MCDADE, Bastrop County, December 25, (ap).—

Eleven dead men, their booted feet sprawled and their stiff arms covered with frost, lay on the station platform Christmas morning when the Houston and Texas Central pulled into town.  The station platform, high enough for a cow to prowl under, was at the right level to give the few passengers a good view of a grim night’s work.  Women fainted.  Stalwart men paled.

            That was 51 years ago this morning.  But the memory of one night’s work in the village, peaceful and quiet today, still is fresh. No tears were shed for the 11 grim figures.  Their trigger fingers stilled, and that was what the residents of McDade wanted.

                                  “WELCOMING COMMITTEE”

            For months outlaw gangs had menaced the McDade Community.  Pistols cracked at cross roads and at isolated spots.  Men were robbed and the bold outlaws rode back to town in quest of the next victims.

            The 11 men had organized themselves into a “Welcoming Committee” and greeted strangers in McDade.  The visitors were treated royally.  They drank good liquor at the expense of the “Committee” and won from members of the “Committee” at poker.  They had a good time –and usually revealed information as to the amount of valuables on their person.

            Many of the visitors –disappeared after they left McDade. Occasionally a horse with an empty saddle would show up at home. The “Committee” made its mistake shortly before Christmas 1885, When a prominent farmer had been to town and sold some cotton.

            When his oxen lumbered in home with the wagon that night the farmer, shot to death and robbed was in the bed of the wagon.   Irked residents met in groups about town.  There was to be a Christmas Eve dance but they didn’t talk about the dance.

TAKE OVER DANCE

The dance started on schedule and suddenly six well dressed and slightly drunk bandits entered the house and took possession, grabbing the prettiest girls and helping themselves to refreshments prepared for later in the evening.

            A square dance was called.  The six visitors picked partners and joined the dance.  As suddenly as the bandits had entered the house filled with armed citizens.  They nabbed the outlaws disarmed them.  They ordered that the music and dancing continue until 8 0’clock the next morning.

            A post oak with spreading branches was convenient, within a few minutes six men were swinging by their necks. The citizens, leaving the noise of the dance, found two other members of the “Committee” at their homes.  They paid with their necks.  Three others tried to escape, when found in the back of a saloon..  They fell as the citizens opened fire.

Then the 11 were brought together and placed on “exhibit” on the H.& T.C. platform.  Ever since the excitement among the Christmas train passengers subsided,  McDade has been a quiet place, a village all outlaws shunned.