The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-02-11


Hearing that threats were still made
against me, and also that the vigilantes
were determined not only to accomplish
their design upon me, but now had inclu-
ded in their list TO be lsnched the Justice
who disch rged me, also my brother
ag inst whom they had no grudge, but
knew that he would surely revenge my
death, and so feared him. as he is q dead
shot with any weapon, and the best
marksman in the country, and also Lewis
Gilliland (why they wanted him | cannot
see). we concluded it was best TO leave the
country, until the excitement bad died
away, and the vigilantes came to their
senses by a second thought.
Gas soon as the examination was conclu-
ded we started for this city, each having a
brace of pistols and double-barreled shot
gun. We had proceeded about fifteen
miles, and were about to enter South Park,
when my brother discovered about forty
vigilantes on horseback in pursuit. They
could be distinctly seen In the bright moon
light. instantly dashed down gully to
the east, and William, with Cowan and
Giilland, started in an opposite direction.
We met some distance beyond, having
gained greatly on our pursuers, who were
thrown off the track by the division in the
party. We were soon again close pressed,
and threw away every thing but our arms,
! in a determination TO reach mountain
I just ahead, and there defend ourselves as
best we could. Our animals, thus reliev-
/ ed of many pounds of burden. soon, how
ever, began to distance the vigilantes,
who We're left far behind. At
daybreak we procured food for our
selves and horses at ranch on
/ Currant Greek, and chen sci out again
i'll Ill
Park. md spent the night. Early in the
morning we again started, taking 10 the
! brush along the sides of the mountains at
the head of Dead Mans Gulch. We
| heard the noise made in the mountains by
our pursuers, but saw them no more.
Thursday morning we reached Summit,
on the Rio Grand road. Here we left our
horses, and came to Denver by cars.
My wife is stopping at her fathers.
How long we shall stay here don't know.
but until the bitter feeling is dead.
have thought of going back"
From Justice Cowan we learn that the
| following persons testified at the examina-
ton on Monday morning: Frank Ander-
son, the father of Samuel Brisco. Samuel
! BriscO, Mrs. Hutchinson, John w. Chest
nut. Leslie Christian, Ernest Christian.
Griffith Evans, Fred Bertsehy, and David
! Wright. TheJustice said their statements
corrOborated the above account given OF
the affair given by Gibbs.
From the Justice we also learn that
warrants were sworn ont for the ARE OF
John ID. Coon and the four wounded men.
and the warrants placed in the hands OF
Constable Bertschy. AT Mrs. Harring-
toms, the wife of George Harrington who
was shot last June, was found one of the
party (Cane), who was shot in the leg.
The doctor stated that neither of the men
could be moved without danger to their
lives, and so they were left. Coon was
nowhere TO be found.
1t seems that the second shot fired from
Gibbs's pistol passed through the muscle
OF one mans leg, behind the thigh bone,
and then into Canes leg, about three
inches below the groin, striking the thigh
bone in front and passing down aud
around it to a position just back of the
knee joint. The doctor says he is in !
very dangerous condition, and he cannot
foretell the result. e-~
Such is a full report of the affair Oh
Coon Creek, as related to us by Gibbs, anC
the Justice who heard all the testimony in
thp case