See the Credits and
Acknowledgements of Grace Gilbert Smith.
The original work was transcribed and typed
by Grace Gilbert Smith
and web page transcription was by Donna Brand
|
Outlaw's Graves
written by Allen Ramsey
"These two outlaw's graves are located on
the east shore of Palo Pinto Lake approximately north, northwest of
Randall Miller Power Plant.
From bits and pieces of the story that has been handed down, it seems
these men had stolen some horses. When sheriff, Jim Owens, surprised
them somewhere on Lake Creek, a running battle took place. One of
the outlaws fell mortally wounded. Later in the chase the second
outlaw fell and died. By that time Sheriff Owens had only one shot
left in his gun.
The second outlaw was buried at the spot where he fell. By that time
the other outlaw was dead, and was brought and buried by the other
one. A head marker was made for both graves by splitting a block of
cedar. Years later Andrew Martin of Lone Camp passed by the graves
one day and noticed that one of the markers was almost rotted away.
He visited two sons of Sheriff Owens and got the dates of the
killing. He carved two stones with the dates on them and replaced
the wooden markers.
One day A. L. Wilson of Lone Camp came to the graves and saw what had been
done. He searched around and found one wooden marker that had not
decayed and placed it in his private museum.
At a later date A. L. Wilson and his son, J. M. Wilson, came to the sight
and found the graves covered with surveyor's stakes for a new power
line. They did not have anything else to write on so they pulled up
some of the surveyor's stakes and wrote on each one, "This is a
grave, do not disturb." They tied white rags on the stakes so
they could not be overlooked. The next time they passed the place,
they saw the workmen had not only honored the graves by not placing any
lines or poles on the graves, but had outlined them with small stones and
had added wooden crosses at the heads tied together in the traditional
Western Movie fashion.
The dates on the stones are 1879 -
Mrs. Lela Thornton of Lone Camp has an excellent picture of her
grandfather, Sheriff Owens."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you have any suggestions,
questions about this page, or have information you would like to add,
please contact Lela
Evans.
© Copyright 2005 - 2011 by Lela Evans. All rights reserved. This
site may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without
my consent. Information from this site may be freely used by individuals
doing private, family research. |