The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-05-04
A Black Hills Episode.

pardon.
A Black Hills Episode.
The tenth day of March was the cold
est day experienced in the Black Hills
during the entire winter. The mercury
was down to twenty below zero and was
still sinking, while the snow rolled
down in binding, eddying clouds, rem
dering life out of doors almost impOs-
sible. The unfortunates who were en-
camped in and about the neighboring
gulches fiocked into the dark, cherries
cabins and huddled together in SILVER
4 ing groups about the pitch or pine fires,
kept up for the free accommodation Of
all who might seek warmth and shell
ter within doors. At least thirty men
had congregated in the most prominent
store, the largest and best in Custer.
The mud floor was rendered muddier
by the thawing of the ice and snow
which dripped in small streams from
the rough wrappings of the cosmopoli-
tan assembiage. The store is a deserted
barracks, large, low, barn-like affair,
containing beds, blacksmith's forge,
carpenters bench, bar-room, grocery
and notion store, and reporters desk.
The center of attraction was the bar,
which was being literally patronized by
the shiveriRg 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 a row in
its front, they called for ''sOme o. that
ar lickern Round after round of
whisky was poured down, and still they
stood and talked, andswore and laughed.
They had just arrived from Cheyenne
after twenty days. voyage, and were
about to separate and each go his own
way, some to the north, others south,
and one or two to remain; and this was
the farewell drunk. For fully two hours
they stood before the bar, pouring down
whisky, and about l o'clock started for
the door, where their teams stood shiv-
ering in the storm.
Alexander Shaw and Tom Milligan
were partners, 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 like drunken men often do. Mil
ligan drew his revolver and fired in the
air.
"Fire lower, Tom, or you'll hit some
of u.s." said a companion.
Too late! the pistol was raised again
by the Keeling man. There was flash,
areport, and Aleck Shay 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"
answered MilHgan. "Get up, Aieck,
and come take a drink"
The reckless shooter staggered to the
PROSTATE form which lay upon its face,
and Selling him by the coat collar turn
ed it over. A CHASTITY, sickening sight
was presented to view. The pale face
was striped with blood, which oozed !
out of a small hole in the forehead. The |
bullet had pierced through the brain,
and had lodged beneath the skull upon
the back of the head. For a moment |
the drunken man stared down into his |
friends bloody face, then his counte-
nance assumed deadly pallor, his eyes
became fixed with horror. He was
sobered. Turning round to his horri-
fed companions he said-as he threw
his pistol down." Boys, | didn't go to
do it. III swear didn't mean to kill
him." then bursting into tears he clasp
ed his hands to his face and stood Sob
bing like a child.
"He was the best friend l had in the
world, boys, and | loved him like a
brother. Oh, God, what have done
What have l donei"
" Let's hang him." suggested some
eXcitable individual behind the half
sobered group of Salt Lake men.
"No, MOI None o. that ere business
just yet in Custer. The man must have
a trial." said citizen, coolly, as he
drew his revolver.
81 arrest you, sir, in the name of
the citizens of CUSTER" said Pete Nc
Kay, the merchant, and Milligan stood
meekly awaiting the grasp of the law.
who'll dare to arrest him?" said
one of the drunken Salt Lakers. "You
let 90 of him, you Pete Mckay. You've
got no legal authority to arrest him, so
jest take your claws off him or III
-
"This is my authority" said Pete .
Mckay, drawing his pistol. al am
citizen of Custer, and intend to turn this !
man over to the City Marshal. Who /.
dares to interfere with me?" II.
"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 ominous !
silence in the group. 1t was fine ..
Iableau. There lay the victim of a :
drunken ruffian's recklessness, the :
brains slowly oozing from the hole in !
the forehead. Over him stood the So {
oered rutfiaR, pale and paralyzed with /.
horror, while pistol in hand stood the : :
merchant grasping the shoulder of the 8
submissive Miligan; behind him a =
iozen or more miners, hunters and emf {
grants, silently supporting the stern, y
determined merchant, while opposite
hem were ranged the Salt Lake party, y
rresolute and surprised. 1t was a =
critical period in the history of Custer. y
\ shot from either side would have re- u u
ulted in aterrible slaughter. The least q
attempt to rescue Milligan would have ,
brought forth volley from the citizens, q q
md then Judge Lynch would have been u y
allied in to finish up the business. Il
Marshal Burroughs soon arrived and a
oOk charge of the prisoner. A Jury n
vas at once empaneled and frontier II
rial commenced in a little log cabin. 81
he home, Office, bedroom and court e
DOM of the Provisional Judge. The trial u
vas brief; the principal witness was u
he reporter, nearly all the other spec y
ators present at the tragedy were too y
runk to remember what transpired. :
he six jurymen brought in a verdict of =
not guilty" Then the acquitted man +
-as re-arrested for shooting within the -
ity limits and fined S25 and costs, s
-hich was paid, and Milligan started :,
nth free man, to drink, brag, and ~
loot again should the spirit prompt :;
i'm so to do. This is a true sketch of y
lack Hills life, and fully illustrates one a,
the peculiar phases of frontier JUS a,
ce as executed by people who gov ~
n themselves in a little raDublic of f,