The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07
HOW DICK BARNETT DIED.
LYNCHED IN THE BLACK NILS BY
THE YIGILdNTES.
Dropping in on n smoking Pnrty-How Pill
Erims from Cheyenne Received n Stranger
Dicks Confession His Last Letters.

Dicks Confession His Last Letters.
Prom me Kansas CITY Times.
There were four Of us seated together
around a cheerful pitch-pne fire upon the eide
OF a grassy knoll among the foot-bills, about
forty miles from Custer One OF the party was a
mountaineer the rest were members OF large,
well-armed train of Black Killers, then tOiling
and wo king its way through wilderness OF
saee brush, endeavoiing TO reach the triil our
had selected spot for rest, where the wind or
tho sun, or perhaps both, had cleared away the
petrHed by age. The grass, too was quite
luxuriant, and offered an inducement for us to
s ana 0nd ,Ss 6e IRAN Sane up hs e
forth our pipes to smoke ana watch the misty
curtain rise. While we were calmly smoking
around the fire, watching the misty canopy rise
like feathery veil from the valley beneath us,
aman rode suddenly upon US,
Each spraog to hts feet, rife in hand. The
stranger turned his horse away In alarm and
rode quickly away, He was a white man, and
We could n no, ana no, hsa no reason 20 malt MIN
mounted. Then he proceeded to arrange and
20 write upon sone paper, which he placed In
horse toward our surprised p.rty and halted
about thirty PAGES distant, rife and pistol In
hand.
Halo there I"
Halo yOurseIfr'
Is this the Custer road p
Don't know. I've been lost all night. Who
Pilgrims from Cheyenne. Been lost on
Jenneys trail two DAYS"
Then the lonely stranger rode up and stood
restlessly awaiting interrogation. lie said he
drunk when he left, and did not know what he
had done or how he had got lost. He received
lot OF letters iron our party and soon after
ward babe US adieu. lie said he was Goilg to
the States, aud we bade him look out for his
scalp and said rood-by. Poor fellow Unfor-
In the afternoon when we met him again. We
were In dry camp-a camp In which snow must
boys were busy at work shovellng snow into
camp kettles aud melting 1t for the horses Sun
per was over and the guards were out. A shot
awoko the reverberating echoes OF the hills, and
n minute afterward every man Of the nfty-1ve
"pllgnms" was prepared for duty. A party OF
rigihntes rode INTO camp. Ihey had come upon
the qua, DIS suddenly and had been fred upon.
They were rough-lookng men, but all quite
civil. They inquired for "A LAWYER We had one,
and he came forward. They asked for a Judge.
We had none. so they elected one. They .sked
for a preacher but found none. A clerk was
found in the reporter. They had brought back
the strange man OF the morning. lie was pris-
oner. md seemed to realize his position. He
G He'd tho reporter and handed him back his
mail matter, and requested him TO write few
short letters for him. This was done, and he
signed them while court was being held
judge seated ON pile OF harness. the jury on
wagon tongue.
"Dick Barnett" shouted one Of those strar ge,
cruel men. DICK turned To the reporter and,
handing him his papers and two or three pic-
lures, said in trembling, choking voice, It's
al over with me, | reckon. They all know me,
ana It's no use squealing"
lie walked over to the wagon, while two Of
the party started to barkiess old cottonwood
tree, where u iariat was thrown over projecting
limb.
"Dlck Barnett" said old Col. Lyon, "you've
been caught In the act OF stealing horses from
the people OF these hills. You have also en-
found guilty. OF shooting and wounding, with
intent to Kill, Peter Lam bert, and with stealing
his horse: Ihis ere party of true and good men
have settled this fact and say you must hang.
What have you to say against ltl'
Dick, while old man Lyon was speaking, mani
Tested little no feeling. He looked In the
faces of ALL and seemed to expect some inter
ference from the mem oers Of cur train. He
paused for moment. when he said
Il know shot Pete Lambert. but he wanted
to get the drop on me. ! took his horse. and
may have taken a few others, but what done
done when was drunk. IL I've got to swing.
III do T. like a mani only give me time 10 Ok up
matters afore GO"
Then the poor follow sat down. aud. with tears
In his ewes, wrote letter TO his father In Steu-
benville, Ohio, and one to his brother In st.
Louis, and still another TO lady In Coshocton,
ohio. Then he arose, and, disabling the tears
HON his blO0dshOt eyes, said he was ready. lie
gave his rifle and horse to Col. Lyon to be
sent back To the owner. Pete Lam bert, and. fold
ing his arms, walked toward the tree. For n
moment no hesitated Lie was sweet to him
me was not thirty But he was seized and
pushed forward to the tree, and mounted the
horse without hesitation. Iben the tears came
gushing from his Dyes. lille his arms were boitsd
down to bis sides. The rope was passed over
his neck and drawn taut- Another minute and
tho horse received q blow which sent 1t galiop-
ing down the valley, and Dick Barnett was
struggling between heaven aud earth. IL was
soon over, the rope was united, and he ell to
the earth and was left to the pilgrims to bury.
10 rolled him up In his saddle blanket and en-
tered him IN tho blood red soil OF Red Z non,
ard Barnett. u steubsnyiile, ONO. Died Feb
ruAry ~, 1875"