Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1882 — How He Killed Twonty-six Men. [ARTICLE]

How He Killed Twonty-six Men.

A correspondent of the New York Sun from Gunnison; Col., tells this story: i * /] Dr. Cockreli, on being askekl whether the repots of killing affrays were not greatly exaggerated, replied that some of them were, while in other cases the truth had never been told. “There is a- man,” remarked the Doctor, indicating a medium-sized, mild-eyed person who stood in the doorway looking inld the billiardroom of the Tabor House, “who has killed twenty-six men, and he is only 27, years of age. He fa H. B. Mastersou, of Dodge City, Kan. He killed his men in me interest of law and order. Once .he shot seven men dead within a few ininutes.” “Bow?” Y:\Vjr ■ “While in a frontier town, news was brought to him that his brother bad been killed by a squad of ruffians just across thu street. Taking a revolver in each hand, for he shoots readily with both, manner” (the Doctor here crossed |iiß right wrist over his left in tjie form of an X), “he ran over to avenge his brother. The murderers became terror-stricken when

they saw him coming, and hastily locked the door. Masterson jumped square against the door with both feet, bursting it open-at the first attempt Then he sprang inside, bring immediately right and left. Four dropped dead in shorter time than it requires to tell of it. The remaining three ran for their horses a vain attempt to escape from, the t°Wn. He followed them up so (Closely that before they reached the outskirts all three had bitten the dusk “At another time,” continued the Doctor, “two Mexican half-breeds, a father and son, became very troublesome in the mining Camps. They were the sharpest shots ib the country, working together with a precision that made them invincible. As soon as one bad emptied thp chambers of his revolvers he would reload under cover of the other. f Many a miner had they murdered and relieved of his outfit and treasure. standing reward of SSOO was oftemd fbr their bodies oritbeir heads. Finally Masterson resolved to kill the hslMireeds. They occupied a cabin in a little clearing in an almost inaccessible place ih the mountains. One morning, hours before daybreak, Masterson crept to the verge of tne clearing! With a repeating rifle in his hands. Hidden by a friendly bush, he reofmed- on a sack which he had brought, from his horse, tha*; he had fastened a niiile away in a glen. Shortly after sunrise the door of the cabin opened wide enough to permit the shaggy head of the old man to protxnae. After sweeping the boundaries brtae clearing with searching eyes, tbft head was slowly withftrawn. In a few minutes the head reappeared, followed by a body with a belt of pistols strapped «ound its wrist and a rifle Slung ovefits shoulders. The old tnan carried ft water pail, at bis side walked theeon, fully aimed. Masterson ©W mah withhis rifle over a path to and from aspring a hundred yards ftps® from' the cabin at

right angles. The father and son were oonyersing earnestly, seemingly unwilling to, the cabin, before the door or w hich they stood for some time* Thirty minutes passed, which seamed hours to Masterson before he bould obtain what he called a favorable shot. Finally the old man made a move which uncovered his son. Masterson took advantage of his opportunity and the young man fell to rise no more. Before the the smoke revealed from whence the shot had come the old man was a corpse alongside of his boy. Cutting tiff their heads, Masterson placed them in his sack and started to exhibit his trophies in order to obtain the promised reward. A twodays’ ride nnaer a hot sun swelled and disfigured the heads so that the were unrecognizable taking advantage of which the authorities refused to pay the reward.”