Rufus Buck Gang facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rufus Buck Gang |
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Left to right: Maoma July; Sam Sampson; Rufus Buck; Lucky Davis; Lewis Davis.
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| Founded | July 28, 1895 |
| In | Indian Territory |
| Years active | 1895 to 1896 |
| Ethnicity | Creek |
| Membership | Rufus Buck, Lewis Davis, Sam Sampson, Maoma July, Lucky Davis |
| Criminal activities | Armed robbery, murder |
The Rufus Buck Gang was a group of outlaws in the late 1800s. Its members were Native Americans from the Creek Nation and African Americans. This gang was active in the Indian Territory, which is now parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma. Their main period of activity was a short but intense time in the summer of 1895.
Contents
Who Was in the Rufus Buck Gang?
The gang was formed by a young man named Rufus Buck. The other members were Lewis Davis, Sam Sampson, Maoma July, and Lucky Davis. They started gathering weapons while staying in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
What Did the Gang Do?
The gang's activities began around July 30, 1895. They were involved in various crimes, including holding up stores and ranches. These events mostly happened in the area near Fort Smith, Arkansas.
One story tells of a salesman named Callahan who was robbed by the gang. They offered him a chance to escape if he could outrun them. Callahan, who was older, managed to get away. However, the gang then harmed his assistant. The gang also caused serious injuries to at least two women during their crime spree.
How the Gang Was Caught
The Rufus Buck Gang continued their attacks on both local settlers and Creek people. They were finally captured on August 10, 1895. This happened near Muskogee, Oklahoma. A combined group of lawmen and Native American police, known as the Creek Light Horse, worked together to catch them. Marshal S. Morton Rutherford led this effort.
The Creek people wanted to try the gang members in their own courts. However, the gang was brought before Judge Isaac Parker. He was known as "Hanging" Judge Parker because of the many people he sentenced to death. He sentenced the Rufus Buck Gang members to death twice. The first sentence was put on hold while they tried to appeal to the Supreme Court, but they were not successful. The gang members were executed on July 1, 1896, at 1 p.m. in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
The Rufus Buck Gang in Stories and Movies
The story of the Rufus Buck Gang has inspired several books and films:
- The novel Winding Stair by Douglas C. Jones is based on a slightly changed version of the gang's crimes.
- A historical novel from 2011, I Dreamt I Was in Heaven - The Rampage of the Rufus Buck Gang by Leonce Gaiter, explores the gang's story. It also includes Judge Isaac Parker and another outlaw named Cherokee Bill.
- The gang's story also helped inspire the 2021 Western film The Harder They Fall. In this movie, the character of Rufus Buck was played by actor Idris Elba.
