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4 Suburban Living /Section 3Daily HeraldThursday, October 12, 1989traces role of blacks in Old WestBy Alan Yonan JrUnited Press Internationalyou name it, ICHICAGO — Art Burton was anaverage kid growing up in the1960s, with a passion for the WildWest and all the fiction that surrounded it in books, television and the movies.“Growing up, I watched everything on television, Lash LaRue,’ The Rifleman’ watched it,” Burton said.Given the Hollywood version of how the West was won, Burton, a history buff, noticed a historically significant element was missing: the role played by blacks.“People who wrote the dime novels and romanticized the WTestleft blacks out of the whole scenario,” he said. “They were all over. Black pony express riders, black stage coach drivers, black outlaws and black lawmen. They’re just part of our history that have beenleft out.”Burton retained his interest in the history of the West through high school, and as a college student, his studies in African American history and political science reinforced the fact that information about blacks during this era was decidedly lacking.Three years ago Burton decided to rectify the situation. His book, Black, Red and Deadly: Black and Indian Gunfighters of theIndian Territories, (Eakin Publications) is scheduled to be in bookstores by spring 1990.“I always felt that the part African Americans played was not told,” said Burton. “I’ve never seenany other book on the subject. I was never moved to do anything about it until I started hearing about blacks who served as deputy U.S. marshals.”Information he uncovered onblack U.S. marshals led to more information — on black outlaws, black Indian fighters and black slaves owned by Indians — and so the scope of his book continued toexpand.Perhaps the most infamous black outlaw Burton ran across was Cherokee Bill, whose real name was Crawford Goldsby, and who had a wild but short-lived career as an outlaw.In 1894 Cherokee Bill dropped out of school at 18 in Pennsylvania. He was hanged two years later for killing 13 men.“He was a wild type of guy. He stuck up stage coaches, banks, train stations, that type of thing places where money was deposited.” Burton said.A federal judge in the Indian Territories once referred to Cherokee Bill as “the worst outlaw ever to come before his bench,” Burtonsaid.“The town of Lenapah, Okla., passed a law that said if Cherokee Bill came to town he was to be given free reign to do anything they wanted. They were scared of him.”Other black outlaws during thistime included Dick Glass and the Rufus Buck Gang, composed of 18-year-olds.“The Rufus Buck gang lasted 13 days. They killed, raped and pillaged the countryside. The Indian police went out and captured them and they were all hanged together,” Burton said.The Indian Territories, which later became the state of Oklahoma, probably were the best example of “the real Wild West,” Burtonsaid. “You could lose your life overHiring blacks as law enforcement officials was an extremely progressive notion in light of the racial discrimination that wasgoing on elsewhere in the country,Burton said.“It was truly remarkable to me to find this kind of integration,” he said. “That’s what really piqued my curiosity. The role black U.S. marshals had in the Old West is truly unique in American history.“They were blacks with power to arrest and bring in white outlaws. In Chicago in the ’60s, a black police officer could not even pick up a dead person if he was white.” Burton’s research included tripsto the Oklahoma Historical Societyto examine old newspapers andyour boots, your hat or your saddle. books, the Fort Smith HistoricalOver 100 U.S. deputy marshals were killed from 1875 to 1907.’site in Arkansas, and interviews including Cherokee Bill’s greatOn the other side of the law stood grandniece.Bass Reeves, an ex-slave from Texas who was granted his freedom and became one of the first blacks to serve as a U.S. deputy marshal.“Bass Reeves was the closest thing to real Lone Ranger there was,” Burton said. “He worked by himself, sometimes in disguise to get close to people to catch them. He was probably the greatest peace officer to ever live.”Other black peace officers of the time included Grant Johnson and Zeke Miller.He recently presented an overview of his research in Oklahoma City at the National Association and Center for Outlaw and Lawmen History, and the response was enthusiastic.“The whole thing was new to many of them,” he said. “They were very glad I did the research. A lot of Western history is just a rehash of the well-known people like Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp.“The book is very exciting. It’s full of blood and guts. People will enjoy reading it.”History buff Art Burton is the author of Black, Red and Deadly: Black and Indian Gunfighters of the Indian Territories.United Press International
Newspaper Details
Arlington Heights Daily Herald Suburban Chicago
Arlington Heights, Illinois, US
Thu, Oct 12, 1989
Page 350
Full Page
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Los A.
CA, USA 12 Sep 2020
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