Historic Fort Smith

Gina and I came to Fort Smith not just to get away, but to see the historic aspects of the town.  We visited the Fort Smith National Historic Site.  Got some good pics and found out some interesting details of how the city was known as the justice center for outlaws, white movement west, a pivotal point with forced Indian migration, and the home of the famous hanging judge Isaac C. Parker.  While he sent 83 folks to the gallows (<50% actually hung), he was really a good guy in support of abolishing capitol punishment (provided there was firm punishment of some sort) and women's suffrage.  Although he hung more men in his 21 years on the bench at Fort Smith--more than any other man in history--his job of dealing with infamous outlaws such as Belle Starr and Cherokee Bill was justified.

One case, Rufus Buck, caught my eye. 

The Rufus Buck Gang was an outlaw multi-racial gang of members who were part African American and part Creek Indian.  They operated in the Indian Territory Territory of the Arkansas-Oklahoma area from 1895 to 1896.

Formed by Rufus Buck, the gang consisted of Lewis Davis, Sam Sampson, Maoma July, and Lucky Davis. The gang began building up a small stockpile of weapons while staying in Okmulgee, Oklahoma until killing U.S. deputy marshal John Garrett on July 28, 1895.  In one incident a salesman named Callahan – after being robbed – was offered a chance to escape if he could outrun the gang. When the elderly Callahan successfully escaped the gang killed his assistant in frustration. At least two women victims who were raped by the gang died of their injuries.

Continuing attacks on both local settlers and Creek indiscriminately, the gang was captured outside Muskogee by a combined force of lawman and Indian police of the Creek Light Horse, led by Marshal S. Morton Rutherford, on August 10. While the Creek wanted to hold the gang for trial the men were brought before "Hanging" Judge where they were hanged on July 1, 1896.  Following Rufus Buck's death, a picture of Buck's mother was found in his cell along with a poem written on the back: