Billy the Kid (death)... Jesse James... Sitting Bull... Jim Bridger...

Item # 608179

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July 19, 1881

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Missouri, July 19, 1881

* Rare to find in one issue notable reports on some of the most iconic names of the Old West: Billy the Kid, Jesse & Frank James, Sitting Bull, and Jim Bridger.

Not only did not all newspapers in the country report the killing of the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid, but typically when they did, it was a brief one paragraph report. This issue has one of the best accounts of this event to be found in a newspaper.
The top of the first column of page 5 introduces the lengthy report with: "THE KID KILLED" "A New Mexico Sheriff Shoots the Young Desperado Through the Heart". See the photos for the full text, which beyond simply reporting that Pat Garrett killed Billy the Kid, it provides details rarely found in period newspapers. Bits include: "...after receiving the news that Billy the Kid was lurking near Fort Sumner Pat Garrett, Sheriff of Lincoln county, went to that place...in a low tone of voice asked Pete if Billy the Kid were on his premises...whispered in a scarcely audible tone, 'Say, that's him.' Pat knew what that meant...taken advantage of the dim, uncertain light to get his weapon raedy for use, brought it to bear on the Kid, shooting him through the heat at the first pull of the trigger. He died in two minutes without uttering a word...Billy the Kid was the terror not only of Lincoln County but of the whole Territory; a young desperado who has long been noted as a bold thief, a cold-blooded murdered, having, perhaps, killed more men than any person of his age...All mankind rejoices & the newspapers will now have something else to talk about. It is now in order for Pat Garrett to be well rewarded for his services in ridding the Territory of this desperado..." with even more, including a brief history of his crimes.
As an added bonus immediately following this report is one headed: "The Train Robbery" being the famous Rock Island Railroad robbery by the James Gang, with mention of them by name, including: "...but as usual Jesse and Frank escaped..." with much more (see).
Elsewhere on page 5 is a brief report headed: "Sitting Bull's Surrender", and page 2 has a report: "Death of a Plainsman" beginning: "Jim Bridger, the noted hunter, plainsman, pioneer and scout, died last night..." (see).
Rare to find in one issue notable reports on some of the most iconic names of the Old West: Billy the Kid, Jesse & Frank James, Sitting Bull, and Jim Bridger.
Complete in ten pages, nice condition.

Category: Post-Civil War