Charles Siringo – Cowboy Detective
“The risks he ran, the deadly situations through which his extraordinary nerve took him safely, his resourcefulness, his loyalty, and above all his cold-blooded bravery, always made men remember this picturesque, modest figure of the American frontier.”
– John Hays Hammond
Charles Angelo Siringo, a name synonymous with the rugged individualism and unwavering determination of the American West, carved a unique path through history. He was a celebrated detective for the renowned Pinkerton National Detective Agency, a dedicated lawman who upheld justice in a lawless era, and a gifted author who chronicled his thrilling experiences, offering a rare glimpse into the life of a cowboy turned investigator. The story of Charles Siringo is a testament to the spirit of adventure and the pursuit of justice that defined the Wild West.
Born on February 7, 1855, in Matagorda County, Texas, Charles Siringo was the product of immigrant roots, his mother hailing from Ireland and his father from Italy. This blend of cultures likely contributed to his adaptability and resilience, traits that would serve him well in his adventurous life. His formal education concluded at the age of 15, after which he embraced the life of a cowboy, finding work on various ranches in the Texas landscape. This early exposure to the challenges and rewards of ranch life instilled in him a deep understanding of the land and its people.
The life of a cowboy in the late 19th century was one of constant movement and hard labor. For several years, Siringo honed his skills, learning the intricacies of cattle handling, horsemanship, and the unpredictable nature of the open range. His experience culminated in 1876 when he embarked on his first major cattle drive, guiding a herd of 2,500 Longhorns along the famed Chisholm Trail from Austin, Texas, to the bustling cattle markets of Kansas. The Chisholm Trail, a vital artery of the Western economy, was a dangerous route fraught with challenges, including stampedes, harsh weather, and the constant threat of encounters with Native American tribes and opportunistic outlaws. He undertook a second journey in the spring of 1877, this time traversing the trail’s western branch, further solidifying his reputation as a skilled and reliable trail driver.
Dodge City, Kansas, a notorious frontier town known for its saloons, gambling halls, and gunfights, played a brief but significant role in Siringo’s early life. It was here that he witnessed a potentially explosive confrontation between the infamous gunfighter Clay Allison and Dodge City Assistant Marshal Wyatt Earp. While Earp later claimed to have defused the situation with the help of Bat Masterson, Siringo’s account, corroborated by other witnesses, painted a different picture. He stated that Earp never directly confronted Allison and that the situation was actually resolved by two local businessmen. This incident highlights Siringo’s commitment to truth and accuracy, a trait that would be crucial in his later career as a detective.
In Dodge City, Siringo’s path intersected with David T. Beals and W. H. “Deacon” Bates, leading to his employment as a cowboy on the LX Ranch in the Texas Panhandle. For several years, he immersed himself in the daily life of the ranch, working alongside fellow cowboys and experiencing the camaraderie and hardships of frontier life. It was during this time that he encountered a young man named Henry McCarty, better known as Billy the Kid. Years later, their paths would cross again, this time on opposite sides of the law, as Siringo would lead a posse in New Mexico in pursuit of the notorious outlaw and his gang.
In 1884, Siringo embarked on a new chapter in his life, marrying Mamie Lloyd and transitioning from the open range to the world of commerce. He opened a store in Caldwell, Kansas, a seemingly ordinary venture that belied his restless spirit. It was also during this year that he began writing "A Texas Cowboy; Or Fifteen Years on the Hurricane Deck of a Spanish Pony," a book that would cement his legacy as a chronicler of the Old West. Published a year later, the book received widespread acclaim and became one of the first authentic accounts of cowboy life, offering readers a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the realities of the era.
However, the quiet life of a merchant proved too tame for Siringo’s adventurous soul. In 1886, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, seeking a more challenging and stimulating career. He applied for a position with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, leveraging Pat Garrett’s name as a reference. His application was successful, and he was hired. This marked the beginning of a remarkable career that would see him travel across the West, from the frigid landscapes of Alaska to the bustling streets of Mexico City, working undercover to infiltrate gangs of robbers and rustlers and bringing hundreds of criminals to justice.
The personal life of Charles Siringo was marked by both joy and sorrow. In 1890, his wife Mamie passed away, leaving him a widower with a five-year-old daughter. Three years later, he married Lillie Thomas of Denver, Colorado, and the couple had a son in 1896. However, their marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce shortly after their son’s birth.
