December 13, 2006

Some Practical Advice

While enjoying the latest installment of Mack Brain, I was reminded of this passage from the book Sixguns by Elmer Keith (published in 1955):

"J. H. Fitzgerald told me of an incident he witnessed at the Chicago stock yards many years ago. A Negro cowpuncher had come east with a few car loads of steers from Colorado, and was standing by the heavy board fence looking inside at his charges. A cop came along, pulled a photograph from his pocket, made a brief comparison of it and the negro's back, then pulled a .30 caliber Luger and started started shooting the dusky cow-puncher in the back. Fitz said the big colored boy hooked one arm through the fence as he turned slowly around facing his adversary. When the Luger was empty the negro still hung onto the fence and then drew his 4 3/4 inch .45 single action Colt from his waist band and calmly asked, 'Are you through, white boy?' and shot the cop through the heart, killing him instantly. The Negro lived long enough to tell Fitz who he was and what ranch the cattle belonged to, and turn over his papers before he, too, took the long trail. A regrettable incident, due to an untrained and trigger happy officer jumping to conclusions.

"We can hardly avoid pointing out what a pip-squeak performance the Luger turned in. After the unfortunate negro had absorbed a magazine full of slugs, he not only lived long enough to kill the officer, but to untangle his business affairs."

3 Comments:

Blogger JAB said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

December 14, 2006 at 10:39 AM  
Blogger JAB said...

Mack Brain telegrams this while moving a bleeding client from the bar to the alley behind Charlie Low's.

"He's right - Some joker with a Luger's sunk more holes in me than Minnesota Fats' pool table. It's about like getting peppered by an over enthusiastic salad guy at John's Grill.

December 14, 2006 at 11:03 AM  
Blogger Latouche at Large said...

Dr. X posts this from the Prairie Home Companion Handloading Room:

"Wikipedia article on Elmer Keith is here."

December 14, 2006 at 8:52 PM  

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