Volume 18 , Issue 2

1887 - Texas Bandits

In The Leavenworth Weekly times, dated 1 Sep 1887, page 8, we found this news article: "Texas Bandits," A collision between a sheriff's posse and outlaws.

Found on Newspapers.com

Houston, TX, August 30 (1887) -- At 10 o'clock that morning a battle took place between sheriff Ellis' posse, from Houston and three outlaws who were encamped near Eureka, a small station five miles out on the Houston & Texas Central railway. A few days before the outlaws, four in number, stole two horses in the vicinity of Cypress, in this county. In place of the stolen animals they left two that were jaded. This caused the belief that the men were train robbers who were running from pursuers from another portion of the state.

To add to this belief, the gang stopped at Thompson's switch, on the Central road, and took dinner at houses where they presented themselves as stock shippers, and showed big rolls of money. FromThompson's switch they went to a crossroads grocery, got on a spree, fired a great number of shots in the air and defied the inhabitants.

After this sheriff Ellis took a posse and went up the Central road after them. This morning Albert Ericsson heard that suspicious looking men were encamped near Eureka. He started for that place with a man named Wilford.

In the vicinity of Somerville they met a man riding by, who tipped his hat to them as he rode away in a gallop. Wilford recognized him as one of the outlaws. They ordered him to halt.

A Defiant Desperado
He waved a riding-glove in defiance over his hand, and drove his heavy steel spurs into the horse's sides. Both men fired at him and followed in pursuit, but he outstripped them. On reaching Eureka they could see where three of the outlaws were encamped on the prairie under a lone tree, with open space all around them. Deputy Sheriff Ericsson telegraphed to Houston for a strong posse. In the meantime Ericsson and Wilford went back and got on the trail of the man they had met, and attempted to capture him or keep him from joining his friends in camp.

The posse from Houston, under command of Captain Dave Lubbock, of the Rutherford Rangers, arrived in the vicinity of Eureka and 10 o'clock. It was composed of Captain Lubbock, Tom Lubbock, Alexander Ericsson, Charles Wightman, Deputy Sheriff Wales, E. Krigge and two Germans of the neighborhood. As soon as they sighted the outlaws' camp they headed for it. They were discovered when about 1,000 yards away. The three men sprang to their horses and saddled and bridled them. The leader leaped on his horse, and opened fire on the posse at long range with a Winchester, attempting to hold them at bay until his men were mounted. The second one that mounted opened fire with a six-shooter. The posse continued to advance without firing a shot until the third man mounted and commenced blazing away.

The posse then fired and captured the camp. Two of the outlaws rode like Indians, and firing as they went. The leader a fine looking fellow with a black feather in his white sombrero, sat erect in his saddle, suing his Winchester, which seemed to belch forth a continuous blaze of fire. Captain Lubbock shot at the leader, bringing his horse to his knees. In a moment the horse was again on his feet and galloping away. Another shot hit one of the outlaws in the leg.

A Short But Rapid Fight
The fight did not last long; but forty shots were fired.

The posse endeavored to cut off the outlaws from a ford across White Oak Bayou, but failed. When the thieves crossed the bayou they reached a cover of timber and were safe, as the whole posse would have been killed had they attempted to cross in the face of the outlaw ambuscade. The sheriff's men drew off and sent for reinforcements. This evening a large force went out and scoured the timber. Near the ford on the shore of the bayou they found blood and bandages where an outlaw's wounds were dressed. At 9 o'clock tonight the last party of men returned, brining information that the thieves were en route to a big thicket in Montgomery county. Sheriff Ellis, who is the vicinity of Navasota, has been wired to and will move to the big thicket as fast as possible. In the camp were found four "slickers," or waterproof coats, a white sombrero. two John Wesly Harding pistol jackets, ammunition, steel spurs, a blanket and a number of other small articles. A paper sack was found containing ammunition.

It bore the trademark of a dealer in Houston, showing that the outlaws had recently been in the city. Investigation this evening showed that last Saturday night they stayed all night at Fred minster's and displayed large rolls of money. Tomorrow another large force would start for the big thicket.
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