The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-15
BLACKHiLLs SKETCHES.

their legitimate business, and al aaVer.
tiseinents not connected with ~ WI De
| charged for at our regular rate.
| BLACK HiLLs SKETCHES.
| s1CJ ...f-t 1921 ----s ID
The First Hanging EpIsode-JudSe
Lynch OmcIates-Tbe Victim Writes
% . Brother In Sc. Louis.
From the Kansas City Times.
There were four of US seated together
around cheerful pitch pine fire upon
L." SIDE of grassy knoll among the foot
hills, about forty miles from Gustav. One
] of the party was q mountaineer, the rest
were members of . large, well.armed
train of Black Killers, then toilIng and
working its way through wilderness of
sage brush. endeavoring to reach the trail
our party had discovered few hours be
fore. We had selected spot for rest
where the wind or sun, or perhaps both,
had cleared away the snow from about q
huge pine knot, almost petri6ed by age.
The grass, too, was quite luxuriant Tor
us to halt and rest until the train came
up. The fire lighted and the knot in q
blaze, we brought forth eur pipes to
/ 6ulOk6, anu WdtCu AuioSy saih icO.
Twas q glorious scene on that crisp, fros-
ty morning, aid the man that diec there
that day should have felt proud Of this
magnificent death chamber. Nature
seems 10 have lavished Unlimited wealth
of beatty upon the Black Hills, and fate
seems to have led Dick Burnett 10 the
most beautiful spot in the Hills in which
to die. While we were camly smoking
| around the fire, watching the misty can
opy rise like feathery veil from the val
ley beneath US; while we silently admir-
ed the magnificent background of glis-
tening snow and bright grsen pines,
which in the morning sun appeared more
beautiful than ever before; while we thus
quietly admiring the beautiful blood-red,
iron tinctured valley below us, now
plsinly visible beneath the slowly rising
curtain of mist, admiring the winding
creek in its center. which, with its broad
fringe of orange colored Kinnekinnic
willow appeared like huge yellow snake
| in basin of blood, q man rode suddenly
upon US.
Each sprang to his feet, rife in hand.
The stranger turned bis horse away in
alarm and rode quickly away. He was
a white man, and we could not and had
no reason to halt him. He rode out to
the side OF the road and dismounted.
Then he proceeded to arrange and to
write upon some paper, which he placed
in his bosom, and, after some hesitation,
led his horse towards our surprised party
and haulted about thirty PAGES distant,
| r;Aa nd v,ictn1 IN hand
"Hsllo there"
"Hallo YOURSELF"
"Is this the Gustav road2'
"Don't know; I've been lost all night.
Who are your?
"Pilgrims from Cheyenne. Been lost
on Jenny's trail two days"
Then tho lonely stranger rode up and
stood restlessly awaiting interrogation.
He said he had left Custar Two days be-
fore; that he was drunk when he left, and
did not know what he had done or now
he had got lost. He received lot of let
tiers from our party, and soon after babe
us adieu. He said he was going to the
States, and we babe him look out for his
scalp, and said good. bye. Poor fellow!
unfortunate drunk! 1t cost him his life.
1t was late in the afternoon when we met
him again. We were in dry camp,
camp in which snow must be melted for
water for man and beast The boys were
busy at work sboveling snow into camp
kettles and melting 1t for the horses.
Supper was over and the guards were
out. A shot awoke the reverberating
echoes of the bills, and minute after
wards every man of the fity-fve "p,l.
grims" was prepared for duty. A party
OF yipilantes rode into camp; they had
come upon the guards suddenly, and had
been fred upon. They were rough-look-
ing men, but all quite civil. They in
CURED for lawyer. We had one and
he came forward. They asked for ajudge;
we had none, so they elected one. They
asked for preacher, but found none. A
clerk was found in the reporter. They
had brought back the strange man OF the
morning. He was prisoner and seemed
to realize his position. He called the re-
porter and handed him back his mine
matter, and requested him to write tew
short letters for him. This was done and
ne signed them while court was beng
heldOthe judge seated on pile of har-
ness, the jury on q wagon tongue.
aDick Burnett shouted enc Of these
strange, cruAl men Dick turned to the
reporter and, banding him his papers and
two or three pictures, said in Q trembling:
choking voice: els MI over with me, l
reckon. They all know me and it's no
use squealing."
He walked over TO the wagon, while
two of the party started 10 barkless old
cotton tree. whereas larist was thrown
over projecting limb;
aDick Burnett" said old Col. Lyons,
ayou We been caught inthr act OF stealing
horses from the people on these hills
You have also been guilty Of shooting and
voundine. with intent to kill, Peter s.
Lambert, and with stealing his horse.
This ere party Of good aad true men have
settled this fact and say you must hang.
What have Won 70 cay sgaipst IT.
Dick. while old man Lyon Was speak
ing. manifested little or no feeling. he
looked in the faces Of all and seemed to
expec, some interference from the mem-
bers of our train He paused for mo-
ment, then be said:
al know I shot Pete Lambert. hut no
wanted to get the drop on me. l took
his hore, and may have taken q few
OIL ,.s, but what done /. done when
was drunk. If I've got 70 swing, III DO
i, like man. only give me Tune to NIX
up matters before i go"
Then the poor fellow sat down, ana
with tears in bis eyes wrote q letter 70
| his father in Stsubenville Ohio, and one
to his brother 10 ST. LouiA and still an
other 70 lady in Cokhocton. Ohio. Then
he arose. and dashing the tears nom his
bloodshot eyes, said he vas ready. ne
gave his rife and horse 10 Col. Lyon, 70
Be sent back to the owner, Pete Lambert.
and folding his arms, walked 70 the tree.
FOR /. mnmant he hasitsted. Life WAS