Owyhee semi-weekly tidal wave. [volume] (Silver City, Owyhee County, Idaho Territory) 1868-1869, 1869-05-21

The Statesman OF TUESDAY gives
a somewhat different version OF the
tragedy at Burmester's Ranch from
the one published by us on the same
morning, in this, that the charitable
plea Of insanity, the benefit OF which
our informant gave the perpetrator
of the terrible deed, is denied him
in that paper. For the credit OF hui
mainly we trust our version is cor
rect and the man was really insane,
As his whole conduct would seem to
warrant any one in believing. Sure
ly no man in his senses would at
tempt such an outrage as he did and
then without any other cause than
failure to accomplish his designs
beat and shoot his innocent victim,
fire the premises and then destroy
his own life. No man of sane mind
ever attempted or purposely accom-
plished anything so frantic and un-
reasonable. The poor, victim of
seIfdestruction has gone'to bis ac-
count, and though his great crime
has cast a gloom over the entire
community in which he lived, and
narrowed up the deepest passions,
and stirred and excited feelings of
loathing and resentment against his
memory, yet we cannot forget that
he was human, and to account for
such a wild and unnatural freak OF
anv one born of q human mother let
MS hope that reason was dethroned.
We copy the following account of
the matter from theStatesman, which,
though it does not materially differ
from that published by us as to facts
and circumstances, is nevertheless
somewhat more minute in detail and
entirely ignores the probability OF
insanity:
Iohn - entered her bedroom abOu
half past three O'Clock and made insulting
pruposals To her She Immediately ordered
INN from her apartment. when he sprant
unon her. threw her 10 the floor, struck hel
IA, a.. Nuf. Isfup
body. He then left the room, as cIrcumstan
ces afterwards proved, for his revolver. IL
a few minutes, hearing his returning foot
steps, Mrs 4 sprang To her feet, seized 1
shotgun and mined II at the brute-the gun
failing 90 discharge he fired six shots at he
from his revolver, one of which took enec
in her right side, just above the hip joint
entering and lodging in the abdominal cavity
producing dangerous, and it Is feared IA
tai wound Upon seeing Mrs. b. fall TO tn
xround, and thinking her dead, Che fen
went 10 his room in the second story, frs
setting fire TO the building below. Mrs. |
states that after shooting her, she heard dis
unctlv two shots from a revolver. II appear
that after firing the dwelling house, lac pre-
cured another pistol and shot himself Til
shots failing to kill Immediately. and bccon
ing alarmed al the prospect OF being burne
20 death, he attempted to escape, but Re
upon the porch where his ChaIred remaii
were found Mrs. b., after having fallen
the floor from the effects Of the shot, su
pcctiug he had fired the dwelling, crawl'
with difficulty TO the place where he Ia
start ii the lire on the first hOOr, and ma,
feeble efforts TO cNtingWsh the flames II
then managed TO drag herself into the op'
air, where she was afterwards found in :
almost insensible condition by Mr.. Thorn
..sl.s At orb ia Nanh aftd "a
had fastened 10 the spot upon discover
flames issuing from the dwelling. mo
nendish. atrociOus act has never occurred
the annals Of crime ID SURPRISES everythil
we have ever heard Of in Indian warfare, al
only shows how nearly allied some men a
in their instincts ~ brute creation. II
house was rapidly CONSUMED, Mrs b. bare
escaping being burned by the timely army
or Beyans from the field who carried her
a place of safety. Many circumstanC
prove this 10 have been one of the most {
liberate crimes over committed. For instaI
the man was considerably attached 10
Youngest child Of MIR. Burmester's iami
aud before firing the house he carried u
and pl5ced At in a large wagon where he s.
poscd IL would be out OF danger. The old
was with the man in the field, TO which {
cumstance he probably owes his life, as Jol
il is said. entertained great dislike TO
child and he wOald no doubt have tai
this occasion To kill II or shut il up in
house 10 perish in the fumes. The char
remains OF the brute lay exposed alt
Sunday and yesterday .among the cind
and ruins. disgusting aud horrible sig
though the only regret felt FOR him Was
he was not still alive to suffer more deser'
torture