The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-05-11
LIFE AT THE BLACK HILLS.
A Thrilling Winter Days Tragedy in GUS
ter Park.

At least thirty men had congregated
in the most prominent store, the largest
and best in Custer. The mud floor was
rendered 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 a deserted military bar
racks, a large, low, barn-like affair, con-
tanning beds, blacksmith's forge, car
penter's bench, barroom, 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 just from
Salt Lake and the mines of Nevada
came rushing into the store, and, with
loud, boisterous Oragadocia, took pos
session of the bar. Ranging themselves
in row in its front, they called for
"some O. that ar licker." 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 voy-
age, and were about to separate and each
go his own way, some to the north,
others south, and one or two to remain;
and this was the farewell drunk. For
fully two hours they stood before the
bar, pouring down whisky, and about
one o'clock started for the door, where
their teams stood sbivering in the storm.
Alexander Shaw and Tom Milligan
were partners, both from st. Lake, both
young, rough, but affectionate friends,
just on the point of shaking hands be-
.I | e.,
and rushed forth, shouting and yelling,
like drunken mon often do. Milligan
drew his revolver and fired in the air.
"Fire lower, Tom. or you'll hit some
of us, said companion.
Too late the pistol was raised again
by the reeling man. There was flash,
a report, and Aleck Shaw reeled and fell
across the threshold Of the door.
"Good God Tom, what have you
done2 Did you shoot Aleck, Tom ?" said
one of the party.
"No, he's only possuming, boys,
answered Shaw. "Aleck, come and take
drink"
The reckless shooter staggered to the
PROSTATE form which lay upon its face
and seizing him by the coat collar
turned it over. A ghastly, sickening
sight was presented to view. The pale
face was striped with blood, which oozet
out of a small hole in the forehead. The
bullet had pierced through the brain
and had lodged beneath the skull upo1
the back of the head. For moment
the drunken man stared down into hi
friends bloody face, then his counte
nance assumed deadly pallor, his eyes
became fixed with horror. He wa.
sobered. Turning round to his Mortified
companions, he said, as he threw hi
pistol down: "Boys, didn't go to dc
it. I'll swear I didn't mean to kill him.
Then bursting into tears he clasped hi
hands to his face and stood sobbing like
child.
world, boys, and 1 loved him like {
brother. Oh, God, what have I done
What have done!'
"Let's hang him." suggested some
excitable individual behind the hal
sobered group of Salt Lake men.
"No, no! None O. that ere business
just yet in Custer. The man must have
a trial, said q citizen, coolly, as he drew
his revolver.
81 arrest you, sir, in the name of th'
citizens of Custer" said Pete Mckay
the merchant. and Milligan stood meekl,
Waiting the grasp of the law.
"Wholl dare to arrest him p said one
Of the drunken Salt Lakers. You lie
go of him, you Pete Mckay. You've
got no legal authority to arrest him, 81
jest take your claws off him or I'll -
"This is my authority" said Pete
Mckay, drawing his pistol. 81 am
citizen of Custer, and intend to turn thi
man over to the city marshal. Wht
dares to interfere with me2"
"No one !" answered one or two O
the bystanders, and half dozen pistol
flashed out from their scabbards, and TO
several minutes there was an ominou
silence in the group. 1t was a fine tab
, leau. There lay the victim of drunke1
ruftian's reckleasness, the brains slowl,
oozing from the hole in the forehead
Over him stood the sobered ruffian, pal
and paralyzed with horror, while pisto
in hand stood the merchant, graspint
the shoulder of the submissive Milligan
behind him dozen or more miners
, hunters and immigrants, silently sup
, porting the stern, determined merchant
while opposite them We're ranged tn,
Salt Lake party, irresolute and sur
prised. 1t was critical period in tn
history of Custer. A shot from eithe
side would have resulted i'll terrible
slaughter. The least attempt to rescu
, Milligan would have brought forth
, volley from the citizens, and then Judg
Lynch would have been called in to fin
, ish up the business.
7 Marshal Burrows soon arrived ant
took charge of the prisoner. A jury wa
at once impaneled and frontier tria
commenced in a little log cabin, tn,
home, Office, bedroom and court room
of the provisional judge. The trial wa
brief the principal witness was the re
! porter; nearly all the other spectators a
the tragedy were too drunk to remem
Der what t1anspired. The six iurymel
brought in a verdict of "not guilty.
Then tie acquitted man was rearreste'
for shooting within the city limits ant
fined $25 and costs, which was paid, an,
Milligan started forth a free man, t.
drink, brag md shoot again should tn
spirit prompt him so to do. This is
true sketch of Black Hills life. and full
illustrates one Of the peculiar phases @
; frontier justice as executed by a peopl
who govern themselves in little reput
lie of their own.