Robert Andrew “Clay” Allison was once asked what he did for a living, and he replied, “I am a shootist.” It is simply impossible to verify the multiple accounts of his numerous outrageous activities, with “news” being what it was at the time and a century intervening. Though many of the tales were highly exaggerated, if even half were true, people were right to be afraid of him.
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We had a genuine badass out here named Jack Slade, of Overland Trail fame. The American History I walk through every day out here is amazing.
ReplyDeleteJack Slade, a man with such an unpleasant past that he was hung for disturbing the peace.
DeleteClay Allison, owner of the best tombstone in all the Old West-
ReplyDelete"He never killed a man that did not need killing".
"The Texas Defense" according to criminal defense attorney Richard "Racehorse" Haynes.
DeleteAnother excellent story.
ReplyDeleteHe seems like a fairly reasonable man to me.
ReplyDeleteSteve in Ky
Another excellent read of the old west... Thanks Kenny
ReplyDeleteJD
The stories true or not he sure was a tough ol bird. They don't make em like that much anymore.
ReplyDeleteMy now distant cousins have a camp in Gainesville, AL, where he surrendered. Haven't been there in 40+ years, but on a bluff overlooking the Tombigbee River, there was a stone marker noting this was the spot of the surrender of the last Confederate troops east of the Mississippi. The PC police might have had it removed, as Sumter County is 70%+ afro.
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