The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-05-18

BLACK HILLS SKETCHES.
The First Hanging Episode, Judge
Lynch O1dCiatGS.
The Victim Writes a Letter to a
Brother in st. Louis,

dTOunu CneeIlul plICn plue uTe upOn
the side of a grassy knoll among the foot
hills, about forty miles from Custar. One
of the party was a mountaineer, the rest
were members of large, well armed
train of Black Killers. then toiling and
working its way through a wilderness of
sage brush, endeavoring to reach the trail
our party had discovered a few hours be-
FORE We had selected spot for rest
where the wind or the sun, or perhaps
both, had cleared away the snow from
about huge pine knot, almost petriied
by age. The grass, too, was quite luxur-
liant, and offered an inducemeut for us to
halt and rest until the train came up
The fire lighted and the knot in blaze,
we brought forth our pipes for a smoke,
and watch the misty curtain rise. Twas
glorious scene on that crisp frosty
morning, and the man that died there
that day should have felt proud of this
magnificent death chamber. Nature
seems to have lavished unlimited beauty
upon the Black Hills, and fate seems to
have led Dick Burnett to the most beau
tiful spot in the Hills to die. While we
were calmly smoking around the fire,
watching the misty canopy rise like a
feathery veil from the valley beneath us,
while we silently admired the magnii-
cent background of gisteuing snow and
bright green pines, which in the morn
ing sun appeared more beautiful than
ever before; while we were thus quietly
admiring the beautiful blood red, iron
tinctured valley below us, now plainly |
visible beneath the slowly rising curtain |
of mist, admiring the winding creek in |
its centre, which, with its broad fringe of |
orange colored Kinnekennic willow, ap.
peared like huge snake in basin of |
blood, man rode suddenly upon us.
Each sprang to his feet, rife in hand.
The stranger turned his horse away in
alarm, and rode quickly away. He was
white man, and we could not and had
no reason to halt him. He rode out to
the side of the road and dsmounted.-
Then he proceeded to arrange and write
upon some paper, which he placed in his
bosom, and, after some hesitation, led
his horse towards our surprised party
and halted about thirty PAGES distant, RI
fle and pistol in hand.
"Halo there"
"Hallo YOURSELF"
"ls this the Custar road?"
Don't know; I've been lost all night.
Who are you?"
"Pilgrims from Cheyenne. Been lost
on Jennys trail two days"
Then the 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
how he had got lost. He received lot
of letters from our party, and soon after
bade us adieu. He said he was going to
the States, and we bade 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 shoveling t
snow into camp kettles and melting it
for the horses Supper was over and the y
guards were out. A shot was fred, and +
a minute afterwards every man of the S
ffty-fve "pilgrims" were prepared for r
duty. A party of vigilants rode into the
camp; they had come upon the guards t
suddenly, and had been fred upon
They were rough looking men, but all a
quite civil. They inquired for lawyer. t
We had one and he came forward They b
asked for Judge, we had none, so they o
elected one. They asked for preacher, b
but found none. A clerk was found in Il
the reporter They had brought back |.
the strange man of the morning. He h
was prisoner, and seemed to realize his e
position. He called the reporter and +
handed him back his mine matter, and Il
requested him to write few short letters r
for him. This was done and he signed Il
them while court was being held-the O
judge seated on pile OF harness, thejury n
on wagon tongue. n
'Dick B lrnettW shouted one of these a,
strange, cruel men. Dick turned to the c.
reporter and, handing him his papers Y
and two or three pictures, said in a cho- IL
king, trembling voice: cts all over Il
with me, reckon. They all know me, cf
and it's no use squealing" IL
He walked over to the wagon. while II
two ofthe party started to barkless old b,
cottonwood tree, where lariat was cast d
over projecting limb. %
"Dick Burnett" said old Col. Lyon, IS
"you've been caught in the act of steal. &C
ing horses from the people of these hills. al
You have also been found guilty ofshoot- re
ing, with intent to kill, Peter s. Lambert hi
and with stealing his horse. This ere hi
party of good and true men have settled m
this fact, and say you must hang. What to
have you to say against it?" si
Dick, while old man Lyon was speak pr
ng, manifested little or no feeling He SO
looked III the faces of all, and seemed to to
expect some interference from the men, I'll
Oers of our train. He paused for a mo- an
nent then said: iul
II know l shot Pete Lambert, but he la,
wanted to get the drop on me. took ba
lis horse, and l may have taken few RI
,thers, but what done l done when l
vas drunk. If I've got to swing I'll do in
t like man, only give me time to fix lyl
ID matters afore | CO." Du
Then the poor fellow sat down, and Va
With tears in his eyes, wrote letter to sis
lis father in Steubenville, Ohio, one to an
lis brother in st. Louis, and one to raj
ady in Coshocton, Ohio. Then he arose he
nd dashing the tears from his blood me-
hot eyes, said he was ready. He gave Ell
lis rifle and horse to Col. Lyon to be
ent back to the owner, Pete Lambert,
nd folding his arms, walked to the tree
Tor moment he hesitated. Life was OPP
weet to him (he was not thirty. But gle
le was seized and pushed forward to the Re
rec, and mounted the horse without hes no
alton. Then the tears came gushing ito
rom his eyes, while his arms were belt to
d down to his Sides The rope was put ser
yer his neck and drawn tight Another the
minute and the horse was sent galloping VIII
own the valley, and Dick Burnett was hig
truggling between heaven and EARTH Civ
t was soon over, the rope was united tor
nd he fell to the earth and was left to tiol
1 -. :I..:..,. - - wv Lii -. = TIL