The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of the Outlaw, by Emerson Hough

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Title: The Story of the Outlaw
A Study of the Western Desperado

Author: Emerson Hough

Release Date: January 17, 2008 [EBook #24342]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE
STORY OF THE OUTLAW

_A STUDY OF THE WESTERN DESPERADO_

WITH HISTORICAL NARRATIVES OF FAMOUS OUTLAWS;
THE STORIES OF NOTED BORDER WARS;
VIGILANTE MOVEMENTS AND ARMED
CONFLICTS ON THE FRONTIER

BY
EMERSON HOUGH

NEW YORK
THE OUTING PUBLISHING COMPANY
1907

COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY
THE CURTIS PUBLISHING COMPANY

COPYRIGHT, 1907, BY
EMERSON HOUGH

Entered at Stationers' Hall, London, England

_All Rights Reserved_

THE OUTING PRESS
DEPOSIT, N. Y.

The Story of the Outlaw

[Illustration: From a painting by John W. Norton
PLUMMER'S MEN HOLDING UP THE BANNACK STAGE
(_See page 119_)]

PREFACE

In offering this study of the American desperado, the author constitutes
himself no apologist for the acts of any desperado; yet neither does he
feel that apology is needed for the theme itself. The outlaw, the
desperado--that somewhat distinct and easily recognizable figure
generally known in the West as the "bad man"--is a character unique in
our national history, and one whose like scarcely has been produced in
any land other than this. It is not necessary to promote absurd and
melodramatic impressions regarding a type properly to be called
historic, and properly to be handled as such. The truth itself is
thrilling enough, and difficult as that frequently has been of
discovery, it is the truth which has been sought herein.

A thesis on the text of disregard for law might well be put to better
use than to serve merely as exciting reading, fit to pass away an idle
hour. It might, and indeed it may--if the reader so shall choose--offer
a foundation for wider arguments than those