The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-03-13
cause it showed4heir confidence in each

cause it showedtheir confidence in each
othtx lTENr"g .-r..E..r-f C.
In 1892. Mike and his Two friends,
Carpenter and Talbot, engaged in St.
Louis with Henry and Ashley, to 60
up the Missouri with them, in the
three-fold capacity OF boatmen, trappers
and hunters. The first year, COM
pany Of about sixty assembled as high
as the mouth OF Yellowstone river
where they built q fort for the purpose
OF trade and security. From this place
small detechments. OF men, ten or
twelve in company, were sent out to
hunt and trap ON the tributary streams
OF the Missouri and the Yellowstone
When winter set in Mike and his COM
pauy returned to a place near the
mouth of the Yellowstone; and pre-
ferripg to remain out of the fort, they
dug hole or cave in the bluff bank Of
the river, in which they resided during
the winter, which proved warm and
commodious habitation, protecting them
from the winds and snows. Here Mike
and his friend Carpenter had deadly
quarrel supposed TO have been caused
by rivalry in the good graces OF 8
squaw. 1t was, for while, smothered
by the interpositlon OF friends.
On the retnrn of spring the party re-
visited the fort. where Mike and Care
penter, over.a cup OF whisky, revived
the recollections OF their past quarrel
but made treaty OF peace, which was
to be solomnized by their usual trial
of shooting the cup Of whisky off each
others heads. To determine who
should have the first shot, Mike pro-
posed that they should "sky (toss up) 3
copper" which was done. and resulted
in Mikes favor. Carpenter seemed TO
be aware OF Mikes unlorgiviug, treach'
erous disposition; but scorning to save
his lie by refusing to fulfill his COL tract,
be prepared for death, and btqaeathed
his gun, shot-pouch, powder-horn, belt,
pistols and wages to Talbot; Without
changing feature, Carpenter filled the
cup with whisky TO the brim. NJ Ike
loaded, picked the flint. and leyeled his
rifle at the head OF Carpenter, at the
distance o. sixty yards. After drawing
the bead, lie took down his rife Tom
his face, and smiIingly sad:
"Hold your noddie s'r"dr rsrren-
ter Don't spill the VII '7ky i shall
want some presently" ..
He again raised, cooked us piece ,
and 10 an instant, Carpenter fell, and
expired without a groau. Mikes taII
had penetrated precisely through the
centre Of his head. He coolly set down
his rifle. and applying the muzzle to
his mouth, blew the smoke out OF the
touch hole, without saying q word,
keeping his eye steadily on the fallen
body OF Carpenter. His first words
were:
Carpenter have you spilt the whis-
kyw He was then told be had killed
him. at is all an accident" rejoined
Mike, "Ior | took aa fair be1G on the
black SPOT on g." "n2, rs | ever took
on .olirr,'s,,, How jill il hap
pen? lie i.rn coed the gun, the
powder, the bullet, and finally, him.
self.
This catastrophe, in country where
the strong arm OF the law could not
roach, passed off ior en- accident. Ia
bot determined to revenge the death OF
bis friend No opportunity offered for
some moU.hs aiIer, until one day Mike,
in fl o. gasconading, declared that he
had purposely killed Carpenter, and
was glad o.it. Talbot instaOtly drew
from his belt n pistol, bequeathed by
Carpenter, aud shot Mike through the
heart; be fell. and expired without a
word. Talbot al3o went UNPUBLISHED,
as nobody had authority or inclination
to call him to &C count. In truth, he
was rs ferccious and dangerous as the
bear OF the praries, aud soon after per-
ished in attempting to swim q river.