The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-08-16
Airhmunn Qispattb.
THURs ,AY mORNiN sc AUG. 10. lse
LIFE In THE FAR WEST.
An Editors Experience at Pixies Peak
Mob Lnyv-Gambiers Killed, &c., &c.

+
Mob Lnw-Gambiers Killed, &c., &c. .
In an ARRAY at Denver City, P.ke's Peak, a
short time since, man was shot and killed
by Charley Harrison, gambler. VIM. M Cd,
Byers. the editor OF the News denounced the
deed as a wanten murder, but retracted por-
tion of the article afterwards, and expressed
the hope that legal examination would ac-
quit Harrison. letter, dated Denver City,
Aug 2, gives the following picture of frontier
life, resulting from the above facts:
This was satisfactory to Harrison, but not
| to his brother gam biers, who were greatly in
censed at the refusal of the editor to make
direct retraction without satisfac tory proof
that his charge was false On Tuesday last
Mr.. Byers WAS sitting in his office, engaged in
conversation with Gen. LarImer, Edward
Creigh ton, Esq, from St. Louis, and the Rev.
Mr. Rankin, from Wisconsin. None of the
party were armed, and as the two gentlemen
last named had but Just arrived in this reg ion,
the succeeding even must have given them a
novel idea OF the state OF society at Pixies
Peak.
Four gamblers, named George Steele, Carl
! Wood, James Ennis aad John Rucker sud
denly entered the room, with their cooked re-
yolyers in their hands. Wood seized Byers
| BY the collar, and while the four weapons
were all aimed at the head of the astonished
| editor, applied the most abusive epithets to
him, and insisted that he should at once ac-
company them to the Criterion Saloon, two
squares distant, to meet Harrison. Resistance
was out OF the question, for the only weapon
in the office was a single shotgun, in another
apartment. Mr.. Byers was therefore COM
PEELED 10 60 with them, Wood retaining his
grasp upon his collar during the walk, and
repeatedly exciaiming with the most profane
and Insulting epithets, If any of your friends
make the least movement for your rescue l
will shoot you upon the spot"
On reaching the saloon, they insisted upon
| a retraction OF the offensive article; but by
ers maintained his former position 1t ap-
| peared that Harrison had done all in his power
10 restrain the desperadoes and. taking By
ers aside under the prete of conyersing
with him, he succeeded in enabling him to es-
cape from the room and accom- panied him
back to the office. When the gam blers learned
that their prey had fed, they reno u ted their
horses and returned 10 the News building
| Wood with his two confederates remained
| near the edifce, pointing double barrel ed
| shot gun at The front doo-, and expressing 4
| determination TO shoot Byers when he should
| attempt TO escape; while Steele rode around
| toward the rear of the building and dis
charged two shots into it. Fortunately they
did not reach any of the occupants; and one
of the compositors returning the fire, sue
| ceeded in lodging a hall in his shoulder.
| By this time intelligence OF the affair had
| spread through the city, and half q dozen
| armed citizens on horseback reached the scene
| of the attack. The gamblers fled in t-multu-
| Gus haste, and were followed in hot pursuit. -
Steele crossed Cherry Greek into West Dan.
yer or AuraTia, endeavored 10 pass over the
| bridge across the Platte, but was "headed Oft -
| and returned Ito East Denver While riding
| at rapid gailop along Blake street, near the
corner of G., he was met by Thomas Pollock
| Esq, the Marshal of the Vigilance Committed
| also riding al a bieak-neck pace. Mr. Pollock
| instantly presented shotgun, and Steele
| drew revolver but before he was able to use
| il, Mr. Pollock fired. Notwiths landing the
| unchecked speed of both horses the aim was
| deadly, the entire charge of shot entered the
head Of the gambler, near the right eye, and
| he fell heavily and helplessly to the ground
He was taken to the HoSpi tai and died in tw O
hours. Steele was OF the desperadoes
| driven out of Leavenworth by the citizens two
| years ago, not on any charge connec ted with
the political troubles, but for his general char.
acIer as a clt-threat
Ennis made his escape. Rucker was arrest
| ed and placed under guard. Wood was pur-
| sued and surrounded on street. At first he
| presented a shotgun at the crowd but The
sight of scores of revolyers and rifles instantly
pointed at his head coWed him. and lie gave
| himself up. While he was being taken TO the
hall, over Grahams drug store, for safe keep
| ing, repeated cries Of " Hang him - Hang
| him at once," came up from the crowd He
| pleaded piteously, however, fer a trial, and
| was saved from summary punishment by the
| officers of the Committee.
| In the evening amass meeting of nearly two
| thousand people assembled in front of the neW
| Post-Ofice. Mr.. Byers related the occur
| rences Of the day and addresses recommend
| ing watchtulness and prompt though deiiber-
| Waggonner, DR.. Caste, ard an old mountain
| man, who has exchanged his Scotch cognom
| OF McGaa, for the extremely indefinite apnella.
| tion of Captain j ohm Smith. Jacl, Henderson
| OF Kansas election frauds notoriety in a state
| of inebriation, also commenced TO harangue
the crowd, but was soon cried down. A reso-
! luton endorsing the action OF Mr.. Pollock
| was unanimously adopted; and when some
| one in the assembly called for "three cheers
| for Tom Pollock.'' they were yociferously
| given
| The trial Of Wood commenced last evening
and is not yet concluded. 1t is conducted by
| the Vigilance Committee; but the Jurors were
| selected from the citizens without regard to
| their connection with that organization The
| public feeling is exceedingly intense and many
| declare that if Wood escapes through any
| technicalities, they will shoot him down wher-
| ever he may be found He is we'll known as
| one of the most desperate characters in this
| region, and is reputed to have been one of the
| g. destroy ing angels" of the Mormon Church
| at Salt Lake, and to have committed many
| murders In that capacity. His trial Will be
| succeeded by that of Rucker, who is notorious
| here from having killed gam bier named JAG K
! O'Neil a few months since. Ennis is still al
| large. He belongs TO the same class and wan.
| tonly shot John Teef, in this city, on the 4th
| ult. -..
| The predominant feeling among the citizens
| of Denver is, that the reign of gam blers and
| cut-throats has continued quite too long, and
that the desperate state of affairs req uires des-
| perate remedies. The city has been guarded
| for the last two nights by nearly two hundred
| patroimen. Especial watchfulness is main.
1 taihed over the building in which the prison.
| ers are kept, and two of the officers, stationed
| at every corner in town, challenge all suspi.
| cious parties, and il they are unable to give
| the counterslgn, conducts them to the head.
| quarters OF the Committee