Frank's Unlikely But Remarkable Friendship With A Young Black Kid

Howdy folks and greetings from the Great Plains of North Texas!

We're in a series about one of the top Texas Ranger lawmen to ever wear the badge, the great Frank Hamer, who was brought out of retirement to take down Bonnie and Clyde.

Recap

In the last post Frank began establishing himself in his new town by using brute force to intimidate the bullies, ruffians and hateful racists.

His being a former Texas Ranger was a big advantage because most townspeople were familiar with him due to his visits during the last two years when he and other Rangers were stationed there to help the Sheriff keep violence under control.

So they knew that if they forced his hand he could send for the Texas Rangers again and they'd be in even more trouble. So they reluctantly put up with him while he hammered away at the criminal elements in town.

Today's story

One of the most interesting aspects of Frank's time in Navasota was his unusual friendship with a 14 yr old Black kid named Mance Lipscomb, the son of an ex-slave.

Oh, I forgot to mention that the Blacks in town were elated about Frank being there because they quickly saw that he would arrest white members of the White Man's Union and they'd never seen those racists being arrested before!

When Frank was stationed in Navasota the year before, young Mance(that is such an unusual name, has anyone ever heard that name before?) was totally fascinated with Frank's presence, his fighting ability, toughness, and his fairness.

Frank's biggest fan

So when he saw Frank the next year and learned that he was the new Marshal he was over the top about it. He shadowed him everywhere, he idolized him.

The two got to be friends and a very unlikely pair. Mance would drive him all over town and the county in the Marshal's buggy, he was like Frank's personal chauffeur! lol.

This scene alone HAD to have driven the hateful white racists crazy!

Mance in his own words

Years later Mance talked about Frank in some interviews. He had a thick, Southern, rural East Texas drawl. Here's a little of what he had to say, I think you'll like this:

"He was a BAD man. He was a Ranger. You know what they is? Texas Ranger...No purdy in 'im. He's as bad as they git." Mance talked about trouble makers who resisted arrest. The real hardcases Frank would kick all the way to the city jail.

"But if he hit ya, he knock you down. He did'n have no branch or nothin, just his fists. One lick, you goin down."

A great role model

Mance was also amazed at Frank's attitude toward Black women because he treated them with the utmost respect just like white women and Mance had never seen that before either.

That was part of the Cowboy Code which Frank lived by. All females were to be honored and treated with great respect. Mance and Frank became fast friends. Mance was astounded at Frank's skill with guns and would take him out in the country to practice.

Here's more of Mance on Frank's character: "Now he wad'n fraid a black or white. He wad'n no PIECE of a man, he was a WHOLE man. See, the people runnin this place..the white folks...said, Well, I'm gonna run this place."

Mista Hayman say, "I think you got that pitched over some ways. I'M running this place. When you do wrong, you got to go to jail. Don't care how much money you got."

Mance said Frank told him, " I'm for RIGHT, not white. If you don't do what I say, I'm gonna put you in jail, black or white."

A common interest

Mance was a music lover, always singing and many times playing the guitar when they were together. Frank also loved music.

Remember when Frank was shot by that crazy rancher when he was 17 years old? Well, while he was recovering he taught himself to play the fiddle, and was darn good at it! lol. The guy was amazing. So anyway, he had that music bond with Mance.

Mance actually went on to become one of America's legendary Blues muscians and influenced a generation of artists like Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan, so he made it big.

source

Here's one of his songs if you wanna hear some classic Blues:

We'll talk more about Frank's time in Navasota in the next post. And Mance has more comments too.

Thanks for reading folks, God bless you all!
-jonboy
Texas