at Bill Bates’ ranch in Bear Valley, where they…
source date: 1891
availability: public-domain

another posse from the C. A. bar ranch. The house was sur- rounded and the prisoner was told to talk to Tom Hall which he did, telling him the house was surrounded and he might as well surrender, which he did with the use of a great deal of profane and vile language. At daybreak a por- tion of the posse, which had gone ahead to surround the house of Peter S. Hall, Sr., entered the house and made a demand that he surren- der, which acceding to the inevitable he quietly did. It was now discovered that Peter Hall Jr. ( 84 )at Bill Bates’ ranch in Bear Valley, where they now directed their course as quickly as possible. On the way thither the house of Dick Hall was passed; they had just got by when Mrs. Hall rode rapidly along the trail from the house out- stripping those who attempted to catch or detain her. Capt. French of the W. S. ranch at Alma who was like most honest men in the community lending his aid in the business at hand, gave chase and commanded her to halt, but she con- tinued on her way, as the captain expressed it “the devil wouldn’t stop her, you know.” The horses of the ranchers who had been traveling the entire night were fagged and Mrs. Hall reached Bates’ ranch far enough in advance to give the alarm, crying out mob, mob, they are killing every one in the valley. Peter Hall, Jr.

e devil wouldn’t stop her, you know.” The horses of the ranchers who had been traveling the entire night were fagged and Mrs. Hall reached Bates’ ranch far enough in advance to give the alarm, crying out mob, mob, they are killing every one in the valley. Peter Hall, Jr., Steve Kemp, Riley and Jo Witt, brother of the one first arrested, saddled their horses and started from the house as the party of officers came in sight. Now came a race such as is never seen anywhere but in the far west; each man with his pistol, shotgun or rifle in hand, rode a mad race ; the pursuers to intercept, the pursued to escape. You might bet your money freely that the best horses and riders would win, no throwing the race here. This continued for two miles without perceptible gain on either side, until Steve Kemp’s horse fell, the pistol which Kemp held in his hand cocked and ready to turn upon his pursuers, was discharged, the bullet entering his horse’s brain. He imme- diately mounted behind Riley and the chase continued for half a mile farther, the sheriff’s posse gaining some ground. Here Steve Kemp called to Deputy Sheriff Johnson and J. D. Birch that they wanted a parley which was granted.

he bullet entering his horse’s brain. He imme- diately mounted behind Riley and the chase continued for half a mile farther, the sheriff’s posse gaining some ground. Here Steve Kemp called to Deputy Sheriff Johnson and J. D. Birch that they wanted a parley which was granted. Kemp informed the officer that his posse had to fight as they would not surrender, but upon being told that they only had a warrant for one of the party, Peter Hall, Jr., he was turned over and the chase ceased. Another young lady in Pine Cienega exhibited her skill as a rider that night. Miss Lulu Jackson rode from Dick Hall’s ranch to Dan Neil’s at the head of the Cienega, distancing her competitors. She went to give the alarm but Neil had already flown, having been forewarned. nor made any attempt to escape. The prisoners were brought in and safely lodged in the county jail; a thing which could not have been accomp- lished in any other western settlement. These men had stolen, burned and buffaloed, bull- dosed and harrassed the settlers for over three years.