the life and times of waldo cantrell...

Colt Peacemaker--nickel finish
engraved Schofield model 3 breaktop

Sharps rifle



Waldo Cantrell was born in Ohio 1830 , fought in the Mexican American war 1846-48 serving under General Winfield Scott and in that campaign , learned the value of swiftness and ruthless audacity when hopelessly outnumbered. Later Waldo went farther west into the newly gained Mexican territories where he earned fame as an explorer, trapper, adventurer, army scout, buffalo hunter and Indian fighter.

Among others--most unrecorded and unknown--Cantrell would eventually kill Simon “no sense “ Spence over an accused robbery and insult in an ongoing dispute but then would stand trial for manslaughter and afterwards would have to deal with Sy’s brothers: d’Borsgrave ( D.B. ) Spence , Emory and, Emmanuel Spence , Zed and Zion Spence.

Each of the “no-sense Spence” boys were unquestionably thieves , brigands and gunmen of the worst morals, and favoring the newer ‘fast draw’ pistols over the longer barreled Colt, Smith and Wesson , and Remington Arms revolvers that were much more prevalent in the frontier regions . The newer , shorter 5 ½ inch barrels were preferred by gunmen because the weapon could be de-holstered more quickly giving them a distinctive edge over victims , lawmen and other opponents in close range gun battles . These pistols were not the standard hardware and had to be special ordered from the manufacturers back east at almost twice the price of the regular 15 to 25 dollars .

Weary of being at disadvantage, in neighboring Kansas, famous Dodge City law man Bat Masterson would special order a nickel-plated , ivory handled Colt Peacemaker with the reduced 5 ½ inch barrel which was shipped to him at the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge .

“This land is over run with dullards and outright idiots since them Spence boys arrived, ”once remarked Waldo with his usual uninhibited directness . “When it comes to idiots,” said Waldo dryly, “ Simon Spence is uncontested king.”

In one of their earlier confrontations The Spence brothers made it clear there would be trouble between them and Cantrell .


“ Look at him , the ‘Great Indian Fighter’ --dead drunk again--this time in broad daylight. This is easy pickings boys --let’s see if he’s got any more money. He’s drunk as a barkeep‘s monkey . “

Waldo sat upright in the wooden chair rising from the slouch of his late morning outdoor siesta . The sun was bright, the sky clear and the effects of alcohol no longer clouded his senses --or reflexes .

Next to him within easy reach was propped the Sharp’s 44 rifle --instrument of choice by Buffalo hunters of the Great Plains and US Army snipers because of its high accuracy at extreme distance . Able to hit with adequate stopping force targets almost a mile away , in the right hands the Sharps rifle made a formidable opponent .

“ Well if it isn’t Sy , D.B., Emory, Emmanuel , Zed and Zion , the “no sense” Spence boys,“ remarked Waldo relighting his pipe. “All six together aren’t worth a thimble full of bird shit.”

Passersby recognizing the Spence boys and expecting trouble, hurried past. Sitting in warm sunshine outside "Aunt Josie’s Fine Dining Eatery", Waldo had smoked his pipe, gotten sleepy and rested a while after enjoying a mid-morning breakfast of beefsteak, home fry potatoes, cornbread with strawberry jam, eggs, coffee and toasted apple slices with cinnamon. Despite Aunt Josie’s protestations Waldo refused her offer of a free meal and insisted on chopping her some wood and stove kindling in exchange for the breakfast.

“ He don’t carry no side arm, ” weezed Sy Spence’s nasal voice “ Just that old buffalo gun --and it ain’t a repeater, just an old fashion single shot. “

“A single shot is all I need to plow your numb skull from stem to stern .” Cantrell warned.

Tom Reed on horseback rounded the corner in time to see his friend Waldo potentially at odds with the Spence boys. Like a policeman parting a crowd , he rode right between the Spences and Waldo, Tom’s horse’s closeness and size, enough to force Sy to step out of the way.

Pretending to ignore the Spences , Tom stopped in front of Aunt Josie’s directly blocking out the brothers from the object of their anger. With Tom on horseback as obstruction and his hands poised akimbo--suspiciously convenient for pulling pistols , the Spence brothers saw their opportunity to be immortally enshrined as the killers of "the Great Waldo Cantrell", slipping away.

Emboldened , white-haired Aunt Josie herself , despite her advancing age, surprised them all by stepping out onto the Eatery’s porch and quickly handing Cantrell a double-barreled shotgun .

" Excuse me , I hate to interrupt you boys’ conversation , but Waldo can you have a look at this thing for me ? Be careful. It must have some kind of hair-trigger because it goes off when you least expect it.”

If Cantrell’s friend Tom Reed and the indomitable Aunt Josie had not intervened to tip the odds less in the Spence boys favor , Sy might have been tempted to seek battle with old Waldo right then and there, but Waldo's rifle , Aunt Josie’s scatter gun and Reed’s reputation with the .45 caliber Schofield model 3 pistol and it’s fast reloading capabilities was enough to convince the Spences to retreat and await a better moment.

"Waldo , I have to take a ride outta town with Dan Brady, why don't you get your horse and go with us a ways ," Tom suggested loudly enough for the retreating Spences to hear. Tom's reasoning in part being that the prospect of a three on six fight out in open range--the type of encounter that was Cantrell's specialty-- was not likely to entice any cowards to follow .