Middleton was the acknowledged head of a band of horse-fanciers in Niobrara county, Nebraska, who were no particular as to the ownership of the stock to which they took a liking.

Terror to Nebraska Stockmen

For several years prior to 1880 Middleton's band had been a terror to Nebraska stockmen, driving off whole herds of horses and cattle and shooting down without mercy all who opposed them. Middleton was then a fugitive from Texas, where he was under indictment for shooting a ranchman who objected to the confiscation of his stock. Many efforts had been made to capture "Doc" but he had always succeeded in "getting the drop" on his trailers and driving them off. He was a dead-shot with rifle and pistol and few men cared to venture within range.

finally the depredations of the outlaw band became so bold in Nebraska that the Union Pacific Railway took themat ter in hand, despairing of relief from the Nebraska authorities. J. T. Clark, who was then in charge of the Nebraska Division of the Union Pacific, went to North Platte, the station to which the hustlers generally drove the results of their round-up, and held conferences with prominent cattlemen thereabouts. Plans were

laid for the capture of the entire band, but they miscarried. Middleton appeared to be well informed at all times of the movements of Clark's party' so it was plain that somebody in the confidence of the railroad and the stockmen was acting as a spy for the desperadoes. Con Groner, then the Sheriff of Lincoln county, as brave and bluff a man as ever threw a lariat, rode to a barn on the ranch of a man he suspected and saw enough to convince him that the bandits had not only a spy, but an active agent at North Platte. He whis pered his discovery to Mr. Clark and [the] latter called off his men and returned to Omaha, defeated but not discouraged. Rewards for Middleton's capture, dead or alive, stood out in the names of the railroad company and the State of Nebraska.

About this time there appeared upon the scene a comparatively young man of mag nificent physique, smoothly shaven face, and a manner indicative of ignorance of fear and tenacity of purpose. This was W. H. Llewellyn. He was familiar with every foot of the country from North Platte to Deadwood, could handle a rifle and revolver as well as any man and was anxious to be doing something to earn the reward offered for "Doc." He obtained the ear of Man ager Clark, and into it poured some new ideas about the trailing and capturing of horse-thieves. His scheme was to avoid a crowd; to refrain from hunting game with a brass band. He proposed to join the out law band and remain a member of it long enough to obtain the entire confidence of all its members and then "hold up" Mid dleton when a favorable opportunity came.

Llewellyn's Plan Adopted

It was a daring scheme, involving the risk of Llewellyn's life at almost any time, for Middleton has as many staunch friends as the James boys had and a misstep on the young spy's part meant death. But Mr. Clark adopted Llewellyn's suggestions and not only supplied the young man with funds to carry out his plan but had him appointed an agent of the United States Secret Serv ice- an officer who had a claim to military aid in case of need. One of the obstacles Mr. Clark had to contend with was the State law which compelled Sheriffs and other officers to attempt to make arrests with a posse before calling upon the mili tary. To organize a posse without taking in at least one man friendly to Middleton was impossible; so the State law had to be cir cumvented. Influence was brought to bear and General Crook, then in command of the Department of the Platte, placed an order at every post under his control instructing commandants to give Llewellyn a detail of soldiers, whenever required, to "search for deserters."

Llewellyn then enlisted William Hazen and Charles Sweezy of Omaha in his service and, armed with an order from William A. Paxton for some horses on his ranch, the three set out for North Platte. At that station they left the railway and went to Mr. Paxton's ranch for their horses. The foreman there was very in quisitive as to their errand and Llewellyn told him what he and his companions were after. The foreman volunteered the information that Middleton and his gang were in the Republican Valley. Llewellyn thanked him for the pointer and said that he would go in that direction, but, when night came, he and his comrades rode off in another direc tion. Thirty-five miles out, Sweezy dropped out and was left at Buffalo Bill's ranch. A few miles further on Llewellyn and Hazen were met by Middleton and five of his men, including Kid Wade, who was hanged at Long Pine three years later. The bandit chief swallowed the story told by Llewellyn -to the effect that he and Hazen were fugitives from Wyoming- and welcomed the two to the band. For two months the two spies remained with the gang, familiar izing themselves with their haunts and their histories and taking part in their forays.

