TX BIOS:  Thomas Green Chaney
   Selected and converted.American Memory, Library of Congress.
   
   Washington, 1994.
   
   Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.
   
   This transcription intended to be 99.95% accurate.
   
   For more information about this text and this American Memory
   collection, refer to accompanying matter.
   
   U.S. Work Projects Administration, Federal Writers' Project (Folklore
   Project, Life Histories, 1936-39); Manuscript Division, Library of
   Congress.Copyright status not determined.
   
   00011
   
   TALES: Legends [Outlaws?]
   
   Range-lore
   
   Ruby Mosley
   
   San Angelo, Texas. Interview
   
   Page one
   
   RANGE-LORE
   
   Thomas Green Chaney was born in Hunt County in 1864. His family
   drifted from one section to another farming a year here and there
   until they settled in Comanche County. Here he met Miss [Donyanna?]
   Poynor and later married her. She was the daughter of W.J. (Bill)
   Poynor, an old Indian fighter. In later years he moved to the Concho
   County and has lived here since.
   
     NOTE: C12 - 2/11/41 - Texas
     
   "I went up the trail three different years, 00022says Thomas Green
   Chaney. "Each time we took cattle to Yellow House Canyon, out on the
   plains, near New Mexico to the X.I.T. outfit. This trail work was done
   for H. R. Martin and G. A. Beeman Company, Comanche County.
   
   "One year, old Burley Taylor was boss of the trail outfit and Charlie
   Bryson, Jim [Doston?], John Bryson and I went with him. We had about
   3,500 steers in the herd. We got everything ready and the chuck wagon
   started on ahead. About three days after we left Comanche County we
   got everything bedded down for the night. Two of the boys kept guard
   while we slept. I always liked to sleep under the wagon and got ny
   bunk roll and tucked in before someone beat me to it.
   
   "I had just stretched out when good an old cow gave a snort, [loap?]
   and bawl. The next thing I knew I was hugging the couplin' pole of the
   wagon while cattle played havoc with our camp. Some of the boys got to
   their horses and some climbed trees. It took about a week to get the
   cattle together and we never found them all; some were twenty miles
   away. This was the worst stampede I ever saw. We fellows were so worn
   out sometimes we would go to sleep on our horses and get behind. One
   time I went to sleep and my horse grazed along until we lost the trail
   gang. I found them easy enough by the tracks but a good cowhand never
   got off like that.
   
   "Outlaws and gun men, I guess I knew 'em about 00033as well as anyone
   to not have been one myself----Sam Ketchum, Tom Ketchum, Will Carver,
   Kilpatrick and my own brother W. H. Chaney and his brother-in-law
   Frank Stedham.
   
   "My brother W. H. Chaney lived in Schleicher County near the county
   line, between Eldorado and Christoval. His home was a hideout for all
   the boys. I lived about a quarter of a mile from him but never got
   mixed up in the bunch. I had a family and we never suspected the
   outlaws being harbored so near us.
   
   "I guess old Will Carver was the worst one of the bunch; he wasn't
   scared of the old devil. He was a train robber and killer, one of the
   most notorious outlaws of that time. Old Will and Kilpatrick took some
   guy for a spy. They rode in to Sonora one evening late, went into a
   little store and bought some chuck and horse feed, pretending to be
   new cowhands of that section. Will and Kilpatrick was doing a little
   spottin' while the other guy kept watch. Bill Bryant was sheriff at
   that time and was a little quick on the draw. He walked in and
   recognized them as they were wanted in every section of the west.
   Bryant killed Will Carver and shot Kilpatrick. The guy that was on
   watch broke and ran. He ran all night long to get to my brother to let
   him know what had happened. My brother was at my house; we were out
   early that morning working on a 00044windmill. The guy came up and
   told the whole story. The boys went to Sonora for the purpose of
   robbing the bank and bringing the loot to my brother's house. I don't
   guess anyone ever knew the exact reason why they went, but you have my
   word that they went there for that purpose and I know what I am
   talking about. There is no harm in telling, as they are all dead.
   
   "My brother, W. H. Chaney, and Frank Stedham were pretty tough guys;
   they moved to New Mexico from Christoval section. They were afraid to
   live here any longer. They made several little run-ins in New Mexico
   and some family trouble came about. The two planned a duel. They had
   two points about 80 feet apart and the best man was to win out. They
   each went to the mark with pistols in pockets. When the signal was
   given each got his man. That was the end of these two. Brother was
   shot in the head and Frank in the stomach. They were two brave, daring
   guys to have the nerve to die face to face, knowing each other so well
   and experiencing so many dangerous battles together.
   
   "I know the Ketchum boys in the San Saba county, and later in the
   Christoval section. Sam Ketchum was a mighty good man to die an
   outlaw. He was a very good friend of mine. He never would have been in
   to anything but got into trouble trying to save Tom.
   
   "One time Tom was on a freight out in the Sheffield 00055country, when
   he and a train man got into a fight. Tom got shot but was not killed.
   Sam always went to Tom's rescue and plenty times had to fight or shoot
   his way out.
   
   "My brother bought horses and grub for the Ketchum boys as well as
   gave lodging." 0006Range-lore
   
   Ruby Mosley
   
   Sam Angelo, Texas.
   
   BIBLIOGRAPHY
   
   Thomas Green Chaney, San Angelo, Texas, interviewed, January 20, 1938.

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