Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-01-17
"reminiscences of Denver Life.

1t seems lnCreulDle tnaL UnlS Guy Is
only h0eiUc years old, having been in
corporated in 1861 but such is the fact.
Denver, however, has had its history,
as well as other towns i'll the West and
for long time it was the resort of
gang of desperadoes, gamblers, and
thieves, who seized upon the offices of
the city, and really attempted to COM
NIT their crimes in the name of the law.
These cut -throats at one time controlled
everything, elected the municipal Of
ticers, possessed themselves of the
wealth of the city, intimidated the ed
itors and Justices, and held high carni
val of crime.
A desperate named James Gordon
killed an inoffensive German, and the
German people reused to action. Cor
don fled to rancho, and strong party
surrounded it, when the desperate came
forth on swift horse and dashed
through his pursuers. A shower of bull
let's followed him, but he escaped un-
harmed. A mass meeting was then
called in Denver, money raised, and
officers sent after the fugitive. They
trailed him l 700 miles, and at last cap
tured him near the Indian Territory,
and took him to Leavenworth. Here
Gordons friends got a writ of habeas
corpus, and took him from the Denver
officers. Again Gordon was about to
escape; but the Germans of Leaven-
worth gathered in mob, attacked the
officers of the law, and recaptured the
desperate. Three times the mob had
Il rope around Gordon's neck, but were
prevented from hanging him by the
civil officers. In the scutfle the prison
er's clothes were torn from his back
and he was so badly beaten that he
begged some one to shoot him on the
spot. At last it was agreed that Cor
don should be taken back to Denver for
trial, and upon this promise the mob
dispersed. He was delivered over to
Mr. Middaugh, the leading officer from
Denver. His trial was short, and he
was convicted of murder and sentenced
to be hanged. After a week given
him to prepare for death, he was exc
cuted.
The editor of the Rocky Mountain
Neacs made some comments on a muir
der, which offended the desperadoes,
and they attacked his office. While Mr..
Byers, one of the editors, was sitting in
an office talking with three Northern
gentlemen, four gamblers rushed in,
seized him, dragged him to drinking
saloon, and would have murdered him
but for the interference of friends. The
gamblers then went to the printing
office, but were prevented from destroy
ing it by the typos, who had armed
themselves with guns and revolvers.
Several shots were fired but the ruff
fans, seeing the citizens were arming,
fled and hid themselves. The aroused
citizens made Il general search, and
Steele, the ringleader of the band, was
taken and shot.
Another of the gamblers was captured,
and about to be hanged, when he begged
the people to spare his life and permit
him to leave the country. The ques-
tion was put to vote, and carried by a
small majority, to spare him, on con-
dition that he would quit Denver at
once and forever which he did.
A man named Ford committed a MUIR
der under neutrality-suspicious. circum-
stances, and was justified: but, being a
bad man, and emboldened by his first
success, he soon aftcrward did a mur-
der in cold blood, when the people rose
and demanded his execution. Ford
fled, but committee of Vigilants fol-
lowed him, took him from stage-coach,
and shot him by the road side.
Another murderer fled to the Indians;
but the Vigilants followed day and
night, over mountain and plain, until he
was taken and hung.
Steele had brother, who had sworn
to take the life of Mr.. Pollock, who had
shot his brother One day they met on
the highway in Denver but Pollock,
seeing Steele first, covered him with
his rifle, and called him to pass on.
Steele did SO, the deadly tube bearing
on him until he was out of range. Two
years afterward these men met in New
Mexico, and simultaneously recognized
each other. Both fired but Pollock es-
capped, while Steele fell with ball
through his brain. 1t was over this
rough road of blood Denver found
peace, and became the quiet and orderly
city she is to-day. Her citizens banded
together for her defense, and became Il
law unto themselves.
Dixon has told us that From three
to five persons were usually killed dur.
ing the night, and sometimes in open
day, in Denver and, although this
statement has been vigorously denied
it is probable that, at one time in the
early history of the city, it came near
being the truth. Richardson tells us
the printing-offices were arsenals, ant
that both editors and typos went armed
about their work,-presenting between
themselves and the desperados sort OF
EARNED neutrality" He also assures
us that he saw murderer condemned tt
death in the following manner
Judge -: "The jury have foun(
you guilty have you anything to sa.
why sentence of death should not b.
passed upon you -
Prisoner have nothing to say"
Judge" Then 1 will submit th'
question to this assemblage [about 4O'
people,. All you who believe in thi
verdict say Aye A roar of affirma
tives. All who opposed, NO A fee
bic No. the prisoner alone voting il
the negative
Judge-"Prisoner, you will be hange'
tomorrow morning."
Prisoner" Thank YOU" Roars o
laughter
TIE oil springs of Canada appear t
have proved no better investment tha
those of Pennsylvania. From the frs
discovery of petroleum to the presen
time-says the Toronto Gio6e-the his
e. Be-, 4 -,