The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-10-11

Details of the Terrible Tragedy al
YanktOn-A Deadly Hand-tOfhand
Struggle i'm Crowded COurt-rOOm.
From the Sioux City Joarnal, September Is.
Early yesterday morning adispateh was
received here from Yankton, stating that
Gen. Ed. S. McCook, Secretary OF the Ter
ritory of Dakota, had been shot the even-
ing previous by P.P. Wintermute, bank
er of Yankton, and that McCOok died
from the effect of his wound at { O'clock
Yesterday morning. From all we can gath
er from dispatches, a commune catlOn from
a responsible citizen of Yankton, and from
information. brought by those who came
down on the train from that city last even
inc. we believe that the following is a cor.
rect resume Of
THE LAMENTABLE OCCURRENCE.
There was meeting of the citizens at
the seouFtFeem ThH&daF slslgtt 10 seoal-t
slider what action should be taken regard
inc the difficulties existing between the city
of Yanktori and the Dakota Southern Rail-
road Company. P. P. Winterinute was
present. and asked that a resolution be
passed declaring that the meeting had no
confidence ia the management of the road,
etc, No action was taken on bis resolll-
ton. and he soon Eeft the room. 1t is
claimed that Winter1Ilrte was somewhat
under the Influence OF. liquor, and On leay-
inc the meeting he went to the saloon of
the St. Charles. where he met Gen. Nc
Cook. aWhile4the two. men had not had
any open rupture, there was not q good
feeling existing between them. McCook
was friend of the Dakota Southern, while
Winterniute was its pbrsis teiats foe j w hen
the two met in the saloon. Wintermute ad-
dressed McCook. asking him. we believe,
for a cigar. yMeCook told him that he had
none, and if he had one he would not give
it to him One word brought on another,
until Wintermute applied an oppfobrlous
epithet to McCook, when
THE GENERAL SLAPPED WINTERMuTE' 5
alA FACE, a.s4si r. asst
and then taking him by the collar gave
him a severe shaking They separated.
and every enc presumed the affair was
over. McCook went up stairs into the
hotel where he boarded, while Winter
mute. it appears, went and got his reVol-
yer and then returned to the meeting,
taking seat where 3lle could watch the
door. About half ali hour after his return
to the room, WinterInute was observed to
suddenly leave his seat and approach the
door, and as he did SD, he pulled a revolver
from his pocket, and, taking deliberate
aim,
FIRED ATIMC COOK,
who was coming through the halfway leaCt-
ing to the eourt-roona, There was a rush,
and terrible confusion prevailed. Justice
Rossteucher tried to arrest Wlntermute,
who continued to fire his pistol, but did not
succeed in disarming him. McCook made
straight for WinteFmute and Srappled
him. when a desperate struggle; ensued.
McCook seemed to be imbued with the
strength of a. giant, and he thrashed his
assassin about as though he We're but a
piece of rope. The stove was overturned,
as were also chairs and tables Winter
mute was shooting when he could get
chance. and the terrified crowd huddled
around, apparently not daring to lnterIere
between the desperate combataIats. Nc
Cook dashed out window, and at one
time nearly succeeded in throwing WIN.
termute out of it, but the two finally fell
on the floor. with iMcCook on top. In
this position Winteinute fired twice, bul
without effect. TheIblood literally stream,
ed from McCook's wound, and while the
two men were gatr eN
LOCKED IN THEIR DEADLY EMBRACE
upon the floor, Wintermute's face ano
breast became so cl9tted with gore that il
was at first supposed that he was also dan
gerously wounded, but he was not hur1
other than receiving some rather severe
bruises. Finally Major Hanson succeeded
in wrestling the revolver from WINTER
mute's hand, and the two men were sepa
rated. The latter was placed under arrest
while McCook was taken to his room ant
undressed, in order that his injuries NIGH
be ascertained. is '5
Drs. Thomas, V;n Velsor, Moon ano
other nonresident surgeons were on hand
and it was decided that McCook's wount
was fatal. The bali entered the left breas