The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-11
WINTER DAYS TRAGEDY IN
CUSTER PARK.
From tho Kansas City Times

Tho 10th day Of March was tho coolest day expert
oneed In the Black Hills during the entire winter. Tho
mercury down TO twenty below zero, and still
sinking while the rolled down In binding. eddy
ting Clouds rendering fc out Of doors almost mposs
BILE. The unortunaies who onsampcd and
about the neghborng guchcs locked into the dark,
chcerless cabins and huddlcd together In cherries
groups about the pitch pine nres, kept up Tor
tree accommodation Of all who might seek warmth and
shelter within doors At least thirty had congre-
gated most prominent storc the largest and best
IN Custer. The mud floor rendered muddier by the
thawng or tho leo and which dripped in small
from tho rough wrappings Of the cosmopolitan
asscmbIago.
low, barn-like affair, containing BEDS blacksmith s
FORGE carpenters bench, barroom. grocery and notion
store and reporters desk Ths centre OF attraction
was the bar, which was being literally patronized ty
the shivcring crowd.
A party OF young men from Salt Lake and tho mines
OF Nevada rushing into the store, and with loud
boistsrous braggxdoctu took possession Of the bar
Ranging themselves In row IN IT'S front they
called o. that iickor.u Round after round
OF whiskey poured down. and still they aud
talked and sworc and laughed They had just arrived
from Cheyenne after twenty days voyage and wero
about separate aud esch 20 his own way, TO
tho north. others south, and two 20 remain 7;
and tins the farewell drunk. For fully two hours
about one O'clock started for the door, where their
teams stood shvcring N the storm.
Alexander Shaw aud Tom Niiligan were partners
both from Salt Lake, both young, rough but affection
friends just on the point Of shaking hands before
parting. They reached the door aud rushed forth,
shouting and yelling, like drunken men often d.. Mill
gan drew hls revolver and nred IN the air.
Fire lower, Tom, or you'll hit sonis Of u.s." said >
companion.
Too Tho pistol raised again by the rccling
There nash, report and Aieck shaw
rceicd ana Tell ACROSS the shreshQd OF the door.
Good God Tom, whit have you done Did you
oct Al8ck yD n
NO heas only possuning boys, answered Millgan.
''Gct up, God damn you. Aicck. and conq take
drink
The reckless shooter stssgcred the PROSTATE FORM
winch lay It's face, atsu, sezing him by the coat
collar, turned II gsiasy, sicScnlns sight
prcscntod 20 view. The pale lace was striped with
blood, which oozed Of small hole IN tho forehead.
The bullet had pierced through tho brain, and had
lodged beneath the skull upon the back VI the head.
Tor moment the drunken man stared down into his
friends Diooly face then hrs countenancc uncd
deadly pailor HIS eyes became liked with lie
was sobercd Turning round 10 his Lorried CON-
pauons he sud. ~ hc threw his pistol down, Boys
d,dnt so do H. IN swear didn'l mean 10 XIII
him." Then. bursting INTO tears. he claspcd his
to his face and $1,000 sobblng like child.
'.ne was tho best friend had N tho world boys.
and loved HIM like brother Godi what have
doncs What have aonc =.
Let's hang hun" suggested some exctabls ind!-
vidual behind the halt sobcrcd group u salt Lake
.'No, nol None . that business Just YET IN
Custer. The man must have trial. said citizen,
coolly. as he drew hts revolver.
II arrest you sir, 10 the or tho citizens Of
Custer, said Pete Mckay the merchsn. aud Miliisan
stood meckIy awaiting the grasp OF tho law
who'll dare 10 arrest hun ~ SAID one OF tho
drunken salt iakcrs you let 90 OF him. you peto
Mckay You've got no legal authority TO arrest him,
so jest take your claws oil HIM or Ill
s'ibIs 10 my authority said Pete Mckay. drawing
his pistoi II citizen Of Custer, aud intend 10
turn this man over 70 the cty harsAal Who darcs 70
Interfere With mo 2"
mo one, answered one or two Of the bystandcrs
and half dozen pistols dashed out from their scab
bards and for several minutes there ominous
silence IN the group Il was fine tabicau There lay
tho victim VI drunken rcfliap's rccklessness, the
brains slowly oozny rom the hole Ia the forehead.
over hun stood he sobered rufan pale aud Iaraiy
with horror while, pistol ~ hand stood the merchsnt
graspng the shoulder u the submissive Milgan; be-
hind dozen miners, hunters aud emf
grants, silently supporting the stern, determined
chant while opposite them nzed the salt Lake
party rresolutc surprised. II critical period
in The history OF Custer shol from either lido would
have resuea N terrible slaughter The least ATTEMPT
10 rescue Milligan would have brought forth voliey
IRON the citizens and then Judge Ly nch would have
been called ia 70 hnish UP the business.
Marshal Burroughs sooh arrived and took charge OF
the prisoner jury was ~ once enpanucd and iron
trial commenced IN iisto log cabin, the home,
oicc, bedroom and courtroom Of the Provisional Judge
The trial brIcL The principal witness Tho
porter, nearly all tho other spectators present VI The
tragedy being too drunk remember what TRANSFERRED
The SIX jurymcu brought verdict o. -Nos guity."
Then the acquitted renrrsstcd for shooting
w.thln the city limits and nnod 81, costs. which
paid, and Mniiaan started forth lrsc man. 20
drink brsg and shoot again should the SPIRIT prompt
him to do THIS true sketch Of Black HiIls hic,
aud fully illustrates Of Tho peculiar phases OF iron
tier justice as executed ny people who govern them
selves IN little republic Of thor creation.