Today In Wild West History: The Death of Ranger
June 30, 1893 — Frank Jones was the best of the best, but Mexican horse thieves won the day
On this day in 1893, Texas Ranger Captain Frank Jones was ambushed and killed by a gang of Mexican horse rustlers on the wrong side of the Mexican border.
The Toughest Ranger
Frank Jones was a Texas Ranger who lived by the gun — and died by it too. In his long career in law and order, he faced ambushes, rustlers, bandits, and desperadoes. He always came out on top, until one fateful day when he met his match on the Mexican border. This is the story of a man who had more lives than a cat but finally ran out of luck. Read on, if you dare, about the legend of Frank Jones, the toughest Ranger who ever wore a badge.
Early Days
Frank Jones was born in Austin, Texas, where he learned to ride and shoot at an early age. He joined the Rangers when he was just 17, and soon became known for his bravery and skill. He fought in many battles and skirmishes, earning himself a reputation as a fearless fighter and a loyal friend. He also made many enemies, who swore to get even with him someday. Frank Jones didn’t care. He lived for the thrill of the chase and the glory of the fight.
First Taste of Action
Frank got his first taste of action as a low-ranking Ranger in pursuit of a gang of Mexican horse thieves. The thieves ambushed Frank and two fellow Rangers. Frank’s companions were shot down instantly, leaving him as the last man standing. With unyielding determination, he retaliated, unleashing fury with his trusty Henry Rifle, felling two bandits and capturing a third.
Torrent of Justice
Frank rose through the ranks, earning the stripes of sergeant and a reputation as a tough and relentless lawman. On one fateful day, Frank and his loyal band of six Rangers fell victim to a cunning trap. In the chaos that ensued, three brave Rangers lost their lives, while Frank and the remaining two were taken captive.
Little did the rustlers know that their ill-conceived plan would soon backfire. Seizing a moment of opportunity, Frank freed himself and acquired a loaded rifle. With swift vengeance coursing through his veins, he unleashed a torrent of justice, shooting dead every last one of his captors.
The Last Ambush — June 30, 1893
Under the scorching Texas sun, Jones and his loyal posse rode with vengeance burnin’ in their hearts, hunting down the wily members of the Bosque Gang, a low-down gang of outlaws plaguing the borderlands. The situation had become so dire that Jones had sent a desperate plea for reinforcements. But no response came, the silence speakin’ louder than a Winchester rifle’s crack in the night.
Now finding themselves on the wrong side of the Mexican border, Jones and his posse encountered two Mexicans riding toward them. The riders fled upon seeing the lawmen, leading to a relentless chase that ended in the village of Tres Jacales. A fierce gunfight ensued with at least four Mexican assailants. Though wounded, Jones valiantly returned fire until a fatal shot struck his chest, extinguishing a hero’s flame in the heart of the Wild West.
Revenge is Served, Cold
In the scorching battle, Jones’s men fought valiantly for an hour, wounding two of the Mexicans. But trapped in Mexico with federales en route to aid the outlaws, the lawmen reluctantly retreated to the U.S., leaving Captain Jones’s body behind.
After negotiations with Mexican officials, Jones’s body was eventually retrieved and now rests in Ysleta, Texas. The Bosque Gang outlaws escaped the justice of Mexican authorities, but many of them soon died “under mysterious circumstances”. Apparently, Jones’s loyal posse returned across the Mexican border to finish the job.