Ambush Set for "Doc"

At the end of two months Llewellyn got a chance to send word to William A. Paxton at Omaha. This message bade the cattle owner send a trusty man to an appointed spot where he was to lie in ambush until Llewellyn could run Middleton into the trap, when the man in hiding was to get the drop on the chief while the two spies stood off the others in the renegade band, there being generally nine or ten men in the party. Mr. Paxton selected for this perilous duty William Luykens, then inspector of the Wyoming Stock Growers' Association. Luykens went to the place designated and lay there three days and nights, his cocked rifle always in his grasp. At the end of that time the men he was looking for ar rived. Middleton was in the lead, Llewellyn and Hazen came next and nine of the chief's most trusty men followed. This was always the order of march, the bandit chief think ing that if from treachery he should be led into ambush Llewellyn and Hazen could not escape.

Just as the foragers reached the spot where Luykens was concealed, Middleton's horse reared and threw his rider. "Doc" landed on his feet just as Luykens showed himself, and jerking two revolvers from his belt poured a perfect hail-storm of bullets into the bushes. His rifle missing fire, Luykens dropped on his belly and crawled back out of range. In the meantime the renegades behind opened fire on Llewellyn, and Hazen. The latter was hit three times and permanently re tired. Llewellyn jumped from his horse, and sheltering himself behind the animal opened a fusilade with his Winches ter. His first shot was at Middleton, and "Doc" fell shot through the stomach. The others of the gang were so badly peppered by Llewellyn and Luykens that they fled precipitately. Although badly wounded, Middleton escaped. Llewellyn and Luykens took Hazen to the nearest house and then set out for Fort Robinson, where they secured a detail of sixteen cavalrymen and set out on Middleton's trail. They followed him to his father-in-law's shack in the upper Niobrara, but there all trace of him was lost. The father-in-law would tell nothing until he had been swung by the neck at the end of a lariat thrown over a rafter, and then to save his own life he agreed to guide the party to the outlaw's retreat. The old fellow rode between two cavalrymen, who had orders to shoot him at the first sign of treachery.

Middleton Captured at Last

After a ride of fifteen miles the party reached a canon. Crawling cautiously to the brink, Llewellyn looked down and saw Middleton and his wife and eight of the bandit crew. A demand for surrender was answered by a yell of defiance and a shower of lead. The troopers were eager to rush into a hand to hand fight to avenge the death of a comrade killed by the outlaws, and a fierce battle began. Middleton and Kid Wade were disabled at the first fire. Mrs. Middleton advanced boldly to the at tacking party and begged for her husband's life. The others of the besieged party were permitted to ride off unmolested, but Mid dleton was taken back to civilization, tried,

found guilty and sentenced to four years' imprisonment. He served his time and in his absence the gang scattered and the cattle raisers breathed easier.

Before Middleton was run down and captured he had become reckless and impudent. In 1879, John A. Creighton and William A. Paxton of Omaha and others who had large herds in Nebraska met at Omaha to discuss means of the outlaw chief's capture. Middleton heard of the meeting and sent word to the party that if he ever caught any of them in the Niobrara valley he would cut off their heads and send them back to Omaha on poles. The stockmen knew that he would keep his word and were careful to avoid Doc's" domain.

Since his experience in prison Middleton has led a much quieter life. He has a ranch in Northern Nebraska where he spends most of his time with his faithful wife and his beautiful children. His wild days are over and his friends are legion, but he still has an antipathy to restraint and his latch string does not hang out for officers of the law. In appearance he is still the typical cowboy, although the flowing mustache and long dark hair are grizzled and the fire of youth has fled. He is even now a man with whom 'twere well to avoid a quarrel.