While most of Gib's Western pieces celebrate heroes and legends, some of his works acknowledge the darker side of the West. 'The outlaws and villains were part of it, too,' he said. 'You can't have good guys unless you have bad guys to compare them to.' Black Jack Ketchum was one of the bad guys. He was a cowboy who later became a train robber and murderer, and rode with some of the most notorious characters in western history.
Black Jack (whose real name was Tom) grew up in Texas, near what is now Abilene. Like most folks in that area, he was a cowpoke. Then in his mid 20s, Ketchum left suddenly and headed for New Mexico. 'He probably stole something or shot somebody and had to light out, Gib said.
Ketchum ended up in the Pecos River area around 1890 and continued working as a cowhand. But in 1892, he and some companions robbed a train carrying a payroll, and from that point on, he lived a life of crime. 'They got about $20,000 from that robbery, Gib said, which paid a hell of a lot better than punching cows!
'Black Jack was part of that whole batch of outlaws we call the Hole in the Wall Gang and the Wild Bunch. He rode with people like Butch Cassidy, Kid Curry Logan, Bronco Bill Walters and the Sundance Kid. He also hung out with the Bassett girls, Josie and Ann, who were the most famous female outlaws in these parts.'
Black Jack was a hard man and a deadly shot. On more than one occasion, he and his gang shot it out with posses pursuing them and came out ahead. He once shot and killed two miners in Cape Verde, Arizona over a card game, then shot up the sheriff's posse that chased him after he fled.
Black Jack and his gang were credited with robberies throughout the Four Corners area, and even as far away as Wyoming. 'It was a pretty good business for a while,' Gib said. 'One robbery they were supposed to have gotten away with $20,000 in gold and $40,000 in silver.
'Then everything went south. The Pinkertons were on his trail and Black Jack's brother, Sam, was killed in a shootout with lawmen. Another member of the gang was wounded and captured in the same shootout, and the rest left after a dispute over divvying up the loot. 'Even then Black Jack wasn't going to go out easy. He tried to rob another train by himself, but the conductor saw him coming and grabbed a shotgun. He leaned out and drew down, and blew Black Jack off his horse. They captured him the next day. 'He was a tough guy to the end,' Gib said. 'The legend is he ran up the steps of the gallows and yelled, "I'll be in hell before you start breakfast, boys." Then he yelled at the hangman, "Let her rip!" And they did.'
-JOHN GOEKLER