Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-07-13
HOW DICK BARNETT DIED.
I.,ncbed In the Black Hills by the visilantes
elbow PiIsrims from Cheyenne "eceived
n stranEer-Dlck's CUnfession.-His Lnst


Lynched In the Black Hills Dy the 'ishan'ee .
..How Pilgrims from Cheyenne "ecelveo
srranser-.Dlck's Confession'-H's Inst
Letters.
There were four of US seated together
around cheerful pitch pine fire upon
the side of grassy knoll among the
foothills, about forty miles from Custer.
One of the party was q mountalneer;
the rest we're members of large, well
armed train of Black Killers, then toll
ing and working its way through will
derness of sage brush, endeavorlng to
reach the trail our party had discovered
a few hours before. We had selected a
spot for rest, where the wind or sun,
or perhaps both, had cleared away the
snow from about huge pine knot, al
most petrifed by age. The grass, too,
was quite luxuriant, and offered an in
ducement for us to halt and rest until
the train came up. The fire lighted and
the knot in blaze, we brought forth
our pipes to smoke and 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, a man sud-
denly rode upon us.
Each sprung to his feet, rifle in hand.
The stranger turned his horse away In
alarm and rode quickly away. He was
a white man, and we could not and had
no reason to halt him. He rode out to
the side of the road and dismounted.
Then he proceeded to arrange and write
upon some paper, which ne placed IN
his bosom, and after some hesitation Led
his horse toward our surprised party and
halted about thirty PAGES distant, rifle
and pistol in hand.
"Hallo there !"
Halo yourself !"
"Is this the Custer roada" :.
"Don't know. I've been lost all
night. Who are you ?"
" Pilgrims from Cheyenne. Been lost
on Jenney's trail two days"
Then the lonely stranger rode up and
stood restlessly awaiting interrogation.
He said he had left Custer two days be-
fore: that he was drunk when he left,
and did not know what he had done OF
how he had got lost. He received lot
of lette from our party, and soon after
ward bade us adieu. He said he was 60
ing to the States, and we bade him look
out for his scslp and said goodbye.
Poor fellow! Unfortunate drunk-lt
cost him his life! Itwas late in the after
noon when we met him again. We were
in dry camp-a camp IN which snow
must be melted for water for man and
beast. The boys we've busy at work
shoveliug snow into camp kettles and
melting il for tie horses. Supper was
over and the guards were out. A shot
awoke the reverberating echoes OF the
hills, and a minute afterward every man
\ 1of the fifty-fve "pilgrims" was pre-
pared for duty. A party of vigilaates
rode into camp. They had come upon
the guards suddenly and had been fired
upon. They were rough looking men,
but all quite civil. They inquired tor
lawyer. We had one, aud he came for
ward. They asked for judge. We
had none, so they elected one. They
asked for O preacher, but found none.
A clerk was found in the reporter. They
had brought back tho strange man OF
the morning. He was O prisoner, and
seemed to realize his position. dc
called the 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-the judge seated
on a pile of harness, the jury on
wagon tongue.
HDick Barnett! |" shouted one OF those
strange, cruel men. Dick turned to the
reporter and, handing him his papers
and two or three pictures, said, in q
trembling, choking voice: cts all
over with mo, I reckon. They all know
me, and it's no use squealing."
He walked over to the wagon, while
two of the party started to barkless
old cottonwood tree, where lariat was
thrown over projecting limb.
"Dick Barnett" said old Col. Lyon,
"you've been caught in the act OF steal
ing horses from the people of these hills,
You have also been found guilty OF
shooting and wounding, with intent to
kill, Peter Lambert, and with stealing
his horse. This ERE party OF true and
good men have settled this fact and say
you must hang. What have you to say
against it p
Dick, while old man Lyon was speak
ing, manifested little or no feeling. lie
looked in the faces of all, and seemed to
exoect some interference from the mem
bers of our train. He paused for mo-
ment, when he said:
"I know shot Pete Lambert, but ne
wanted to get the drop on me. took
his horse, and may have taken few
others, but what I done done when
was drunk. If I've got to swing, I'll dc
it like man; only give me time to III
up matters afore I CO."
Then the poor fellow 'at down, and,
with tears in his eyes, wrote letter tc
his father in Steubenville, Ohio, and one
to his brother in st. Louis, and still an
other to lady in Coshocton, Ohio
Then he arose, and, dashing the tears
from his bloodshot eyes,. said ne was
ready. He gave his rife and q horse te
Col. Lyon to be sent back to the owner
Pete Lambert, and, folding his arms
walked toward the tree. For moment
he hesitated. Life was sweet to hin
Che was not thirty. But he was seized
and pushed forward to the tree, ant
mounted the Eorse without hesitation
Then the tears came gushing from hi
ewes, while his arms were bolted dow1
to his sides. The rope was passed ovel
his neck and drawn taut. Another min
ute and the horse received blow which
sent it galloping down tho valley, ant
Dick Barnett was struggling betwee1