The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-09-19
END OF RAILROAD rEUD.
The Assassination of GEN. Edward
y. McCOok.


y. McCook.
On the evening of Thursday last General
Edward $. McCook, Secretary of Dakota
Territory, was shot ny p. p. Wintermutc,
a banker of iankton. He died at 7 o'clock
Friday Sept. 70.
There was a meeting of the citizens ut
the court room on Thursday night to con.
slider what action should bc taken regarding
the difficulties between the city of Yank-
ton and the Dakota Southern Railroad
Company. =. =. Wintcrmutc asked that a
resolution he passed declaring that the
meeting had no confidence in the manage
mcnt Of the road, etc. No action was
taken ON his resolution, and he soon left
the room. Wincrmulc was somewhat I'M
der the influence Of liquor. and on leaving
the meeting he went to the saloon of the
st. Charles. where he met Gen. NIcCook.
While the two men had not any open rup-
turc, there was not good feeling between
them. McCook was friend OF the Dakota
Southern, while Wntcrmutc was its pcrsis-
tent foe When the two met in the saloon
Wintermutc asked McCook for a cigar.
McCoo> told him he had none. and if he
had one he would not give il to him One
word brought on another until Wintermuic
applied an opprnmious cpithct to McCook.
and he
SLAPPED WINrgEM"rE, FACE.
and then taking him by the collar gave
him shaking They separated and every
one presumed that the affair was over.
McCool went mp stairs into the hotel.
where he boarded while Wintcrmutc got
his revolver and returned to the meeting,
taking seat where he could watch the
door. DR. Burlcigh was addressing the
meeting IN favor of the road and Winter
mute rose TO a point of order. lie said
that he had been clicked ont of his boots
by Gen. McCook. secretary of the Ter
ritory.' and that ''hc had this pointing to
his badly bruised face to show for II. g
Winternutc told a gentlemen near him
that he would shoot McCook. AL this
created some little stir in the meeting. hat
no one seemed to apprchend any serious re-
suits. and the business of the evening pro
ceedcd. Wintermluc took his scat. keep.
ing an eye ON the door About half an
hour aftcrwarl Wmtcrmutc suddenly left
his seat and approached the door lie
drew n revolver and taking deliberate
aim.
ftGEp Ar SiCoOk.
who was coming through the hallway lead
ing to the court room There was a rush
and terrible confusion prevailed Justice
Ross.euchCr tried TO arrest Wintcrmntc
who continued to Gre his pistol McCook
who was about SIX feet high and al mas.
sive build. made straight for WintcrmutC
and grappled with him. and desperate
struggle cnsued. McCook. with tho
strength of a giant. thrashed his ASSASSIN
about rs though he were but a piece OF
rope. The stove was overturned. as were
also chairs and tables: Win,ermutc was
shooting when he could get chance. anC
the terrified crowd huddled around. ap
parently not daring To interfere with III,
desperate combatants. McCook dashed
out window. and at one time nearly
threw Wintcrmutc out of it, but the two n
length fell TO the floor. with McCook on
twice. but without effect. The blood
strcamed from McCook's wound. and Will,
the two were locked in their deadly EN-
brace Winlermutc's face and breast becam,
so cloitcd with gore that it was at first sup
posed that he was also dangerously wound
ed. but he was not seriously hurt
SEPARATED.
Major Hanson wrestlcd the revolver
from Wintcrmuic's hand. and the two
were separated. The latter was place.
under arrest, and McCook was taken tc
his room and undrcssed in order that his
injuries might be ascertancd. 1t was de.
cided that McCook's wound was fatal.
The ball entered the left breast Just above
the heart, cutting off the upper part of the
lung and seyering an artery. At first
with every pulsaIion of his heart the blood
spirited fronpthc wound. but the surgeons
stopped the flow, and for short time
hopes were entertained that he might live :
but he commenced bleeding internally. and
gradually failed until his death at I, o'clock
Friday morning. AS soon rs it became
known that McCook had received his
death wound the excitement was indie
scribablc. McCook was apparently the
calmest of all the excited throng that
surged in the room. He realized that he
had received n mortal wound. and told
those about HIM that he was past hope.
lie said that he was
NoT AFRAID 10 DIE,
hut expressed regret that he should have
been shot down like dog. He cooly
talked over his business affairs. and refer
ring to his official concerns. said his ac-
counts would be found all right. lie died
as he had lived, worthy scion of the re-
nowned Fighting McCook family" His
poor wife was nearly crazed with grief.
Almost the last words of McCook WERE
81 can't see; ! shall soon be gone
Wintcrmutc was taken to his room at
the Merchants, where "A strong guard was
placed over him. All day yesterday the
excitement in Yankton was intense. Bust
ness was almost wholly suspended, and the
terrible tragedy was the one absorbing
theme. Public Indignation is wrought up
to such pitch that it has been feared that
Wintcrmutc may be lynched.
THE ASSASSIN.
l.. u. Wintermute is native of New
York State. Two years ago he was resi-
dent OF st. Paul, where he followed the