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Rufus Buck Gang – (1895 – 1896)
Oklahoma Territory
Rufus Buck Gang c. 1895
from the left: Maoma July, Sam Sampson
Rufus Buck, Lukey Davis, Lewis Davis
Photo: U.S. PD pre-1896
Specializing in armed robbery, murder and rape, this band of barely post adolescent boys, described by some as Creek Indians and Creek/negro freedmen from Indian Territory, terrorized the county, raised a “hue and cry” and got quick action from the Federal Marshals out of Fort Smith, AR. Some claimed they were hanged for the rape of a white woman but the evidence shows that they indiscriminately attacked their Creek neighbors as well as local white settlers.
Timeline for the Rufus Buck Gang (1895 1896)
In the end, there were four killings and numerous incidents.
Exact dates are a bit hard to come by, but here is the essence of their 13-day reign of terror…
Wk. 31, 07/30/1895 – U.S. Deputy Marshal John Garrett, Killed
Wk. 31, 07/31/1895 – rape and robbery
Ben Callahan beating; the gang taking Callahan’s boots, money, and saddle
Killing of a negro boy walking on the road
Killing travelers for their horse and property
Robbing of the Country Stores of West and J. Norrberg at Orket, Oklahoma
Wk. 31, 08/04/1895 – rapes involving the death of some victims
Wk.32, 08/08/1895 – capture of the gang by an Indian-White posse
Wk. 26, 07/01/1896) – All hanged together at Ft. Smith, AR
Gang Members
It appears that all members of the gang were present at every incident noted above.
Rufus Buck [Founder – 1895-1896]
Wk. 26, 07/01/1896) – Hanged, Ft. Smith, AR
Lewis Davis [member – 1895-1896]
Wk. 26, 07/01/1896) – Hanged, Ft. Smith, AR
Lukey Davis [member – 1895-1896]
Wk. 26, 07/01/1896) – Hanged, Ft. Smith, AR
Maoma July [member – 1895-1896]
Wk. 26, 07/01/1896) – Hanged, Ft. Smith, AR
Sam Sampson [member – 1895-1896]
Wk. 26, 07/01/1896) – Hanged, Ft. Smith, AR
see:
Quotes Index – Gunfighter Quotes – Rufus Buck
In his jail cell, on the back of his mother’s photograph,
Rufus wrote a farewell poem to his mother and sisters…
End: Rufus Buck Gang
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