Ed Short – Cowboy & Lawman

The American West, a vast expanse of promise and peril, forged men of iron and character. Among the countless figures who etched their names into the annals of this era, Charles Edwin “Ed” Short stands as a testament to the duality of the time – a cowboy turned lawman, a man who straddled the line between the untamed frontier and the burgeoning order that sought to tame it. His life, though tragically cut short, offers a glimpse into the tumultuous world of the late 19th-century West, a world of cattle drives, county seat wars, and the constant struggle for justice.

Charles Edwin Short, forever known as Ed Short, was born on October 27, 1864, in the quiet, settled lands of New Marion, Indiana. The allure of the West, however, proved too strong to resist. At the tender age of seventeen, he embarked on a journey that would forever alter the course of his life. He headed west, eventually finding his way to Emporia, Kansas. Unlike the industrialized East, Kansas was a land of open ranges and cattle drives.

Emporia served as a stepping stone for the young adventurer. From there, Ed Short found employment as a cowboy near Hunnewell, a small, bustling town strategically located on the border between Kansas and the untamed territory of Oklahoma. Life as a cowboy was arduous, demanding long hours in the saddle, braving harsh weather, and confronting the ever-present dangers of stampedes and rustlers. But it was also a life of freedom, camaraderie, and a deep connection to the land. These experiences would mold him into the man he would become.

However, the life of a simple cowboy was not to be Ed Short‘s ultimate destiny. Fate, or perhaps a sense of duty, led him down a different path. By 1888, he found himself in Stevens County, Kansas, a region embroiled in the infamous Stevens County Seat War. This brutal conflict was a microcosm of the larger struggles that plagued the West – battles over land, resources, and political control.

Stevens County was a hotbed of political intrigue and violence. The war was a power struggle between two factions vying for control of the county seat, and with it, the county’s resources and political influence. Woodsdale and Hugoton were the main contenders. The conflict involved bribery, intimidation, and even murder. It was a time of great upheaval and uncertainty.

In the midst of this chaos, Ed Short served as the marshal of Woodsdale. This position thrust him into the heart of the conflict, tasking him with maintaining order in a town teetering on the brink of anarchy. He had to navigate a treacherous landscape of shifting allegiances and constant threats. It was a far cry from the open ranges of his cowboy days, but it was a trial by fire that would forge his character and prepare him for the challenges that lay ahead.

Unfortunately, the faction that Ed Short supported ultimately failed to secure victory in the Stevens County Seat War. Disheartened by the outcome and perhaps seeking a fresh start, he left Kansas behind and ventured into Oklahoma Territory, settling in the town of Hennessey. This move marked a significant turning point in his life, setting the stage for his career as a lawman.

Hennessey, Oklahoma, was a frontier town, rough and untamed, where the rule of law was often tenuous. It was a place where a man of courage and integrity could make a real difference. Ed Short, with his experience as a cowboy and his brief but intense tenure as a marshal in Woodsdale, was well-suited to the challenges of this environment.

It was in Hennessey that Ed Short received his appointment as a U.S. Deputy Marshal. This was a prestigious position, granting him the authority to enforce federal law in a vast and often lawless territory. The U.S. Marshals were the long arm of the federal government, tasked with bringing criminals to justice and maintaining order in the face of rampant lawlessness. It was a dangerous job, but it was also a vital one.

In August 1891, Marshal Ed Short received information that Charles Bryant, a member of the notorious Dalton Gang, was ill and recuperating at a hotel in Hennessey. The Dalton Gang was a notorious group of outlaws who terrorized the region with their daring robberies and ruthless violence. Capturing one of their members was a significant achievement, and Marshal Short acted swiftly to seize the opportunity.

Without hesitation, he arrested Bryant and prepared to transport him to the federal district court in Wichita, Kansas, where he would face justice. On August 3, 1891, Ed Short and his prisoner boarded a train bound for Wichita. The journey was long and fraught with potential danger.

During the journey, Short needed to relieve himself. Trusting the express car messenger to watch Bryant, he left the outlaw in his care. This proved to be a fatal error. The messenger, seeing that Bryant appeared to be asleep, carelessly laid down his gun and resumed his work. Bryant was merely feigning sleep. Seizing the opportunity, he grabbed the messenger’s revolver and waited for Short’s return.

As Short reentered the car, Bryant ambushed him, shooting him in the chest. Despite the sudden and grievous wound, the lawman’s instincts kicked in. Drawing his rifle, he returned fire with deadly accuracy. His shot struck Bryant in the chest, severing his spinal column.

The exchange of gunfire was swift and brutal. When the train reached Waukomis, Oklahoma, both men were dead. Ed Short, the cowboy turned lawman, had made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Charles Bryant, the outlaw, had met a violent end.

The death of Ed Short was a tragic loss for the community of Hennessey and for the cause of law and order in the West. He was a man who had dedicated his life to serving others, first as a cowboy, then as a marshal, and finally as a U.S. Deputy Marshal. He had faced danger with courage and integrity, and he had paid the ultimate price for his commitment to justice.

Though his life was tragically cut short, Ed Short‘s legacy as a cowboy and lawman lives on. He is remembered as a symbol of the courage, resilience, and dedication that defined the men and women who shaped the American West. His story serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of justice and the enduring spirit of the frontier.