The Worthington advance., 1876-05-25
LIFE AT THE BLACK HILIa
A Thrill Ing Winter Days Tragedy in Custer
Park.

| Park.
The tenth day of March was the
coolest day experienced in the Black
Hills during the past winter. The
mercury was down to twenty degrees
below sero, and was still sinking,
While the snow rolled down in blind.
ing, eddying clouds, rendering life out
OF doors almost impossible. The un-
f0ftunates who were encamped in and
about the neighboring gulches flocked
into dark, cheerless cabins, and hud-
died together. in shivering groups
about the pitch OF pine fires kept up
tor the free accommodation of all who
might seek shelter within DOORS At
least thirty men had -congregated in
the most prominent store, the largest
in Custer. The mud floor was ZEN
dered muddier by the thawing of the
ice and snow which dripped in small
streams from the rough wrappings of
the cosmopolitan assemblage.
The store is deserted military bar.
racks-a large, low, barn-like affair,
containing beds, blacksmith's forge,
carpenters bench, bar-room, grocery
and notion store, and reporters desk.
The center of attraction was the bar.
which was being literally patronized
by the shivering crowd.
A party of young men from Salt Lake
and the mines of Nevada came rush.
ing into the store, and, with loud,
bolsterous braggadocio, took posses
sion of the bar. Ranging themselves
in row in it's front, they called for
''some o that ar icker.'' Round after
round of whisky was poured down.
and still they stood and talked, and
sWore and laughed. They had Just
arrived from Cheyenne after twenty
days voyage. and were about to sep
arate and each go his own way some
to the north, others to the south, and
one or two to remain; and this was
the farewell drunk. For fully two
hours they stood before the bar, pour.
ing down whisky, and about one
0 clock started for the door, where
their teams stood shivering in the
storm.
Alexander Shaw and Tom Milligan
were partners. both from Salt Lake,
both young, rough, but atfectionate
friends, just on the point Of shaking
hands before parting. They reached
the door and rushed forth, shouting
and yelling, like drunken men. Milli-
gan drew his revolver and fred in the
air.
''Fire lower, Tom, or you'll hit some
of lis - said companion.
Too late the pistol was raised again
by the reelinG man. There was a
flash, a report, and Aleck Shaw reeled
and fell across the threshold of the
door.
"Good God Tom, what have you
done Did you shoot Aleck, Tom %
said one of the party.
''No, he's only possuming, boys" :"
answered Tom. 'sAleck, come and
take drink
The reckless shooter staggered to
the prostrate form which lay upon it's
face, and seizing it by the coat-collar,
turned it over. A CHASTITY sickening
sight was presented to view. The pale
face was striped with blood, which
ooZed out of 4 small hole in the FORE
head. The bullet had pierced through
the'brain, and had lodged beneath the
skull upon the back of the head. For
moment the drunken man stared
down into his friends bloody face,
then his countenance assured deadly
pallor, his eyes became fixed with hor-
ror. He was sobered. Turning round
to his Mortified companions, he said, as
he threw his pistol down:
''Boy's, I didn't go to do it. III
swear didn't mean to do it,
Then bursting into tears, he clasped
his hands to his face, and stood Sob
bing like a child.
''He was the best fried had in the
world, boys loved him like a brother.
Oh, God what have I done! What
have l done -
''Let's hang him - suggested some
excitable individual behind the half
sobered group of Salt Lake men.
"No, no! None o that ere business
just yet in Custer. The man must
have a trial. said a citizen, coolly, as
he drew his revolver.
81 arrest you, sir, in the name
Of the citizens of Custer,'' said Pete
Mckay, the merchant, and Milligan
stood meekly awaiting the grasp Of
the law.
"Who'll dare to arrest him p said
one of the drunken Salt Lakers. "You
let go of him, you, Pete Mckay.
You've got no legal authority to ar
rest him, SO jest take your claws off
him, or Pip
''This is my authority said Pete
Mckay, drawing his pistol. 81 am a
citizen of Custer and intend to turn
this man over to the city marshal.
Who dares to interfere with me -
"No one," answered one or two of
the bystanders, and a half dozen pis-
tolls flashed out from their scabbards,
and for several minutes there was an
0minous silence in the group. 1t was
a fine tableau. There lay the victim
of drunken ruffian's 8 recklessness, the
brains slowly oozing from the hole in
the forehead. Over him stood the
sobered rutfian, pale and paralyzed
with horror; while pistol in hand
stood the merchant, grasping the
shoulder of the submissive Milligan !;
behind him Il dozen or more miners,
hunters and emigrants, silently sup.
porting the stern, determined mer-
chant; while opposite them were
ranged the Salt Lake party, irresolute
and surprised. 1t was a critical period
in the history of Custer. A shot from
either side would have resulted in a
terrible slaughter. The least attempt
to rescue Milligan would have brought
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