Blastersnatch Gunfight

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The Blastersnatch Gunfight
Date: September 21st, 1921
Location: The Blastersnatch Saloon, Ruby Junction, Freestate Rooi-Nassau
Outcome: Notorious gangleader killed, lawmen killed. No real outcome.
Deaths
Police, Marshalls & Sheriff deaths (Lawdogs) 11
Gangmember deaths: (No Mercy Riders) 5
Total: 16

Prelude

The Blastersnatch Gunfight in Ruby Junction is a small yet defining moment in Guffingfordian history. The first time the police and members of the Inter-State Army took up rifles and pistols against a single group of bandits, to stop crime dead in its tracks - for good was the reasoning. It'd take another 12 years to clear Guffingford of its notorious criminal elements, and in 1933 the heat was gone from the western plains and mountains. Xaviero Guerra dead, Ed Rappen sent into exile and "Curly" Bill Buford was thrown in prison - where he remained for the rest of his life. The No Mercy Riders were finally crushed and other gangs were destroyed in the enduring fight against organised crime. Many other crooks such as "Reckless" Frank Capezza and Johnny Pengo left for the area of Neu-Bayern, never to be seen again. Some historians say the duo stole the treasure of Ed Rappen and Xaviero, hidden somewhere in the same area. Neither of them were ever seen again in Guffingford, which fuels the rumors of them having left the country after they found Ed and Xaviero's treasure trove.

What Happened

It started when Xaviero Guerra and Ed Rappen split and Xaviero took the last bits of the No Mercy Riders with him. While Ed was traversing the country, Xaviero roamed around looking for plunder and action. He found neither and moved east, towards the British settlements. Xaviero was especially active in the western frontiers North Western Quarter, pillaging and murdering. For about 5 years, Xaviero was in the saddle with his bandits. Going from town to town, Xaviero led a decadent life and was spending money rapidly. His gambling addiction made matters worse. His gangmembers weren't financially responsible either, and word hit the streets Xaviero was out of money. Since no one really trusted him, he couldn't loan any money. Normally he'd steal the money but without Ed Xaviero wasn't such a tough guy anymore. His life was really turning sour until Xaviero wanted to retreat to The Macabees and live off interest.

However, money was still an issue. And clearly he wasn't winning large sums any time soon with poker, Xaviero and his friends agreed to travel to the town of Ruby Junction, because a new bank opened over there: First City Banking & Trust. A wealthy organisation already established in Gloucterbury and Hoogenbosch, the bank wanted to expand and reach the lesser people of the nation. Soon many people heard of this and allowed the bank to safeguard their wealth. This already attracted many gangsters, and many of them were chased away or killed before they could make a break for freedom and prosperity.

Xavier and his men did not know this until it was too late. Before they arrived the law was fully aware of Xavier riding to town to rob the bank. People talk a lot, and when drunk people like to talk even more. How Morgan Bucksley knew about the upcoming heist, remains a mystery. Some even dare to call it a hunch. Morgan Bucksley was fired from the army not long after The Luambo Wars and the City Marshals of that time gladly accepted him as an officer. His skills and knowledge about many things were unmatched, and since he received a better pay, Morgan accepted the tasks at hand.

The Heist

Bucksley ordered his men to prepare an ambush for Xaviero, once he's dead or captured, the spirit of the gang's broken and will fall apart. Logical reasoning, and most importantly, it was true. Without Xaviero, the gang had no real meaning to exist anymore. It's important to note that Morgan wanted them to steal the money, so the other robbers could be caught red handed. Even those who just wait outside to guard the place would be arrested.

On 19th September 1921 Xaviero and his Riders entered town, put the horses in a stable and went to bed. The next day they were busy planning and casing the joint, without being wary of any policemen watching every move. When done with all work, Xaviero and all the others went into the bar called "The Blastersnatch" for a drink - not too much because they want to focus on their respective jobs. Morgan hoped they'd drink themselves to a delirium, encouraging the bartender to give them drinks on the house. Xaviero refused and went to bed. As loyal and smaty as they were, the Riders and other bandits followed Xaviero.

The next day the men were ready to rob the bank. Armed to the teeth, "Tree Fingered Jack" Shaw, Xaviero, "Reckless" Frank and "Cinnamon" Ike Barbara entered the bank and threatened the staff, who immediately surrendered all of their belongings and customer's belonings to the three men. Everything went well, until Johnny Pengo came in telling Xaviero he saw several police officers running to Cooper Street (where The Blastersnatch Saloon is located). Upon hearing this Xaviero replied in disbelief saying he'd be in the mood for a stiff drink after the heist, done emptying the vault so to say. Johnny Pengo and "Cinnamon" Ike were ordered by Xaviero to put the loot in the gang's hotel chambers and to guard it - with their lives.

