Rufus Buck Gang
Left to right: Maoma July; Sam Sampson; Rufus Buck; Lucky Davis; Lewis Davis. | |
| Founded | July 28, 1895 |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Indian Territory |
| Years active | 1895 |
| Ethnicity | Creek |
| Membership | Rufus Buck, Lewis Davis, Sam Sampson, Maoma July, Lucky Davis |
| Activities | Armed robbery, murder, rape |
The Rufus Buck Gang was an outlaw Native American gang whose members were Creek Indian and African American. Their crime spree took place in the Indian Territory of the Arkansas–Oklahoma area from July 30, 1895, through August 4, 1895.
The gang was formed by Rufus Buck, who was reportedly driven to commit his crime spree by anger over white people moving into the Indian Territory, but also expressed a desire to gain local notoriety. The other members were Lewis Davis, Sam Sampson, Maoma July, and Lucky Davis. The gang began building up a small stockpile of weapons while staying in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. After killing U.S. Deputy Marshal John Garrett on July 30, 1895, the gang began holding up various stores and ranches in the Fort Smith area during the next two weeks. In one incident, a salesman named Callahan – after being robbed – was offered a chance to escape if he could outrun the gang. When the elderly Callahan successfully escaped, the gang killed his assistant in frustration.
At least two female victims who had been raped by the gang died of their injuries.