Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-07-27
Terrible Trnsedy at Virginia-One Man
shot Dead, and his Slayer Commits

Terrible Tragedy. at Virginia-One Man
suicide.
About % o'clock P. N. yesterday,
Michael Greene came to County Jailer
Gregory, at the Court House, Virginia,
and placed in his hands q note from
Sheriff Shaw, of Lyon county, desiring
him to arres. one Peter Hill, commonly
known as Russian Pete" on a charge
of having robbed Greene OF a silver
watch and sos in cash about a week
previously. Pete was known to be in
Virginia, and Gregory went with Greene
down Union to D street looking for him.
Nearly opposite Pipers' Opera House,
Greene saw and recognized Pete, and
pointed him out TO Gregory. Pete at
the same time recognized them, and ev-
identity suspecting their object walked
off pretty fast toward the southwark.
They overlook him opposite the Meth
odist Church, when Gregory said {:
"Stop, Pete, I want TO speak to you"
Pete stopped and faced them, with a
revolver in his hand, saying, 81 know
what that son Of n bitch wants, (refer-
ring to Greene) but | can't see it."
Gregory said he must give himselfup, but
he refused to do so, and told Gregory
to keep back. Gregory not being armed,
left Greene to keep track Of the man,
while be went back after his horse, and
arming himself hurried back. Mean.
while Pete ran down past the Gould &
Curry works, aud took across lots until
he came to the old North Potosi tunnel,
in the raviue below the lower dump OF
the Savage mine. He went iuto this
tunnel, and Gregory, who was following
him as fast as he could get track OF him
from the direction of the people resid-
ing along the route, lost sight Of him
and passed the tunnel. Mr.. Peters,
residing near there, however, called
him back by waving his handkerchief,
and told him where Pete had concealed
himself. Gregory gave Peters his pistol
and leaving him to prevent the escape
Of tho fugitive, he rode back 10 town
for assistance, returning with Sheriff
Mulcahy. They went into the mouth of
the tunnel and talked with Pete, but he
ordered them back, saying that he was
t'boss Of that place and meant to stay
So" He said he had ''twelve Shots"
and they must keep out Of his way or
he would shoot them. By this time
the news was spreading and people be.
gan to gather from all quarters to the
tunnel. A friend Of Pete's went into
the tunnel and tried to pursuade him to
surrender, assuring him that no bodily
harm was intended him, but he still
swore be was ''boss Of that place and
would not be taken alive" Finding
that the desperate man would not be
captured ~peacably, it was resolved to
dislodge HIM forcibly. This old tunnel
is'ouly. used as an outlet for the water
from the Savage mine, which is pumped
up to its level. The tunnel is not tim
bered, but simply arched, except the
mouth, where FIVE sets of timbers,
twelve inches square and three feet
apart are placed to secure the loose sur
face earth from caving. The tunnel
passage between these timbers is only
about four feet wide and perhaps hve
feet high. It was resolved to dam up
the water at the entrance Of this narrow
tunnel aud thus finally compel Pete to
come out or be drowned. Accordingly
a place was selected between the
third and fourth sets Of tImbers,
where the tagging Of the ROOT
was somewhat broken and easily
caved in. Here a hole was made
and dirt picked and shoveled into It
from the side Of the ravine. A crowd
Of perhaps two or three hundred excited
spectators had by this time collected,
anxious 10 see the termination Of this
strange incident. Five o'clock came
and Pete still held possession OF his
narrow fortress. Several persons were
assisting TO pick and shovel the earth
at the sides of the hole, when suddenly
a shot was fred by Pete from the inte-
rior of the tunnel, up through this hole
in the roof, which took effect In the
heart Of Walter Williams, who had just
taken a pick to relieve another man
who was working with it. he stepped
back two steps and fell dead without
u,,ering a word, the Lie blood gushing
from his mouth. Shortly atterward
Pete came out of the mouth OF the tun-
mel. turued deliberately around and shot
Mt Sheriff Mulcahy who sat on the hillside
some twenty-five feet distant, u tiueSily
missed his mark. He dodged back, ana
several shots were fred by various par.
ties iuto the tunnel after him, none OF
which, AS was subsequently, ascert"ined,
took effect, as he probably got behind
one of the timbers. A third SHOT was
dimly heard INSIDE the tunnel, but no
one dared 20 in or even get within range
of the desperate occupant. IL was
nearly or quite an hour after Williams
was killed, that n person looking down
,hro,cb the hole in the roof through
which the tunnel was being filled, saw
Ps,e living upon the ground against the
eide i,m6erirg, aud outside OF where
the tunnel was being damned. he was
soon brought out and was found to be
really dead, he having committed sui
eide by placing his revolver between
his teeth and firing. A large wound
was made in the roof Of his mouth,
and the charge had shattered the
hack part of his skull. II was
indeed we'll that he thus killed himself,
for had he been captured alive after
shooting Williams the excited crowd
would have Immediately shot him down,
hung him or otherwise summarily dis
posed of him. The body of Williams
was taken to Masonic Hall, he being a
member of that order, while that Of
Pete was taken to Wilson's undertaking
establishment on B street. An inquest
was held in the matter by Coroner Gar
trell, this forenoon, developing a verdict
in accordance with the circumstances
as we have related them. The body Of
Pete was buried about 10 A. N. to-day
in the public cemetery east Of the city,
auda P. N. to-day the funeral of Walter
Williams takes place from Masonic Hall
under the auspices of the Masonic
order, he being II member OF
Virginia Lodge No. 3. F. and A.
N. Mr.. Williams was very
steady, quiet man, much respected
by numerous friends, and had for a long
time past been working AS a blacksmith
for the Gould 4 Curry Company, at the
Bonner shaft shop. He had saved con-
siderable money, and quit work some
three weeks ago for the purpose Of pay
inc n visit ia his mn,her wbo ras;dss in