The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-14
LIFE In THE BLACK HILLS
YOUNG MEN FROM SdLT LIKE avn
TIE MINLS OF NETADA
h'snlt Of a Drunken CnrouSai In Country
~tore--ending n friend On "a I,nnp Journs,
How tlnn Of Nerve Actsi, 81.

From the Hoctv Mountain No.
The second day Of April was tbo s,o,r,
iest day expcilenced In the lllack lIilis ',rim.
NE winter. me snow was w1ired about IN tna
binding, cddyng clouds. cau.in, sv"rv, NV .ns
crowd ~ ioOrs. The uufortuuAirs wr,, a. r. an
canipcd In and aoont the ne shbprmond ruic0"s
Hooked into the dak checflr,s cltins and Ia
died together in shiverng groups about thr nj oh
or pine fires, kept up for the free accommodation
OF all who might seek warmth and shelter yithin
doors. At least thirty men had conVregatcd in
the most prominent store, the largest and nest
10 Custer. The mud floor VS. rendered mud.
drlpped In small streams from the rough wrap.
pings Of the cosmopolitan assemblage.
The store was deserted military barracks n
large. low, barn-like affair, cOntaioing neds
blacksmith's force. carpenters bench. barroom,
grocery and notion store, and reporters desk
The centre Of attraction was the har, which was
literally patrOnlzed by the shivering crowd.
A party OF young men from Salt Lake and The
mines OF Nevada came rushing INFO the store,
nni, with loud, bO-terous bragg dOcln, took
possession OF the bar. Ranging themselve. in a
row In Its front, they called for " some ~ that
at licker" Round after round OF wiiskey was
poured down. and SIN they stood ana talked,
and swoie, and laughed. lhev bad just arrived
from Cheyenne after a twenty DAYS vOyag , and
were about To separate and each 10 his own
way, some to the north, other south, and one
or two to remain; and this WIS the farewell
drunk. For folly two hours they stood before
the bar, pouring down whi'key, and about one
o'clock started for tho door, where their teams
stood shiyering In the storm.
Alexander Shaw aud Tom Milllgan were part-
ners, both from Salt Lake. both Young. rluQh,
shaking hands before parting. They reached
the door and rushed forth. shouting md ina
as drunken men often do, and Ai1llgdu drew
his revolver and led in the air.
Fire lower, Tom, OF you'll hit some Of u.s.
Too latel the pistol was raised again by the
reenng man. There was flash, report
and Aeek shaw reeled and fell across the
d." Good God! rom, what have you done
Did you shoot Alcck. rom p said one.
mo, he's only pOssuming, boys," answered
one. Get up, Cd ID you, Aleck, and como
take u diink."
the reckless shooter staggered to the pros
| trate form which lay upon Its face, and seizina
| hin by the coat collar turned II over. chastity,
| face was striped with blood, when oozed out VI
small hole IN The forehead.
The bullet b d pierced through the brain snd
| had lodged beneath tue skull upon the back Of
the head. For moment the drunken IN n stared
down into his friends bloody face then his coun.
| tenance assumed "a deadly pallor. aud his eyes
| became liked with horror. lie was soner. Iurn-
| ing rOunl To his horrined cOmpaninn ne said
as he threw his pistol downs Boys, didn't
go u do IL. Illswear didn't mean to XIII him"
Then bursting into tears lac elias od his hands TO
bis lace AID stood sobDing like "a child.
| lie was the best friend had In the world,
| boys, anu loved him like "a brother. On, God.
Whit have done What have done J"
Let's hang him." suggested some ex liable
| Individual behind the haf-sObered group Of
salt Lake men.
- No, no None o. that ere business Jus, We,
| In Custer. Tue man must have tiill," said
citi1en. cOolly as lie drew his rev liver.
-" aIre:, YOU, SIR IN the name Of The citizen,
|
| Mii'igan stood meekly awaiting The grasp Of the
| law.
| "Who'l dare to arrest him 2" said one Of tina
drunkcn > AZ Lakers. "YUu Ie 70 of hun Won
| Pete Mckay. You've got no legal authority to
arrest him, so jest take your claws OIL him Or
Ill"
This Is my authority" sail Peto Mckay,
! drawing his pistol. " | am citizen OF Custer,
and intend to turn THIS man over to the City
| Marshal. Who dtres TO Interfere wi mei"
" No one answered one or two Of IA. nv
SANDERS and "A half dozen pistols Il sned out
far al linn
tucre was AN OninOus silenr e In he group II was
line tsbleau. Tnore lay the victim II a drunken
ruilin recklessne-s, the BRAN slowly uaZ "
! from tue hole In The forehead. over him s.oud
| the souercd runlan, Dale and Uardlv2ed vita
! hotror, While with pistol IN hand stood tine mer-
| HINT, grDsping the shoulder OF tue ~ lmi,sivO
4.illigdn; behind him dozen or more uiucrs.
huute4 :, and emigrants, silently supporting the
stem, determined merchant, while OPP site
them were ranged the Salt Lake partf. trre-ulute
ana surprised. 1t was critical period IA tho
history Of Custer. A shot nom either size would
nave resulted IN terrible slaughter. The lp i
attempt To rescue Aillllgan would nave bro Knit
ior.h vOlleN from the citizens ana til, n j a i.e
LNuch would have been called IN to fnisn up
the business.
Ala sinai Burrou,hs, late Of Denver took
charge OF the prisoner. ju y WIS at once i'm
ptncled, and "a frontier trial commenced IN A
hit e log cabin, the home, office, he Dom .nd
court room Of the provision JuGgc. Ine trial
was brlef; the principal witness tho re-
porter; nearly all tn other spectators present
at the tragedy were too drunk to remember
what TRANSFERRED. Tie SIX jurymcn nToula IA
Veruict OF not guilty" lhen the acquitted
man WIS fearrested Tor shooting WITHIN tue city
| uni >, and lined 80 and cost, Which WIS paid.
bias a"d shoot again should tue spin. pi,mp.
! hiln 10 d. 30.