S.A.S.S. #24685 S.G.R. # 34 |
Tom was born in Fort Hamilton, Ohio in 1851. He was the son of (Hanging) Judge Roy Star. His Mother, Pearl, was a teacher. When Tom was ten the judge sentenced a Bandit leader named Tuscadero to be hanged. After the hanging the Judge and his family boarded a train heading to the next town. Tuscadero's brother, Muscadero, and his bandits, attacked the train. They killed the Judge, his wife and everyone on that train. A Cavalry Troop scouting the area found Tom alive and adopted him. During the civil war he shot three Confederate sharpshooters in one day at the battle of Gettysburg. This awarded him an official position as one of General Ulysses S. Grant's personal bodyguards. When General Grant became the 18th President of the United States he made Tom his chief bodyguard. After President Grant's second term ended, and while he was still in Washington, DC, Tom met US Marshall, John Cahill. Marshall Cahill was on his way to investigate the disappearance of a deputy in Texas. Familiar with Tom's reputation as a scout, tracker and marksman he invited him to go along. While tracking the band of outlaws, they joined forces with some Texas Rangers on the same trail. Tom scouted ahead of the others and found the bandits camped in a canyon with two entrances. The Marshal and Tom went in one entrance and the rangers the other. As the Marshal and Tom rode slowly into the entrance, Cahill pulled a Marshal's badge from his coat, and pinned it on Tom's vest, which was black and had six silver Conchos instead of buttons. When the Marshall said, "I am looking for a bandit named Muscadero," the bandits ran for their guns and lead started flying! Then the Marshal's horse fell and pinned him under it! He fired his Winchester as he attempted to free his leg! |
Men were yelling and shooting, horses were running wild! The dust was so thick it was hard to see. Tom, riding at full gallop, felt three sharp pains in his chest! He couldn't breathe. The bullets pushed him out of the saddle! He hit the ground gasping for air! As he rolled onto his hands and knees and tried to stand, he felt another pain in his chest that spun him back to the ground! As he got back up on one knee he pulled his pistols and shot at every thing that moved! He could hear lead whistling by as he staggered to his feet! He then pulled his vest pistols and noticed there was no blood on his chest. But! He saw his conchos and badge were dented. They had saved him. The shooting continued around him. He reloaded and saw 10 men moving toward him. He fired 15 shots and 15 bullets found their mark! Then a big man approached Tom as he quickly reloaded. He recognized him as the bandit, Muscadero, who had killed his parents! "Hey Gringo, I shot you four times! What is your name?" Muscadero exclaimed! "My fathers name was Judge Roy Star." Then Muscadero pulled both his pistols, but Tom with lightning speed shot them out of his hands. Muscadero then said, "You're not taking me alive!" as he slid a hidden derringer out of his sleeve, Tom shot it out of his hand. Muscadero then tried to pull a knife from his boot, and Tom shot the knife off his boot. Muscadero then picked up a rock and threw it at Tom while running towards a horse. Tom dodged the rock, watched a moment, and then shot him in the knee. As Muscadero fell against the horse, he pulled a Winchester off the saddle. Tom paused, then shot him in the shoulder! The Marshall could not see, except for the flashes of gunfire and sparkles of what looked like a badge through the dust! Then he saw something moving towards him; it looked like a lone man wearing a dented Star! It was Tom leading a horse with a man tied over the saddle. From that day he would always be known as "LoneStar Tom," A Western folklore legend. |