By the early 1890s, Siringo was stationed at the Pinkerton’s Denver office, where he collaborated with Tom Horn, a notorious Pinkerton agent, gunman, and later, assassin. While Siringo respected Horn’s tracking abilities, he acknowledged a darker side to the man’s character.
In 1892, Siringo was assigned to a case in Idaho, where he went undercover to gather evidence against corrupt labor union officials. Despite his disdain for their actions, he intervened to prevent a lynch mob from hanging union attorney Clarence Darrow, showcasing his commitment to due process and the rule of law.
In the late 1890s, Siringo adopted the alias "Charles L. Carter," posing as a fugitive gunman to infiltrate Butch Cassidy’s infamous Wild Bunch gang. For over a year, he operated within their ranks, gathering intelligence and disrupting their operations, though he made few arrests during this time.
Following the Wild Bunch’s audacious Wilcox Train Robbery in Wyoming in 1899, Siringo was tasked with capturing the gang. He resumed his collaboration with Tom Horn, who was then employed by a cattle company. Siringo’s efforts led to the capture of several Wild Bunch members, including Kid Curry, who later escaped and was killed in a shootout with Colorado lawmen. During this period, Siringo encountered lawman Joe Lefors, who would later arrest Tom Horn for murder. Siringo expressed his disdain for Lefors, deeming him incompetent. Meanwhile, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid fled to Bolivia, where they were reportedly killed by Bolivian soldiers during a robbery attempt.
After a distinguished career of 22 years, during which he successfully apprehended hundreds of outlaws, Siringo retired from the Pinkerton Agency in 1907. His tenure with the Pinkertons involved participation in several high-profile cases, including the Haymarket anarchist trial, the Coeur d’Alene miners’ strikes, and the trial of Western Federation of Miners Secretary "Big Bill" Haywood, who was accused of the dynamite murder of former Idaho governor Frank Steunenburg. Despite his proficiency with firearms, Siringo typically made arrests without resorting to violence.
Following his retirement, Siringo relocated to a ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he embarked on writing a second book detailing his experiences as a Pinkerton detective, titled "Pinkerton’s Cowboy Detective." However, the Pinkerton Agency intervened, citing a confidentiality agreement and objecting to the use of their name. Siringo ultimately relented, deleting their name from the title and publishing two separate books, "A Cowboy Detective" and "Further Adventures of a Cowboy Detective," using fictitious names in place of real ones.
Fueled by his resentment towards the Pinkertons, Siringo secretly published a third book, "Two Evil Isms, Pinkertonism and Anarchism," in 1915. The Pinkerton Agency once again blocked publication and attempted to prosecute Siringo for libel, seeking his extradition from Santa Fe to Chicago. However, the New Mexico governor denied the extradition request.
In 1916, Charles Siringo joined the New Mexico Rangers, where he focused on apprehending rustlers in the southeastern part of the state. After two years, he resigned due to declining health and the struggles of his ranch. In 1919, he released "A Lone Star Cowboy," intended as a replacement for "A Texas Cowboy," whose copyright had expired. This was followed by the "History of ‘Billy the Kid’" in 1920. However, his health continued to deteriorate, coupled with financial difficulties, forcing him to abandon his ranch and leave Santa Fe in 1922.
He then moved to Los Angeles, California, where he gained recognition as a minor celebrity due to his well-publicized exploits. He occasionally worked as a film advisor on Western film sets and even took on occasional bit parts. In 1927, he published his final book, "Riata and Spurs," a composite of his first two autobiographies. However, the Pinkerton Agency’s intervention resulted in a heavily edited version with fictional accounts rather than the authentic stories Siringo had envisioned.
The following year, on October 18, 1928, Siringo passed away in Altadena, California.
Charles Siringo’s recollections of his life as a cowboy and detective helped to both romanticize and reveal the realities of the Old West. His reputation as a cowboy and Pinkerton detective made him a well-known figure during his lifetime. He interacted with United States Senators, state governors, and national officials, as well as various celebrities, including Pat Garrett, Bat Masterson, Clarence Darrow, Charles M. Russell, Eugene Manlove Rhodes, William S. Hart, Will Rogers, and numerous outlaws. His legacy endures as a symbol of the adventurous spirit and unwavering dedication to justice that defined the American West.