The Perry Republican
Perry, OK

27 Jul 1911 Thu  Page 3

So passes another of the early day characters whose life ads but a paragraph to Perry history and whose memory but rejuvenates the stories of Hells half Acre and the wild scenes of early day life that have passed on to the archives nearly obliterated by the encroachment of civilization and moral development. Jack was a giant basically standing over 6 feet and a solid mass of bone and muscle . His word was law with his colored associates. A meat cutter by occupation gave him the license to carry the regulation size butcher knife instead of the plain razor, the customary defender of his race.  Jack might have preceded his namesake Johnson among fighters had he had the nerve, but it is reported he started more fights than any colored man in the town and won less
 
In the early days when on the rampage, he was a terror for the police force.   could go through a bunch of policemen and forget his yellow streak ,while with a single hand lightweight he was a sure loser . In the days of Chief Tighlman and Sheriff Scruggs , Jack was a liable to break loose day or night and the riot was on.  Shortly after the town opened , Jack and his fighting load met up with the minions of the law and in about 10 minutes he was standing over a promiscuous pile of policeman and deputy sheriffs all down and out. John Harrington a little dried-up Terrier from up the street was attracted by the crowd and sauntered down to see the fun. Harrington had been beaten over the head every day for two weeks with six shooters and iron balls for violating one of Judge Edwards injunctions on the south side building and was in real fighting condition as he passed a hardware store, he picked on a heavy neck yoke and as big Jack Baugh stood gloating over the fallen army , Harrington took one swipe and the colored giant was down and out. At that time the old city jail on Cow Creek had just been completed and Baugh had the honor of being the first guest of Jailer Jim Taylor.   Jack has since led the strenuous life to a greater or less extent and aside from his connection with the illicit sale of booze has been a pretty good sort of citizen.  He had many good qualities, was a good workman periodically, but could not forget the cup that cheers and the fact that the good old days of rough and tumble are over and Hell's Half Acre is a thing of the distant past.