By R. T. Lawton

Editor’s Note: The ethics of some colorful characters of the Old West have been questionable, undoubtedly because at various times in their lives they operated both sides of the street, sometimes as lawmen, other times as lawbreakers. But one cowboy who came north to Dakota Territory with a cattle drive pinned on a marshal’s badge and stayed on the right side of the law.

                 When news of gold discoveries reached the outside world, eager prospectors traveling from the south followed the trail of migrating buffalo herds through the only natural opening that led from the prairie into the Black Hills. The town that quickly took root at this natural opening became known as Buffalo Gap.

            In December 1885, the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad steamed into Buffalo Gap, making it a shipping point for travelers and cattle. The town soon had four blacksmith shops, three livery barns, 17 hotels and eating places, 23 saloons, two large sporting houses and a whole row of small ones, four general stores, two drug stores, three Chinese laundries, hardware, clothing and furniture stores, and a station stop established by George Boland to accommodate passengers and livestock for the Sydney Stage Line.

            Like other gold rush towns, the flourishing town was quickly overrun with the criminal element. Businessmen, with little respect for the sheriff, met in secret to discuss the rising problem of lawlessness and asked a former Texas cowboy to become the town marshal.

            Arch Wilder Riordan, born in Kentucky on June 30, 1861, came into the Dakotas as a cattle drover with a Texas herd. He liked the bustling community of Buffalo Gap and the country surrounding it, so decided to give up the hard and lonely life of a cowboy for a new business, a combination drugstore/saloon.

            As a businessman with a stake in the community, Riordan agreed to serve as town marshal, believing that a good citizen should do his part in upholding the law.

            The town’s wild element didn’t share his opinion. Local hoodlums brought in a hired gunman to get rid of the new lawman. When Charlie Fugit arrived from Wyoming, they set up the plot by starting a fight in one of the local dance halls. Riordan arrived at the scene and was confronted by Fugit. Faster than the gunman hired to kill him, the marshal shot Fugit down on the spot.

            On another occasion, Riordan took a gun away from an outlaw named Sam, then lodged him in the city jail, a heavy 10x10 building with solid doors and small iron-barred windows. As the marshal walked away, his prisoner drew a small revolver from his boot top and called out to Riordan. As the marshal turned, Sam fired and missed. Drawing his own pistol, Riordan informed Sam he would carry evidence of the attempted murder for the rest of his life, then proceeded to shoot off the outlaw’s left ear lobe. 

            For such life-risking incidents Arch Riordan was paid an 1876 town marshal’s salary of $75 a month. He seemed to lead a charmed life, escaping many close calls, but never drew his gun without provocation. He was later appointed U. S. Marshal.

            Described as an attractive man with a southern accent, Marshal Riordan stood over six feet tall and weighed about 240 pounds. He was well liked and respected by law abiding citizens, made friends easily and was considered to be a fine judge of character.

As the gold rush waned, so did the city of Buffalo Gap . The railroad extended to Rapid City and several businesses went with it. Riordan eventually married the Widow Tuttle and became a good father to his stepson. After his wife died, he moved to Hot Springs and bought an interest in the Hot Springs Bottling Works. In 1910, and for several years thereafter, he served as the mayor of Hot Springs.