The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-07-01
A Thrilling Winter Days
Tragedy.

The tenth day Of March was the cold.
est day experienced in the Black II Ills
during the entire winter The mercury
was down to 90 degrees below zero, and
was still sinking, while the snow rolled
down in binding, eddying clouds, render.
ing life out Of doors almost impossible.
The unIortunates who were encamped in
and about the neighboring guches hock-
ed into the dark, cheorlcss cabins, and
huddled together in shivcring groups
about tho pitch or pine fires kept up for
the free accommodation Of all who mi ght
seek warmth and shelter within doors.
AT least thirty men had oongregate ted
in the most prominent store, the largest
and best in Custer. The mud floor was
rendered muddior by the thawing of the
ice and snow which dripped in small
streams from the rough wrappiugs Of the
cosmopolitan assemblage.
The store is deserted military bar.
racks, n large, low, barn.like affair, con.
tanning beds, blacksmith's forge, carren.
ter's bench, bar.room, 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 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 row in its front,
they called for some o that ar licker." :"
round after round Of whiskey was poured
down, and still they stood aud talked and
swore and laughed They had just ar.
rived from Cheyenne after twenty days
voyage, and were about to separate and
each 60 his own way, some to the north,
others south, and one or two to remain !;
and this was their farewell drink, For
fully two hours they stood before the oar,
pouring down whiskey, and about one
o'clock started for the door, where their
teams stood shivering in the storm.
Alexander Shaw aud Tom Mill;gan
were partners, both from Salt Lake, both
young, rough, but affectionatc friends, Just
on the point of shaking hands before part
ing They reached the door, and rushed
forth, shouting and yelling, like druu Ken
men often do. Milligau Jrew his re gol.
yer and fred in the air.
Fire lower Tom, Or you'll hit some of
US, - said companion
Too late the pistol was raised again
by the reelng man There was a flash,
a report, and Aleck Shaw reeled and fell
across the threshold of the door.
GOOD God Tom what have you done?
Did you shoot Aleck, Tom ~ said one Of
the party.
No, he's only possuming, boys" an.
swered Milligan. Cd d---n you,
Aeck, come and take drink"
The reckless shooter staggered to the
PROSTATE form, which lay upon its face,
aud, seiz;ng him by the coat collar, turn.
ed it over A ghastly, sickening sight
was presented to view. The pale ace
was striped with blood. which oozqd nat
Of "a small hole in the forehead The
bullet had pierced through the brain. lud
had lodged beneath the ,kull upon tho
back Of the head For moment the
drunken man stared doID into his frie DIS
bloody face, aud then his countenancy as.
sumed deadly Yallor, bis eyes bee me
fixed with horror. lie was sch, ed.
Turning round to his Mortified com an
ions he said, as he threw his pistol d. gn.
"Boys, | didn't 60 to do it. I'll swear
didn't mean to kill him - Then, burst.
ing into tears, he clasped his hands his
face and stood sobbing like child.
''lle was the best friend had in the
world boys, and loved him ike lro-
ther. Oh, God, what have ! doae
What have | done !"
Lets hang him." suggested some *.
citable individual behind The halfsob red
group Of Salt Lake men
No, no None O. that ere busiaess
just ye, in Custer. The man must have
a triul,' said a citizen, ,ooly, as he crew
his revolver.
II arrest you, sir, in the name of he
citizens Of Custer" said Pete Mckay,
the merchant. aud Milligan stood NEE KY
awaiting the grasp Of the law,
Who'll dare to arrest him p said me
Of the drunken Salt Lakers. You let
go Of him, you Pete Mckay. You've
no legal authority to arrest him, so Jest
take your claws off him or IN"
This is my authority" said Pete Nc
Kay, drawing his pistol II AN cil zen
of Caster, aud intend to turn this man
over TO the city marshal. who dare, to
interfere with me ?'
No one - answered one or two o. .he
bystanders, and halfdo pistols sh.
ed out from their scabbaras. and, for -ey.
eral minutes, there was an omnious sl.a ace
in the group. 1t was a 6ne tablrau.
there lay the victim Of drunken ruff L S
recklessness, the braius slowly oozing from
the hole in the forehead Over aim
stood the sobered .uiiian. pale and para.
lyzed with horror while pistol in b nd
stood the merchant, graspiug the shou ler
of the submissive Mulligan, behind hiu q
dozen or more miners, hunters and c,ni.
grants, silently supporting the stern. le.
termined merchant, while opposite Lem
were ranged the Salt Lake party. irl so.
lutte ahd surprised It was a critica pc.
riod in the history of Custer. A not
from either side would have resulted "a a
terrible slaughter. The least attemp, to
rescQe MilligaU would have brought forth
a yolley from the clizens, aud then Jr .ge
Lynch would have been called 10 to ish
up the business
Marshal Buuowstoon arrived aui ook
charge of the prisoner \ jury VA, at
once impaneled aud frontier trial com
menced in little log cabin, the home,
office. bedroom and court room OF the
provisional judge. The trial was biief
the principal witness was the reporter
uc-rly all the other spectators at the
! tragedy were too drunk to remen. Der
what transpired The six jurymen broug ughi
in a verdict Of mot guilty" Then the