Document text
1 L -LORE
Thanes Green Cheney was born in Hunt County in
l864. Bis family drifted from one section to another
farming a year here and there until they settled in
Comanche County. Here he net Kim Do:mamma Poynor
end later married her. he II the daughter of V.J.
(B111) Foynor, en old Indian fighter. In later years
he movvd to the Coneho Country end has lived here
sine..
ad.
^I vent up the trail throe different years.*
Page Iwo
NMI Thomas Green Cheari• 'Boob tWoo we took antis to
Yellow House Canyon, out ea ilso ploins, soli Now Nott-
leo to the X.I.T. outfit. This trail work was done for
R. B. Martin end G. A. Daemon Company, Oomsnehe CoUnty.
"One year, old Burley Taylor we boss of the trail
outfit end Charlie Bryson, Jtm Boston, John Bryson end
went with him. Pe had about 3,000 steers in the herd.
ve got everything reedy and the chuck wagon started on
ahead. About three days after we left Comanche County
we got everything bedded down for the nirht. Two of
the boys kept guard while we slept. I always to
sleep under the wagon and got my bunk roll and tualred
in before someone beet me to it.
"I had Just stretched out good when an old eow
gave a snort, imp and bawl. The nest thing I knew I
was bugging the couplin' pole of the wagon while cattle
played havoc with our eamp. time of the boys got to
their horses and sons climbed trees, It took about a
week to get the settle together and we never found
them all; some were twenty miles sway. This wee the
worst stamped* I ever sew. We fellows were so worn
out sometimes we would go to sleep on our horses end
get behind. One time t lent to sleep end my, horse
grazed along until we lost the trail gang. I found
them easy enough by the tracks but a good cowhand
never got off like that.
"Outlaws and gun men, 1 guess I knew 'em about
Pege three
as well as anyone to not hove been one myseAf--4.-Sam
!Oahu*, Tom retchum, Will Carver, Kilpatrick end ray
own brother Chaney end his brother -132.018w Prank
stedham.
Idly brother W. U. Chaney lived in 5chleloher
County near the county line, between Lldorado and
Christovel. His home was a hideout for all the bays.
I lived about a quarter of a mile from him but never
got mixed up in the bunt* I bad a family and we
never suspected the outlaws being harbored so near us.
°I guess old Will Carver was the worst one of the
bunch; he wasn't soared of the old devil.- Be was a
train robber and killer, one of the most notorious
outlaws of that time. Old Will and Kilpatrick took
saw MY for a spy. They rode in to Sonora one evening
late, went into a little eters and bought 013M0 (shuck
end horse feed, pretending to be new cowhands of that
section. rill and Yilpetrick was doinr a little spot-
ting while the other guy kept watch. Bill Bryant was
sheriff at that time and was a little quick on the drew.
walked in and recognized them, as they were wanted in
every section of the west. Bryant killed ill Carver
and shot Kilpatrick. The guy that was on watch broke
and ran, lie ran all night long to cot to my brother
to let him know whet had happened. My brother was at
my house; we were out early that morning working on a
Pegs four
windmill. The guy came up and told the whole story.
The boys went to Senors for the purpose of robbing the
bank and bringing the loot to mr brother's house. I
don't guess anyone ever knew the meet reason why they
went, but you have my word that they went therefor
that purpose and I know whet I -an talkiug about. There
is no harm in telling, as they ere ell dead.
"my brother, W. H. Cheney, end Fronk Stedham were
pretty tone) guys; they moved to New Lexie') from the
Christoval section. They were afraid to live here any
longer. They made several little run-ins in uew ;sexico
and some family trouble came about. The two planned a
duel. They had two points about 00 feet apart and the
best mon was to win out. They each went to the mark
with pistols in pockets. When the signal wee given
each got his men. That was the end of these two.
brother was amt in the heed end Frank in the stemseh.
They were two breve, daring ggys to have the nerve to
did facts to tees, knowing each other so well end ex-
Perienoimg so many dangerous battles together.
"I knew the retchum boys in the ben Saba country,
and later in the Christovul sestion. Lem Fetch= was
e.mIghty good man to die en outlaw. Re was a very good
friend of mine. He never would have been in to anything
but got into trouble trying to save Tom.
"One time Tom was on a freight out in the Sheffield
Benevolent
Ruby hiesley
bout Angsio. Teams.
BIBIZOGRMARY
Thaws Green Money, Ban Awl*, Texas,
latorvisived, Jesuitry 20, UM.