In the annals of the Old West, the story of George 'Red Buck' Weightman, a man of roughly 45 years, came to a violent end in the cold of March 1896. Known for his fiery red hair and a ruthless disposition, Weightman had carved a fearsome reputation as a member of the notorious Doolin-Dalton gang. His life of crime, however, would ultimately lead to his demise in a hail of bullets near Arapaho, Oklahoma.
Weightman's journey into infamy was marked by a string of robberies and a penchant
for violence that reportedly made even his outlaw companions uneasy. After being kicked out of the Doolin-Dalton gang for his excessive brutality, he formed his own gang and continued to terrorize the Oklahoma Territory. His criminal exploits included train robberies and the cold-blooded murder of a preacher, which solidified his status as a wanted man with a price on his head.
The law, in the form of a determined posse of U.S. Deputy Marshals, was relentless in its pursuit. In early March 1896, the marshals tracked Weightman and his accomplice, George Miller, to a dugout near Arapaho where they were being harbored. On the morning of March 4th, as Weightman emerged from the shelter, he was met by the lawmen. A fierce gun battle ensued, and in the exchange of fire, Deputy Marshal Joe Ventioner shot and killed the outlaw known as Red Buck. In the same shootout, George Miller was severely wounded but survived to be captured. The death of George 'Red Buck' Weightman marked the end of a violent chapter in the history of the American frontier, brought about by the lawmen who were both the pursuers and the agents of his final fate.
