The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964 Page: 66
672 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
building next door and walked out into the square, still carrying
their guns.
Preacher Hardin was waiting there as if he had had word they
were coming. Hurrying to them, he talked to them earnestly.
Some eyewitnesses have told that he prayed. Whatever he said, it
was strong enough in its appeal to persuade the men to reenter
the building and stack their guns in a corner.
But they did not put away the pistols they had concealed on
their bodies. And some, including John Wesley Hardin, had more
than one, as was shown by their actions some hours later.
After the races, Hardin and his associates had been going from
bar to bar spending their easy-come-by money. At one place,
Hardin threw a handful of twenty dollar gold pieces on the
counter and invited everybody to come up for a drink. The money
was picked up and handed back to the young gunman by a friend
who warned him that he was drinking too much and would not be
able to protect himself "if a scrap came."
But Hardin continued to drink. In time he was so drunk he
was reeling and was as quarrelsome as he was drunk. The whole
group had become so boisterous and disorderly that the owners
of the saloons they were patronizing were uneasy and asked
Sheriff Carnes to do something to quiet the men. The sheriff sent
Frank Wilson, one of his deputies, to the men with his orders
to get out of town before they caused trouble.
It was then late in the afternoon and Hardin and his com-
panions were at the Jack Wright saloon. The owner of the saloon
was not an ordinary saloon keeper. As described by Joel Nabers,
a contemporary, "He was a man among men. Always a leader,
cool and self-possessed, with a clear conception of right, he was
fearless in his discharge of duty."
Jack Wright had organized and was captain of the Comanche
County Minute Men during the War Between the States. Later he
was captain of the Rangers who brought law and order to Co-
manche after the most exciting, fear-ridden period of its history.
In his autobiography Hardin said that the Jack Wright saloon
was situated on the northwest corner of the square, with its front
door facing to the east. The location given by Hardin and by
books and articles about the gunman in which the authors have
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964, periodical, 1964; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101197/m1/86/?rotate=270: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.