Dear Kinfolk,

As a Deputy Sheriff in Strong City, OK.,  Black Bill was kept busy chasing the moonshiners.  An interesting story that Deputy Bill would have been part of was told by Earl Archer, a trackman for the railroad. 

The top of this did not print, except for the bottom appointment made in 1953. The top part that did not copy said: Deputy Sheriff's Commission State of Oklahoma Roger Mills, County This is to certify that I have this day appointed W. H. Anderson, my true and lawful deputy sheriff to do and perform all true and lawful acts pertaining to the office of Sheriff of Roger Mills County, State of Oklahoma and to hold his office during my pleasure.

 “Two former residents who had moved to the Rio Grand  Valley conspired  to ship alcohol to Strong City.  There it was to be cut and sold in this dry area.   Somehow the revenuers found out and watched the alcohol being loaded in the Valley.  The shipment consisting of 45 five-gallon square cans and 24 cases of half-gallon jars that were loaded in the middle of a boxcar.  Then a pig pen, three feet tall and three feet wide with a steeple roof  and running the length of the boxcar was built around the alcohol.  Cabbages were piled around and over the pig pen. 

The revenue agent followed the boxcar to Strong City.  There he planned to arrest whoever picked up the shipment.  A leak must have occurred because no one claimed that load.  After waiting three days the revenuer ordered the car opened  by the law and emptied.  The railroad workers were ordered by Sheriff Hancock not to touch the alcohol or her would shoot their fingers off.

Several townspeople gathered for the spectacle and watched as the alcohol was being dumped on the ground.  A young boy named Bill Dykes made the remark “I wonder if it will burn?” and then dropped a match into a puddle of  alcohol.  The following conflagration caught the depot on fire and during the ensuing confusion several containers disappeared, including the five-gallon container put in the depot for evidence.  Also disappearing was the bill of loading designating the receiver as a nonexistent business called L&R Produce.

After the fire was extinguished and remaining goods dumped in the Washita River, the cabbages were seen floating as far away as Clinton, Ok.   Sheriff Hancock and his deputies (Black Bill) took two men by train to Rio Grande Valley to stand trial.  On the way Sheriff Hancock died and the two men released for lack of evidence.”

Sheriff Bob Trammell (left) who first appointed Black Bill a deputy, middle horse Under Sheriff, Erwin Hunt, and on the right Deputy Cunningham. Granddad served under every Roger Mills Sheriff until his death at the age of 88.

An interesting side note, many years later (1995),  a Mr. Archer approached me at an Strong City Memorial Day reunion and said he knew Black Bill very well.  “Your granddad ran me out of Strong City!  All I was doing was just making moonshine liquor and trying to sell it.”   I do not know the relationship between this man and the Earl Archer that told the cabbage and alcohol story, but I would bet there was.    Black Bill’s grandson, Billy Don Anderson, tells the story of the time his dad Jack Anderson and my father Orren Anderson returned to Strong city to help their dad arrest and outlaw (maybe a moonshiners?)   It seems that when Black Bill was trying to arrest him earlier the outlaw broke a bottle over their father’s head.  Truly wish we knew the rest of the story.

His granddaughters claimed that Black Bill had to use his gun four times, three Mexicans and one Black.  If true, I would assume it was in his earlier days while working on the Slaughter Ranch in Arizona and chasing cattle rustlers.  He simply lived in a period of history where the six shooter ruled. 

Black Bill Anderson, age 70. Please note the name on his gun belt "Bill Lee", his alias in the outlaw days????? His daughter said he continued to wear his Colt .45, until his 80"s, in fear that one of those outlaws he sent to prison might get out and come after him. Aunt Leona described him as a very kind and gentle man, but people were often scared of him because he wore his gun.

Along with his reputation about his gun went the stories about his horsemanship.   A Strong City resident told the story about approaching Black Bill to see if he would make a gelding out of his stallion.  Not having the necessary holding pens, he simply hobbled the horses front legs and then raised one of its hind legs causing the horse to be off-balance and dropping to the ground.  This happened after Bill was 70 years old!  (Also winning the Cheyenne Rodeo calf roping contest after the age of 70).

Next story we will cover the tough times in Western Oklahoma.

Jim Lee