Steve Long

Long soon earned a reputation as a particularly violent lawman, killing eight men in gunfights within two months. On October 22, 1867, Long opened fire on eight men during a street brawl after his orders to cease were ignored, killing five of the men. He rarely arrested anyone, choosing instead to either intimidate them with the threat of force or shoot them.

Long soon earned a reputation as a particularly violent lawman, killing eight men in gunfights within two months. On October 22, 1867, Long opened fire on eight men during a street brawl after his orders to cease were ignored, killing five of the men. He rarely arrested anyone, choosing instead to either intimidate them with the threat of force or shoot them.

Long and his brothers used their forceful personalities and his position as the Deputy Marshal to their own financial advantage. Within months of his gaining that position, they had forced several local ranchers to sign over to them the deeds to their properties. Several of those who refused were later confronted while alone by Long, who killed them, always claiming later that the other man had reached for a weapon. If the victim was not carrying a pistol or rifle, Long would place one on his person after killing him. There were never any witnesses. It is alleged that Long killed at least nine men in that fashion during a four-month period. Local residents called the saloon the “Bucket of Blood” because of the violence that often happened inside.

Long and his brothers used their forceful personalities and his position as the Deputy Marshal for financial advantage. Within months of his gaining that position, they forced several local ranchers to sign over to them the deeds to their properties. Several of those who refused were confronted while alone by Long, who killed them, always claiming the other man reached for a weapon. If the victim was not carrying a pistol or rifle, Long would place one on his person after killing him. There were never any witnesses. Long killed at least nine men in that fashion during a four-month period. Local residents called the saloon the “Bucket of Blood”, because of the violence inside.

By October 1868, Long had killed thirteen men. Another seven men had been killed under suspicious circumstances, with Long suspected, but his role was never confirmed. There was no evidence to support his being named as the killer in these incidents. Long made little effort to find the alleged murderers, leading to speculation that he had committed those murders. Each of the seven men had been known to have refused to sign over land deeds to Long and his brothers.

By October 1868, Long killed thirteen men. Another seven men were killed under suspicious circumstances, with Long suspected, but his role was never confirmed. There was no evidence to support he was named as the killer in these incidents. Long made little effort to find the alleged murderers, leading to speculation he committed those murders. Each of the seven men refused to sign over land deeds to Long and his brothers.

A local rancher and the first [[sheriff]] of [[Albany County, Wyoming|Albany County]], [[N. K. Boswell]], organized several other ranchers to conspire against the three brothers. Boswell insisted that if they could watch Long closely enough, eventually they could catch him in the act of committing a crime. Then they could act against him with the law on their side. On October 18, 1868, Long attempted to [[robbery|rob]] a [[Prospecting|prospector]] named Rollie “Hard Luck” Harrison. Harrison drew a pistol, and a gunfight erupted between the two. Long was wounded and retreated. Harrison was killed, dying from his wounds before naming his assailant. .

A local rancher and the first [[sheriff]] of [[Albany County, Wyoming|Albany County]], [[N. K. Boswell]], organized several other ranchers to conspire against the three brothers. Boswell insisted if they watched Long long enough, they could catch him in a crime, then they could act against him within the law. On October 18, 1868, Long attempted to [[robbery|rob]] a [[Prospecting|prospector]] named Rollie “Hard Luck” Harrison. Harrison drew a pistol, and a gunfight erupted between the two. Long was wounded and retreated. Harrison was killed, dying from his wounds before naming his assailant.

Long confessed to his [[fiancee]] how he became wounded, and she told N. K. Boswell. Boswell organized several men in the town. They entered the saloon owned by Long and his brothers on October 28. The posse overwhelmed the three and led them to an unfinished cabin in town. Long was quiet throughout the process. He asked only to be allowed to remove his boots, saying, “My mother always said I’d die with my boots on”. He was [[Lynching|lynched]] barefoot, hanged along with Con and Ace Moyer from the rafters of the cabin. There were no legal actions taken against the members of the lynch mob. A photograph of the three men after they were hanged was taken, and on the back was written, “(1) Gunfighter “Big” Steve Long, (2) Con Moyer, (3) Ace Moyer, A lynching in Laramie Wyo. -1868- Con & Ace were founders of Laramie Wyoming!”. Following his death, Long’s fiancee erected a marker in his memory.

Long confessed to his [[fiancee]] how he became wounded, and she told N. K. Boswell. Boswell organized several men in the town. They entered the saloon owned by Long and his brothers on October 28. The posse overwhelmed the three and led them to an unfinished cabin in town. Long was quiet throughout the process. He asked only to be allowed to remove his boots, saying, “My mother always said I’d die with my boots on”. He was [[Lynching|lynched]] barefoot, hanged along with Con and Ace Moyer from the rafters of the cabin. There were no legal actions taken against the Regulators. A photograph of the three men after they were hanged was taken, and on the back was written, “(1) Gunfighter “Big” Steve Long, (2) Con Moyer, (3) Ace Moyer, A lynching in Laramie Wyo. -1868- Con & Ace were founders of Laramie Wyoming!”. Following his death, Long’s fiancee erected a marker in his memory.

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