So Xaviero and the rest left for The Blastersnatch. Some were worried about Pengo's sighting, but they were carrying a load of weaponry so a feeling of 'nothing can harm' us was anchored within the confident men. Xaviero walked in the middle of the gang, and the streets were dead empty when the citizens saw them coming. Children were taken off the streets, cars were put aside and everywhere people seemed to flee from the scene. Upon seeing The Blastersnatch, Xavier turned to his men and said fortune's only a street away, and he'd buy everyone a few rounds of Scotch. Everybody cheered, until Morgan Bucksley came out of an alley and confronted Xaviero. What was said back then is lost today, but it did not impress Xaviero and he pushed Morgan aside and walked towards the saloon.

The Gunfight

Morgan noticed Xaviero wasn't going to surrender without a fight, so he blew a whistle and from - seemingly - out of nowhere many deputies and other lawdogs came rushing into the street. The gang saw what happened and immediately drew their weapons and opened fire on the incoming policemen, who returned fire. City Marshal Freddie Henderson took a load of buckshot in the face from William Walker, and the police kept firing while the gangmembers took cover in the Blastersnatch.

When the firing started Ike Barbara and Johnny Pengo heard the shots coming from Cooper Street, but hesitated to abandon the hefty loot stashed away in the hotel rooms. After a few minutes Ike Barbara left the hotel to help his boss, and so did Johnny Pengo. Treading carefully through the desolate streets, they saw the police force besieging the Blastersnatch on Cooper Street, completely riddling the wooden building with bullets and shotgun shells. From the saloon many shots were fired, hitting police officers. What Ike Barbara and Johnny Pengo didn't know Scooter Leahy and William Walker were already killed by police bullets, two of their best friends.

blastersnatch.jpg
The Blastersnatch Saloon in Ruby Junction.

Inside the gang was trying desperately to escape, but if the firing ended the police knew they had somehow espaced out the back. Ike knew this, and he grabbed his rifle and opened a covering fire for Johnny Pengo to run towards the saloon - while shooting the police too. Ike followed shortly when the police was taking cover. Ike killed Sheriff Ivan Leifheit and another policemen with the shots he fired. Johnny Pengo and Ike Barbara entered the empty bar, and when moving upstairs they saw Xaviero and the others taking cover and firing on the police. The fight went on and on for at least one and a half hours until the gang managed to fire enough rounds on the police (with weapons stolen from the saloon) to buy just enough time to escape the saloon and run towards the hotel to pick up the loot and escape town.

The police saw the men running towards the hotel and killed Tex Colorado and Richie Maxwell on the run. When "Curly" Bill Buford returned fire, he hit Sheriff Rogier Jagtbosch in the chest, who died a few hours later. Watch Officer Byron L. Parcher was also hit, but he was killed roughly fifteen minutes later by "Pistol" Paul Jones and "Tree Fingered Jack" Shaw when he tried to haul a wounded police officer off the street. For about ten minutes the police emptied their weapons on the hotel, and the gunfight continued there briefly. Johnny Pengo wounded Morgan Buckley's elbow, but that didn't stop Morgan Bucksley from killing Xaviero Guerra when he was trying to drive off from the shooting scene in a police car he stole.

Aftermath

Xaviero fell out of the driving car, and "Cinnamon" Ike and "Curly" Bill Bufford wanted to drag him to somewhere safe but he died in their hands. When this happened, the gang fell apart and it was every man for himself. "Curly" Bill Buford was arrested later, and sent in chains to a prison nearby. He never stood trial in front of a judge and jury. Ike Barbara managed to flee, but he was apprehanded a month after the shooting but escaped again - many assume he made it into the relative safety of Zarbia. Johnny Pengo and "Reckless Frank" Capezza are reputed to have stolen Xaviero's and Ed's hidden treasure. What happened to "Pistol" Paul Jones who also survived is unknown.

Participants

The persons marked in red have died in the gunfight. So far is doesn't look very clear, because of all the dead red links. It'll improve in time.

Bandits - No Mercy Riders & Others

Lawdogs - Police, City Watch and City Marshals

  • City Marshal Morgan Bucksley
  • City Marshal Freddie Hendersen
  • Sheriff "Flowering" Frank Everetsson
  • Sheriff Ivan Leifheit
  • Sheriff Rogier Jagtbosch
  • Deputy "Red" Richard Bucksley
  • Deputy "Old Man" Pete Jansky
  • Deputy Jan Leeghsz.
  • Deputy Harold Sinclaire
  • Watch Officer "Rusty" Harry Zacchary
  • Watch Officer James A. Summer
  • Watch Officer Byron L. Parcher
  • Other members of the City Watch, around 20. Some of these died.