Black Jack Christian, aka 202, or Ed Williams, (September 5, 1871 – April 28, 1897) was an outlaw of the Old West. He was a leader of a group known as the High Fives, which operated mostly in New Mexico Territory.[1]
He was born William Christian, in Fort Griffin, Texas, in 1871 and had a brother Bob. Very little is known about his youth and early life. He and Bob migrated into the Southwest, where they pursued both legal and illegal activities, including cattle rustling.[1]
Outlawsedit
Black Jack was documented in reports of outlaw activity in the late 1880s, along with his brother Bob Christian. He first earned the nickname "202" due to his large frame.[1] However, he quickly became better known as "Black Jack" due to his tendency to have a short temper. During this time of the late 1880s and early 1890s, he and his brother Bob organized the "High Fives Gang", operating mostly around New Mexico Territory.[2]
In 1895, while the two brothers were in Guthrie, Oklahoma, they shot and killed a lawman, and were arrested. They escaped with the assistance of their gang and fled to Arizona Territory.[3]
The following year, with the help of a wealthy rancher associate, on August 6, 1896, the gang robbed the "International Bank" in Nogales, Arizona. During their escape from town, gang member Jess Williams was shot and wounded by newspaperman Frank King, causing him to drop the money taken during the robbery; he also managed to drop his one and only gun earring he wore in his left ear. Williams, both Christian brothers, and gang member Bob Hays were able to escape town. Christian split up from the rest of the gang after they traveled east a ways.[3]
Sheriff Bob Leatherwood of Tucson, Arizona pursued members of the gang with a posse. While approaching Skeleton Canyon, they were fired upon by some of the High Fives, immediately killing Special Deputy Frank Robson, who was riding in front.[2]
After a shootout, where the posse was never close enough to see the gang members, the three men escaped, riding into Mexico. They intended to hide out there for a time, hoping that lawmen would eventually stop their pursuit.[2]
In 1897, the gang returned to Arizona, with Black Jack joining them. They committed several stagecoach robberies. A posse located them in a small canyon, and ambushed them, killing the four members of the gang who were traveling together. They were hauled back to town atop a lumber wagon and their dead bodies were placed on display. The canyon was named after Black Jack Christian and is known locally as "Black Jack Canyon".[2]
Referencesedit
^ abcO'Neal, Bill (1991). Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 56–57, 139. ISBN978-0-8061-2335-6.
^ abcdNash, Jay Robert (3 January 1989). Encyclopedia of Western Lawmen & Outlaws. Evans. pp. 73–74. ISBN978-1-59077-530-1.
^ abThrapp, Dan L. (1 June 1991). Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography: A-F. U of Nebraska Press. p. 269. ISBN0-8032-9418-2.
External linksedit
Black Jack Christian
January 01, 1970
high, fives, gang, black, jack, christian, williams, september, 1871, april, 1897, outlaw, west, leader, group, known, high, fives, which, operated, mostly, mexico, territory, black, jack, christianbornwilliam, christian, 1871, september, 1871kearney, missouri. Black Jack Christian aka 202 or Ed Williams September 5 1871 April 28 1897 was an outlaw of the Old West He was a leader of a group known as the High Fives which operated mostly in New Mexico Territory 1 Black Jack ChristianBornWilliam Christian 1871 09 05 September 5 1871Kearney Missouri U S DiedApril 28 1897 1897 04 28 aged 25 Skeleton Canyon Arizona Territory U S Cause of deathGunshotOther names202 Ed WilliamsOccupationCriminalYears active1889 1897Known forBank robberies Contents 1 Early life 2 Outlaws 3 References 4 External linksEarly life editHe was born William Christian in Fort Griffin Texas in 1871 and had a brother Bob Very little is known about his youth and early life He and Bob migrated into the Southwest where they pursued both legal and illegal activities including cattle rustling 1 Outlaws editBlack Jack was documented in reports of outlaw activity in the late 1880s along with his brother Bob Christian He first earned the nickname 202 due to his large frame 1 However he quickly became better known as Black Jack due to his tendency to have a short temper During this time of the late 1880s and early 1890s he and his brother Bob organized the High Fives Gang operating mostly around New Mexico Territory 2 In 1895 while the two brothers were in Guthrie Oklahoma they shot and killed a lawman and were arrested They escaped with the assistance of their gang and fled to Arizona Territory 3 The following year with the help of a wealthy rancher associate on August 6 1896 the gang robbed the International Bank in Nogales Arizona During their escape from town gang member Jess Williams was shot and wounded by newspaperman Frank King causing him to drop the money taken during the robbery he also managed to drop his one and only gun earring he wore in his left ear Williams both Christian brothers and gang member Bob Hays were able to escape town Christian split up from the rest of the gang after they traveled east a ways 3 Main article Skeleton Canyon shootout Sheriff Bob Leatherwood of Tucson Arizona pursued members of the gang with a posse While approaching Skeleton Canyon they were fired upon by some of the High Fives immediately killing Special Deputy Frank Robson who was riding in front 2 After a shootout where the posse was never close enough to see the gang members the three men escaped riding into Mexico They intended to hide out there for a time hoping that lawmen would eventually stop their pursuit 2 In 1897 the gang returned to Arizona with Black Jack joining them They committed several stagecoach robberies A posse located them in a small canyon and ambushed them killing the four members of the gang who were traveling together They were hauled back to town atop a lumber wagon and their dead bodies were placed on display The canyon was named after Black Jack Christian and is known locally as Black Jack Canyon 2 References edit a b c O Neal Bill 1991 Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters University of Oklahoma Press pp 56 57 139 ISBN 978 0 8061 2335 6 a b c d Nash Jay Robert 3 January 1989 Encyclopedia of Western Lawmen amp Outlaws Evans pp 73 74 ISBN 978 1 59077 530 1 a b Thrapp Dan L 1 June 1991 Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography A F U of Nebraska Press p 269 ISBN 0 8032 9418 2 External links editHigh Fives Gang Black Jack Christian Black Jack Christian aka Will Christian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title High Fives Gang amp oldid 1133009215, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
