The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-05-12
= LIFE AT THE BLACK HILLS.



tenrs.b idrgoIi Park. g1o.ar. lo .e .f9'
alun cs fFrom the Kansas City Times.l 1og.
A party of young men from Salt Lake
and the mines of Nevada came rushing
into the store, and, with loud, bolster
GUS braggadocio, took possession of the
bar. Ranging themselves in a row in its
front, they called for "some o. that ar
Kicker" 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 voyage, 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 1 o'clock started for
the door, where their teams stood shiv-
ering in the storm. u
Alexander Shaw and Tom Milligan
were partners, both from Salt Lake, both
young, rough, but afiectionate friends,
just on the point of shaking hands be-
fore parting. They reached the door
and rushed forth. shouting and yelling,
like drunken men often do. Milligan
drew his revolver and fired in the air.
60 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,
report, and Aleck Shaw reeled and fell
across the threshold of the door.
"Good Godl Tom, what have you
done9 Did you shoot Aleck, Tom u
said one of the party.
"No, he's only possuming, boys" an
swered Shaw. cd d-n you,
Aleck, and come and take a drink. T"
The reckless shooter staggered to the
PROSTATE form which lay upon its face,
and Selling him by the coat collar,
turned it over. A CHASTITY, sickening
sight was presented TO view. The pale
face was striped with blood, which oozed
out of small hole in the forehead. The
bullet had pierced through the brain,
and had lodged beneath the skull upon
the back of the head. For a moment
the drunken man stared down into his
friends bloody face, then his counte-
nance assumed deadly pallor, his eyes
became fixed with horror. He was So
bered. Turning round to his Mortified
companions he said, as he threw his
pistol down /: Boys, didn't go to dc
it. I'll swear 1 didn't mean to kill him. >
Then bursting into tears he clasped his
hands to his face and stood sobbing like
child.
"He was the best friend I had in the
world, boys, and / loved him like O
brother. Oh, God, what have done
What have L done
"Let's hang him." suggested some
excitable individual behind the half
sobered group of Salt Lake men.
"No, no! None o. that ere business
just yet in Custer. The man must have
a trial" said citizen, coolly, as he drew
his revolver.
CT arrest you, sir, in the name of the
citizens of Custer" said Pete Mckay,
the merchant, and Milligan stood meekly
awaiting the grasp of the law.
Who'll dare to arrest him?" said
one of the drunken Salt Lakers. "You
let go of him, yoa Pete Mckay. You've
got no legal authority to arrest him, SC
jest take your claws off him or Ill--'
"This is my authority" said Pete
Mckay, drawing his pistol. g am {
citizen of Custer, and intend to turn this
man over to the city marshal. Who
dares to interfere with me-"
mo one |" answered one or two o
the bystanders, and half-dozen pistol
flashed out from their scabbards, an(
for several minutes there was an omi
nous silence in the group. 1t was a fin
tableau. There lay the victim of
drunken ruff ms recklessness, the brain
slowly oozing from the hole IN the fore
head. Over him stood the sobered ruf
fan, pale and paralyzed with horror
while pistol in hand stood the merchant
grasping the shoulder of the submissiv
Milligan, behind him dozen or NOR
miners, hunters and emigrants, SILENT,
supporting the stern, determined mer
chant, while opposite them were ranges
the Salt Lake party, irresolute and sur
prised. 1t was critical period in tn
history of Custer. A shot from eithe
side would have resulted in terribl
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.
Marshal Burrows soon arrived an
took charge of the prisoner. A jur
was at lonce impaneled, and frontie
trial commenced in q little log cabin
the home, Office, bedroom and court
room of the provisional judge. TIL
trial was brief the principal witnes
was the reporter nearly all the othe
spectators at the tragedy were too drum
to remember what TRANSFERRED. The 81
iurymen brought in verdict of enc
guilty." Then the acquitted man wf
rearrested for shooting within the CIT
limits and fined $25 and costs, whic
was paid, and Milligan started forth
free man, to drink, brag and shoot agai
should the spirit prompt him SO to d,
, This is true sketch of Black Hills lif
and fully illustrates one of the peculi'
phases of frontier justice as executed /
people who govern themselves in Ii
tie republic of their own.