The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-09-05
JASA Ss.AEE,
The Career of a Mountain ssess
Parade.
Brick Pomeroy's Culeraln f.ottrrl

Brick Pomeroy'S Colorado Lottcr(
Virginia Dale station is one of the
noted places on the line Of the Union
tacIia railroad. We found few very
fair buildings, where tourists who cone
to this country for health, pleasure, or
tramping, find very good accommoda-
tons. IN the olden time this was Il
stage station on the California route
the sta9e-housc being kept by a notori
Gus villain named Jack Sadc, known
throughout this country as one of the
toughest, hardest, kuottiest sort OF men
ever inhabiting the Rocky Mountains,
or any spurs or parts thereof in the
o!den time he was division superintend-
cnt OF the G.. O G.. Stage Company.
holding this position for three years.
Many are the stories told of This noted
character, all of which have very much
of truth for fotndation 1t .was gener-
ally understood when he was here in
bis glory and Slade was there in his
glory that Sladc was the head. center,
commander in chief and highest officer
Of u party of high-tighting, unmanage
able, reckless, danger loving desperadoes
who infested this section, living for the
purpose of stealing stock from emigrants
and running it off to distant points
where it could be sold to settlers or en-
igrants. Whether Slade was at the
head or foot Of such a gang is inmate
rial to this recital. Certain it is, he
was desperate man, having killed at
one time and another near score of
men.
The last game he played in this car
nival of Western re2klessness Was the
terrible murder of Jules Burg, the per-
son in whose honor Julesburg was num-
ed. In 1S60-6l Burg and Slade had a
quarrel, starting from some shooting
MATCH in which Slade, in self defense,
FIRST fred on Burg, missing his aim, to
be forced to get ont Of the way or fall
at the hand of the man with whom he
was having a "!ittle trouble" The ILL.,
feeling produced by this first shot grew
more and more bitter; Burg consider
ing It his duty to defend himself at all
times against the wanton and unprovok-
ed attack of a noted despcrado; while
Slade was equally determined to salts
factorily finish a job he had put up, be-
gan and failed in.
Some time during the fall of 1863 q
Few of Slade's friends and companions
coaxed Burg to place known as Cold
Spring Ranch, a locality on the North
Platte. This ranch was sort f farm,
farmhouse, grocery, drinking and gam
bling establishment, presided over by a
maiinamed Runnels, generally known
and spoken of as shelfs doorkeeper, u
or the "devi's right bower" Between
Rannels and Slade there grew great
intimacy of friendship, if friendship
there can be in the hearts of such char
acters Cold Spring Ranch is some fif
! ty miles north of Cheyenne, and TWEEN
ty or thirty below Fort Laramie, wheI
Burg was decoyed into this place, where
-he was kept as prisoner by some o
Shades accomplices, while Slade was no
tilted of the fact. Taking coach, hi
drove rapidly from his home to Colo
Spring Ranch, arriving about dayligh
one rainy morning, Ga alighting from
I he coach he was welcomed by part,
Of roughs. old friends and boon com
panions, who informed him that at laas
they had captured Jules, and that, eyel
then, he was tied to post a little wa,
from the house-so tied that he was un
able to move hand or foot or turn hi
head. .It. -..
Sladc walked up to where his victir
was fastened, and for several minute
poured such torrent of oaths, abuse
and terrible profanity upon him as t
make even the hardened sinners abou
him shudder. He then went in th
house, took drink of whisky, cam
out with his rifle, and shot Burg throug
one.of his legs. After wounding hir
thus, he indulged in about FIVE minutes
more cursing, went in the house, an
took another drink He then came ou
renewed his abuse Of Burg, and tol
him that he should shoot him in the ca
of his other leg. After swearing at hir
q few moments, lie fired another ba
from his rifle, wounding Jules as dcsis
mated. He then renewed his vo!ley {
imprecat;ons, till his oaths were e,
hausted, when he again went into th
house and took another drink 1h
programme was kept up for more tha
) two hours, till Jules had been shot an
wounded twenty-five times, care bein
taken by Slade not to send a bullt
| through vital part. Every time Slad
fired he told his victim he should kee
shooting all day till his powder ga,
ut,and should take care not to Kill him
that his intention was to torture him
f death. partly by words and partly b
wounds.
During all this terrible, brutal scene
; half dozen of Slade's companions stoo
by, approving the performance and col
E graduating the villain on tine deliber;
. tiveness of his aim While this horri
torture was going on Jules uttered ne'
er cry of pain nor exhibited the lea'
particle of fear. Standing there tie
Q so he could not move nor fall, sufferin
t from pain and loss of blood, lookin
, all the time upon his murderer with
steady, calm, unfinehing eye, till, at las
Slade finding himself unable to draw
cry of pain or look Of fear from his viz
tim, in q fit of drunken desperation
thrust his revolver into Burg's mout
and fired the twenty-third shot, litera
ly blowing the head of his victim
: pieces! Slade then washed his hand
in the blood Of Burg, committed dog
like indignity upon the murdered maj
cut off the ears OF his victim, put thel
) in his pocket, shook hands with hi
companions, invited the ''boys" in t
,:ln ba haIx, Of ,. vi.