The Shasta courier., 1870-04-23
THE GREAT IDAHO TRAGEDY.
Hill Beechey's Dream and its terrible
reality--a rehearsal of Thrilling Facts.
Written for Forney's Washington Chronicle, by
Ben. G.. Truman, Ex- U. S. Mail Agent.

Ben. G. Truman Ex-U S. Mail Agent.
In the Spring of 1868, Hill Beechey, we'll
known Government contractor and Califor
MIA pioneer, resided at place called Lewis
ton, in Idaho Territory, where he kept tav-
ern and owned Il stage line. Lewiston was
then the capital of Idaho, and was beautifully
situated upon the junction of Clearwater and
Snake river, and upon the reservation of the
Nezperce Indians, five hundred odd miles
from Portland, Oregon. This reservation is
surrounded by lofty mountains, and is one of
the most charming countries to be met with in
the ssr-off West.
Early in the month of August, 1868, ono
morning, while at his breakfast, Hill Beech
ey said to his wife
- Magruder leaves US to day, and have
been dreaming about him all night. He has
got some good men about him, however, and
If they keep together he may get through all
right. What with the Indians and highway.
men, man carries his life in his hands in
these parts. Really, California was never
half so bad as Idaho is to day By the way,
the vigllantes hung up eleven desperadoes at
Bannock City last month, but there are lots
of them left"
$ dare say" replied Mrs Beechey "and
there are several candidates for the gallows
about here, if Pm not much mistaken. | can
see three men now," she added. who are
destined for no good end''
Mrs. Beechey glanced toward a pile of
lumber, just across the street from the tavern,
upon which were sitting three indolent and
desperate roughs, named Howard, Romaine,
and Lowry.
-" Jim Romaine, | must say, was a very
likely appearing young man until he got in
with Howard and Lowry. They do say that
Chris. Lowry and Doc Howard have both
served terms in Eastern penitentiaries.-
You've heard that before, haven't you p
why what's the matter, Hill?" said his wife !;
you don't appear well.'
Oh nothing particular" replied the land
lord, except | was thinking about Magru-
der lie figured in all my dreams last night
my dear, and 1t troubles me more than little
III tell you: | dreamed that Magruder was
killed and robbed, and that Howard and Low
ry were the men who done it. | saw them
kill him with an AK A terrific snow storm
was prevailing at the time, and Magruder
was sitting smoking at a fire. | never in my
life saw anything real that seemed more life
like. | saw Chris. Lowry creep up behind
Magruder and dispatch him with an AK"
% You ought to tell Magrudcr," remarked
Mrs. Beechey; II would"
Lord, no that would make me the
laughing stock of the reservation. Dreams
are but the pastimes Of sleep, at any rate, and
with me they always amount to nothing
But ut the same time F.
&" llallpo, in there, Bcechey!" calculated
Masruder, who had just rode up to the door
of the tavern. IIaIloo, yourself!' shouted
MIR. Beechey. app, airing at the door, and
signaling the tr;t':er to enter.
Mir. Maerudtr dismounted and went iuto
the tavern, after having directed his pack
train forward. Lloyd Magruder was a sue
cessiul trader Of Elk City, Idaho, aud was at
this time on his way to the new mining region
in the neigh5orhood of Virginia City, with
about S25. 900 worth of goods. lie was born
and raised and grew up to manhood in Mont.
gomery county. Maryland, in which section
many of his old friends and relatives now re-
side. After a half hours walk with Beechey.
at the expiration of which the latter present
ed him with a splinded Henry rifle. Mr.. Ma.
gruder examined his pistols, mounted his an
imal, and started for Beaverhead, four hun
dred miles away, taking what is known as
the Nezperce trail, which lies over the noun.
tains and cuts off some seventeen miles in the
first hundred.
The next day Howard, Romaine, and
Lowry, were joined by an old trapper named
Bill Page, miner named Bob Zachary, and
three others. Doc. Howard, was one of the
most intelligent as well rs one of the best
educated men in the Territory, and who was
generally looked up to as Il leader in all mat
ters by his associates and others in that neigh
borhood, proposed that the whole party
should start for the Virginia City mines.
think" said Howard, that we had
better make the Lewiston people believe we
are going West, and then, if we do make any
thing we won't be robbed of it by our cred
itors.
This was of course agreed to, and the eight
men started a little before dark of that day.
taking the Oregon road. and disappearing
from Lewiston in an opposite direction from
the Nezperce trail.
That night they camped upon the Oregon
road, aud Doe. Howard stated his plan of
movement. as agreed upod by himself and
Lowry as follows:
g Now, boys, I'll tell you what we'll do.
Remember, we are all hard up. We are
good men but we are broke We are willing
to work, but we can't get it. We can't starye'
God never intended that any of bis creatures
SnOulu starVe. 1O-mOrrOW we VIII cross over
on to the Beaverhead road. and the rext day
we will overtake Lloyd Magruder and Join
him. We are all well mounted and armed.
and Magruder will do the correct thing if we
get through all right. He'll give us all we
can eat. and if he does as well as he calculates
to, he'll give us a fresh start. Besides the
mines in Virginia City are the richest in the
Territory. and this is the best chance we shall
have to go there. We are sure to get there,
you know andif we don't like tha prospects,
confound it, why we all known the road back,
don't we? Magruder is well fixed, my good
fellows, between you and |, and think he
will do the right thing by us when we get to
Virginia. AT any rate we get our grub free
for month or two just to accompany him
that's better than starving at Lewiston, and
having everybody watch you as though you
were thief or an escaped convict. Come
what may, I'll never return to Lewiston ;
I'll be hanged if do.''
I'll be hanged if do, either" said TO
maine.
And I'll be hanged if l do," shouted
Chris. Lowry. g am with you, Doc, till
the death. How's that, Jim ?"