Short was known as a killer, and hence as a fit man to go after
Robinson.[I] He went to Hugoton to arrest Robinson, and there was a
shooting affair, in which the citizens of Hugoton protected their man.
The Woodsdale town marshal, however, still retained his warrant and
cherished his purpose of arresting his man.

[Footnote I: This man, Ed. Short, later came to a tragic end. A man of
courage, as has been intimated, he had assisted in the capture of a
member of the famous Dalton gang, one Dave Bryant, who had robbed a Rock
Island express train, and was taking him to Wichita, Kansas, to jail. On
the way Short had occasion to go into the smoker of the train, leaving
the prisoner in charge of the express messenger, whom Short had
furnished with a revolver. By some means Bryant became possessed of this
revolver, held up the messenger, and was in the act of jumping from the
swiftly moving train, when Short came out of the smoker. Catching sight
of Short, Bryant fired and struck him, Short returning the fire, and
both falling from the train together, dead.]

"On July 22 of this year, 1888, Short learned that Sam Robinson, the two
Cooks, and a man by the name of Donald, together with some women and
children, had gone on a picnic down in the Neutral Strip, south of the
Stevens county line. Short raised a 'posse' of four or five men and
started after Robinson, who was surprised in camp near Goff creek. There
was a parley, which resulted in Robinson escaping on a fast horse, which
was tied near the shack where he was stopping with his wife and
children. Short, meantime, had sent back word to Woodsdale, stating that
he needed help to take Robinson. Meantime, also, the Hugoton men,
learning that Short had started down after Robinson, had sent out two
strong parties to rescue the latter. A battle was imminent.

"It was at this time that I myself appeared upon the scene of this
turbulent and lawless drama, although, in my own case, I went as a
somewhat unwilling participant and as a servant of the law, not
anticipating consequences so grave as those which followed.

"The sheriff of the county, John M. Cross, on receiving the message from
Short, called for volunteers, which was equivalent to summoning a
'posse.' He knew there was going to be trouble, and left his money and
watch behind him, stating that he feared for the result of his errand.
His 'posse' was made up of Ted Eaton, Bob Hubbard, Rolland Wilcox, and
myself. At that time