Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-05-25
Helena, Montana, Thursday, May IS, 1876.
the time as may easily be imagined, was in

the time as may easily be imagined, l was in
no humor to try the experiment.
Crossing the field again was seized with
my third and last distinct attack, and then for
the first time it struck me that it was eXertion
that brought them on. (Afterward one of
the men who had had before very slight at
tact, at my request, hurriedly climbed the
fence and had an alarming attack in conse-
quence.)
Meantime IN camp things had improved,
the returning attacks becoming milder All
were. of course more or less weak and ncr
vous. We became satisfied that if strychnine
was the poison that it had been placed in the
flour. All who had partaken of the ducks,
which had been rolled in the -four, became
sick, and several who had not, but had eaten
tomatoes. Rourke's story about the sugar
pan at dinner fixed that dish, though it hav-
ing become wet, was not placed on the sup
per table.
AS the conviction settled on the minds of
the men that we had been Intentionally poi
soned, the query arose who could have been
the diabolical villain. Mckinstry for one, ex-
pressed his conviction that Tanning was evil
minded enoug h to be guilty of any crime.
To which sentiment there was almost unani-
nous assent. AT this juncture the ranchman,
who was considerably moved by the loss of
his noble Newfoundland dog, proposed that
old-fashioned Montana Justice be meted out
to the guilty man. McKinstry said that as
he was about to open the -four sack at din
ner time he found tin plate over which the
strings were tied, and that finding some
dough and flour adhering to the plate. he was
beating it off by striking it against the wagon
wheel when Tanning told him in an excited
manner, MAN, don't waste the -four in that
way" AS it was on tnis plate that the ducks
had been rolled, McKinstry's statement
seemed to carry conviction in the minds of
many that Tanning had upset the poison on
the plate and thus put it in the flour. As Nc
Kinstry closed his remarks our jolly Irish
chairman, and the one who offered five thou
sand dollars for vomit, sang out, "Nen let
US hang him." The ranchman and several
others seconding, general move was being
made for Tanning, who had lain all this time
in his tent, but groaning audibly at times
His sickness is sham, let US hang the
vlllain," said others.
"Right, boys,'' chimed in the ranchman,
"Ill show you handy pine in the gulch
above my house."
Seeing at once that the men meant serious
business, called to them with all the strength
that my enfeebled condition would permit:
''Hold, men, let us wait until DR.. Mitchell
arrives from Deer Lodge" About midnight
had dispatched a neighboring ranchman on
a thirty-tive mile ride for doctor.
''No, no, Captain, you are too easy on the
villain," some one rejOined. For moment
felt that my influence was gone, and that
the excited, nervous men would surely hang
the cook Up to this time l had kept my
own suspicious Of another being the guilty
party to myself, but these suspicious had
weakened greatly before the torrent of ev-
dence of the cooks bad nature, and peculiar
actions, as related by the men. Finally,
however, as last resort, as the men were
gathered at Fanning's tent, ready to drag him
oct, called to them again:
For Gods sake, men, don't murder an
innocent man. ] suspect another of the par
V.'
"Who is he," shouted Mcintyre, ''by The
gods" he said, drawing a huge navy revolver,
''name the man, Captain, and III blow his
head off"
AS drew the party away towards the fire
few feet, lnever felt in such peculiar po-
sition. From the appearance Of the fifteen
determined looking men, only two or three
of whom were inclined to listen to reason, or
demonstrate with the others, l felt that
| held life and death in my hands. The men
with scarcely an exception, liked me and
evinced their friendship on all occasions, by
their jealous obedience to instructions and
the interest they manifested in their work.
They looked from one to another, each con-
scious of innocence, but apparently ready to
immediate any one against whom [ could pro-
duce even the slightest evidence. But when
the demand came for me to name a man,
whom they would consider worthy of death,
my suspicion of McKinstry faded into the
air. could only have told them my mag
nations, distorted as | presume were some
Of theirs, by the poison itself, for not sim
gle act could | name against him save that
he had baked the bread, and then appeared
foremost amongst the accusers of flaming
Yet must do something to save poor Fan
nings life, and finally l told them that l
could not name the man Just then but would
do so if any farther evidence presented it.
self to my mind, but that greatly desired to
consult with Dr.. Mitchell, whom several of
the party knew to be clear-hea,!ed, fearless
man. This ultimatum was accepted.
agreed that Tanning should be closely
guarded, and Mcintyre placed himself in the
grass by his tent door, with pistol ready to
shoot if he made a motion to escape.
The afternoon following the doctor arrived
After general talk he said we were probably
poisoned with strychnine, that he would take
back samples of our provisions for analysis.
Meantime, after private consultation with
me in regard to Tanning, he told the men,
that from all the evidence it appeared to him
that it must have been an accidental occur
renee, poison for wolves, ETC., he said, being
sold everywhere, and that doubtless a little |
of it had become mixed with some packages |
of our provisions. Everyone in the party |
agreed with him that if we had only got "a
little of it" that strychnine would 60 long !
way in seasoning provisions.
Overhauing our provisions, every package |