The Rufus Buck Gang was a multi-racial gang of gunslingers whose members were part African-American and part Creek Indian. They operated in the Arkansas and Oklahoma area from 1895-1896.
The gang was founded by Rufus Buck and consisted of Lewis Davis, Sam Sampson, Maoma July, and Lucky Davis. They began to terrorize the folks in their area in 1895 and were known to be brutal. They killed U.S. Deputy Marshal John Garrett and began holding up various stores and ranches.
They were also known for raping women. Two of their victims died of their injuries.
Crime Spree and Capture
The Rufus Buck Gang did not survive for long. They were brutal, violent, and perverse. Unlike many of the other Wild West Outlaw gangs, they were not celebrated. Their actions caught the eye of the United States and Creek Nation, and the two would join forces to snuff them out.
In the short time they rode together, here are their known crimes:
- July 30, 1895: Killing of US Deputy Marshal John Garrett
- July 31, 1895: Coming across a white man and his daughter in a wagon, the gang held the man at gunpoint and took the girl.
- They killed a black boy and beat Ben Callahan until they mistakenly believed he was dead, then took Callahan's boots, money, and saddle.
- The robbing of country stores of West and J. Norrberg at Orket, Oklahoma
- Murder of two white women and a 14-year-old girl
- August 4: Rape of a Mrs. Hassan near Sapulpa, Oklahoma Hassan and two of three other female victims of the gang, a Miss Ayres and an Indian girl near Sapulpa, also died; a fourth victim, Mrs. Wilson, was reported to have recovered; it is reported that, after their capture, the gang was almost lynched
The U.S. Deputy Marshals and the Creek Lighthorse police caught up with the gang outside of Muskogee, Oklahoma. They began a day-long gunfight that ended with the gang surrendering to face their punishment.
The Creeks and the United States disagreed on who should be allowed to prosecute them, but the United States ended up taking the gang to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to face "Hanging" Judge Isaac Parker.
Legends of America says this about their final months:
When they were brought to court later in the year, they were convicted of rape and murder and sentenced to die by Parker. However, the initial verdict was appealed, and the execution was delayed. However, in the end, their appeal failed, and Parker was given the opportunity to re-sentence them to death.
The execution of the five members of the Rufus Buck Gang on July 1, 1896, was the second to last execution to occur at Fort Smith. The Buck Gang were the only men to die on the gallows in Fort Smith for rape.