Bass Reeves: Deputy US Marshal

Bass Reeves, the first black Deputy US Marshal, a flashy dresser and  fast with his twin six shooters as well as his sawed off shotgun,  rode throughout the Wild Indian Territory for 32 years arresting over 3000 men including his own son for murder and killing 14 outlaws and wounding many more who refused to surrounder.

Based on the real life of Baz “Bass” Reeves

 In May of 1875, Judge Isaac C. Parker residing over 75,000 square miles of Indian territory known today as Oklahoma, commissioned the first black man ever as a deputy US marshal. The man was Baz ″Bass″ Reeves who served for 32 years during which time he arrested over 3000 men and killed 14. He was never wounded himself, though he had buttons of his coat shot off, the reins in his hands shot through and at one time got his hat brim shot off.

During his law enforcement career, Reeves stood 6'2" and weighed 180 pounds. He could shoot a pistol or rifle accurately with his right or left hand; settlers said Reeves could whip any two men with his bare hands. Reeves became a legend during his lifetime for his ability to catch criminals under trying circumstances. He brought fugitives by the dozen into the Fort Smith federal jail. Reeves said the largest number of outlaws he ever caught at one time was nineteen horse thieves he captured near Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His reputation as a marshal who always gets his man grew over the years. Even the noted female outlaw Bell Star turned herself in at Fort Smith when she found out Reeves had the warrant for her arrest.

In 1902, Bass Reeves had to ride out into Indian Territory and arrest his own son who had murdered his wife and fled. No other US deputies would take the warrant. They weren't afraid of the son, it was what Bass might so if his son resisted them that they were concerned with.

Bass retired from the Marshal's service on 1907 whern Oklahoma became a state.

He died in 1910.