The Belle Starr Story: The Piano

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

We are continuing with our series about the notorious, and sometimes gracious and charming, Belle Starr. Today I wanted to talk a little about her personality so if you came over here today for gunplay and action there is none of that today, sorry.

If you've been reading this series you already know that Belle was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed playing whever she found a piano, much of the time that was in the saloons! lol.

Belle's conflicting personality

But when she played in the homes of friends whom she visited she loved to talk to the children and would sing play hymns for them. This was quite surprising to me given her choice of careers!

It also highlights the many conflicting aspects of her personality. On one hand she was a ruthless bandit and most likely the mastermind of a large horse theft and moonshining operation.

On the other hand she loved children, sang hymns to them and could be the ultimate "proper" lady in charm, etiquette and social graces! She may have even been saved and was a Christian, especially in her later years.

Belle's piano

This is the story that I wanted to cover today, how she got a piano. Not just any old piano but a grand piano. This story was told by a freighter named John Jetton and is found in the Oklahoma State Historical Society archives.

Jetton hauled goods in his wagon between Fort Smith and Stigler, had unloaded the goods and was looking for more to take back so he wouldn't be going back empty handed, he'd make money going both directions.

Well, he came across a Choctaw Indian named Perry who was walking around a big crate on the side of the street, muttering to himself. When Jetton asked him what he had there Perry said that he'd been sent in to pick up supplies for the neighborhood on the Choctaw Reservation and had been given $50 to do that.

The problem is that he had gotten drunk the night before and early in the morning had run into a man pulling two wagons of household goods heading for Texas but the man was out of money and his kids were "mighty hungry."

An accidental purchase

Perry felt sorry for the man and when the man offered to sell his piano Perry gave him everything he had for what he viewed as a magnificent piece of funiture and music machine...for $50! lol.

Now he was in a BIG pickle because he was sobering up and realized he wouldn't be able to buy the supplies that he was entrusted to buy.

So here comes Belle galloping by on Venus and when she sees the piano she wheels around and comes back to enquire about it.

Perry confesses in anquish "Folks sent me to buy things they need. Now they big mad. Fraid to go home. They raise plenty hell with Perry. Can't carry piano back on pack horse either!" I feel sorry for the guy but it IS funny at the same time. lol.

Belle asked how much he paid and whips out $50 in gold coin and tells him to buy his supplies and get back home.
Then she turns to Jetton and asks if he has his freight wagon and tells him she'll pay him $50 to haul the piano to her cabin in the woods.

pixabay

He hesitates because of her reputation, the reputation of her homestead, her husband Sam and all these caution flags are coming up in his mind...but $50 is alot of money.

In fact in 1884 that $50 was worth about $1,300 in todays money so it was big bucks back then. So he agreed, loaded it up and hauled it. Upon arriving Sam comes out of the cabin and Belle says that she bought herself a present and that she would explain later.

Jetton wrote this about his impression of Sam:

"Sam Starr was the most striking man I ever met. He was over 6 feet tall, slim, broad shouldered, face like a picture. Even his big revolver seemed to fit."

Sorry, there are no photos of him anywhere, I'm sure he never allowed any to be taken. So the piano is unloaded, there are two "rough looking" men who helped, Belle pulls out three $20 gold pieces and gives them to Jetton even though the agreed price was $50. She said he earned it.

Ok, that's like $1,500 in todays money and probably a years salary back then for most people. Now he starts to sweat a little knowing the reputation of these folk. Belle motions for Sam to go with him and Sam leads his wagon to the ferry at the Canadian River.

Jetton realizes that she sent Sam to protect him on his way out, Sam tells him to stop in if he ever got back that way. Jetton said he was so relieved he couldn't even talk, he just nodded. lol.

What's entertaining to me is this old cabin now has a beautiful grand piano and they said it was almost new! This is NOT the type of thing you would expect to find in a dwelling like this. But if you notice... Belle has a way of getting what she wants!

source

Thanks for reading folks, in the next post Belle has another serious brush with the Law.

-jonboy Texas
the gentleman redneck

ps- ya know....you might just be a redneck if:

You named your backhoe after your ex wife!