In the rugged terrain near Thompson Springs, Utah, a chapter of the Old West's violent history was written on May 26, 1900. On that day, 46-year-old Deputy Sheriff Samuel Jenkins of Grand County was shot and killed. A male, Jenkins was part of a posse led by Grand County Sheriff Jesse Tyler, combing the remote Book Cliffs region for a cattle rustler.
The lawmen came upon a camp near Hill Creek and, unaware of the true identities of the men within, they approached.
Among the campers was the notorious outlaw Harvey Logan, better known as Kid Curry, a member of the infamous Wild Bunch gang. Recognizing Sheriff Tyler, Curry and his associates opened fire without warning, killing both Jenkins and Tyler instantly.
The brazen double murder was believed to be an act of retaliation. Kid Curry sought revenge for the recent killing of his associate, George Curry, by lawmen. In the aftermath of the deadly shootout, an extensive manhunt was launched to capture the assailants. Despite their efforts over several weeks, the posse was unable to bring Kid Curry and his fellow gang members to justice, as they skillfully evaded capture in the unforgiving landscape.
Kid Curry remained a fugitive and continued his criminal exploits for several more years until he was killed in Colorado in 1904 following a train robbery. Deputy Samuel Jenkins was laid to rest in the Ogden City Cemetery in Weber County, Utah, his life cut short in a violent confrontation that underscored the dangers faced by law enforcement in the American West.
