Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-05-18

life. 1twas late in the afternoon ~
we met him again We. were in a.
camp, acamp In which snow mas,
melted for water for mar and beast IT,
boys were busy at work shoveliny .nan.
into camp kettles and melting il for ~
horses. Supper was over and the gn.rds
were out. A shot awoke the reyerhers.
ing echoes OF the hills, and m;nr,.
afterward every man of the fifty-five q. nj
grims" was prepared for duty. mart,
OF esctgantes rode into camp: thew ha5
come upon the guards suddenly. and Isd
been fired npon. They were rourh
looking men, but al quite civil. TIE
inquired for lawyer. We had one ana
he came forward. They asked for
judge; we had none, so they elected one
They asked for q preacher, but found
none. A clerk was found in the renorter
They had brought back the strange man
of the morning He was prisoner and
seemed to realize his position. He calIaJ
the reporter and handed him back h;s
mail matter, and requested him 10 wri,s
q few short letters for him This wss
done and he signed them while court Wa
being held-the judge seated on pile N
harness, the jury on wagon-tongue.
"Dick Burnettw shouted one of tbosa
strange, cruel men. Dick turned To the
reporter and, handing him his papers and
two or three pictures, said in TREMBLING
choking voice. :. It's all over with me I
reckon. They all know me ana It's no
use squealing"
He walked over to the wagon, while tuo
Of the party started to an old barkless cot
tonwood tree, where Lartdt was throw
over a protecting limb
"Dick Burnett said old Col. LYON
you've been caught in the act of steal.
ing horses from the people of these hiIs
You have also been found guilty of shoot.
ing and woundinS, with intent to kin
Peter s. Lambert, and with stealing hi
horse This ere party of true and good
men have settled this fact and say yo1
must hang. What have you to say against
its''
Dick, while old man Lyon was speak
ing, manifested little or no feeling. He
looked in the faces of all and seemed 10
expect some interference from the mem.
beers of our train. He paused for a mo.
ment, when he said:
Sc know l shot Pete Lambert, but he
wanted to get the drop on me. took his
horse, and may have taken few others.
Dub WUdh dOuC dbuL SNnCA i was *.
If I've got to swing, I'll do it like man,
only give me time 10 fix up matters afore
go.
Then the poor fellow sat down, and
with tears in his eyes, wrote letter 10
his father in Steubenviile, Ohio, and one
to his brother in ST. Louis, and still an
other to lady in Coshockton, Ohio. Then
he ar Dse, and dashing the tears from his
bloodshot eyes, said he was ready. He
gave his rifle and his horse to Col. Lyon
to be sent back to the owner, Pete Lam.
bert, and folding his arms walked to the
tree. For moment he hesitated. Life
was sweet 10 him Che was not thirty. But
he was seized from behind and pushed
forward to the tree, and mounted the
horse without hesitation. Then the tears
came gushing from his eyes, while his
arms were belted down to his side The
rope was passed over his neck and drawn
taut Another minute and the horse re-
ceiyed a blow which sent it galloping
down the valley, and, Dick Burnett was
between heaven and earth. 1t
was soon over, the rope was united, and
he fell to the earth,) and was left to the
pilgrims TO bury. We rolled him up il
his saddle blanket and inferred him in
the blood-red soil of Red Canon" with
a pine board at his head inscribed:
" Richard Burnett, of Steubenville, Ohio.
Died Feb. 26, 1876. ~ Kansas Ctty Tines