The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-05
From this Kansas City Tlmes.l
LIFE AT THE BLACK KILLS.
A ThrillingiWinter Days Tragedy in Custor
Park

fdrK.
The 10th day of March was the coolest
day experienced in the Black Hills during
the entire winter, The mercury was down
TO twenty degrees below zero and was still
sinking, while the snow rolled down in
binding, eddying clouds, rendering life out
of doors almost impossible. At least thirty
men had congregated in the most premi-
nent store. the largest and best in Custer.
The mud floor was rendered muddier by
the thawiug OF the ice and Snow which
dripped in small streams from the rough
wrappings OF the cosmopolitan assemblage.
The store is deserted military barrrcks
large, low, barn-likc affair, containing
beds, blacksmith's forge, carpenters bench,
bar room, grocery and notion store, and re-
porters desk. The center of attraction
was the bar, which was being literally pat
r6nized 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 boisterous braggado-
clio, 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 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 and this was the farewell drunk"
For fully two hours they stood before the
bar, pouring down whlslsey, and about /
o'clock started for the door, where their
teams stood shivering in the storm. Alex
ander Shaw and Tom Milligan were part
ners, both from Salt Lake, both young,
rough, but affectionate friends, just on the
point of shaking hands before parting.
They reached the door and rushed forth,
shouting and yelling, as drunken men often
do. Mllligan 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 agSin by
the Keeling man. There was flash, q re-
the threshold of the door.
"Good God Tom, what have you done
Did you shoot Aleck, Tom?" said one of
the party.
mo he's only possuming, boys an
swcred Tom. "D-n you, Aleck, and
come and take drink"
The reckless shooter staggered to the
PROSTATE form which lay upon IFS face, and
selling him by the coat collar, turned it
over. A CHASTITY, sickening sight was pre-
sented to view. The bullet had pierced
through the brain, and had lodged beneath
the skull upon the back of the head. For
u moment the drunken man stared down
into his friends bloody face, then his coun-
tenance assumed a deadly pallor, his eyes
became fixed with horror. He was sober
ed. Turning round to his Mortified COM
psnions he said, as he threw his pistol
down: "Boys, didn't mean to do it. I'll
swear didn't mean to kill him." Then
bursting into tears he clasped his hands to
his face and stood sobbing like child.
"Hc was the best friend had in the
world, boys, and loved him like brother.
Oh, Ged, what have l done What have
done!"
''Let's hang him. suggested some excit-
able individual behind the half sobered
group of Salt Lake men.
emo, no! None O. that ere business just
yet in Custer. The man must have tri-
a." said a citizen coolly, as he drew his
revolver.
IL arrest you, sir, in the name of the
citizens of Custer" said Pete Mckay, the
merchant, and Milligan stood meekly await
ing the grasp of the law.
"Who'll dare to arrest him?" said one of
the drunken Salt Lakers. "You let go of
him, you Pete Mckay. You've got no le-
gal authority to arrest him, so jest take
your claws off him, or I'll"
"This 10 my authority" said Pete Nc
Kay, drawing his pistol. 81 am a citizen
of Custer. and intend to turn this man over
to the city marshal. Who dares to inter-
fere with me7"
"NO one answered one or two of the
bystanders, and half-dozen pistols flashed
out from their scabbards, and for several
minutes there was an omnous silence in
the group. Twas fine tableau. There
lay the victim Of drunken ruffian's reck-
lessness, the brains slowly oozing from the
hole in the forehead. Over him stood the
sobered rufian, pale and paralyzed with
horror, while pistol in hand stood the mer-
chant, grasping the shoulder of the Sub
missive Miligsn, behind him dozen or
more miners, hunters and emigranta, 81
lently supporting the stern, determined
merchant, whilo opposite them were rang
ed the Salt Lake party, irresolute and sur
prised.
Marshal Burrows soon arrived and took
charge of the prisoner. A jury was at
once empanelled and a frontier trial COM
menasd in little log cabin, the home, Of
fee, bedroom and court room Of the pro-
visionai judge. The trial was brief; the
principal witness wss the reporter; nearly
all the other spectators at the tragedy were
too drunk to remember what TRANSFERRED
The six jurymen brought in verdict of
"not guilty" Then the acquitted man was
re-arrested for shooting within the city lin
its and fined S25 and costs, which was paid,
and Milligan started forth free man to
drink, brag and shoot again, should the
spirit prompt him SO to do.