New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-11-13
MIR. GlBBSOF COLORADO.
the Blue eyed FrOntlersman who
Fought Isravelys for Life, Ono AEaiaat
Eleven-A Tt rrlble Ride Across the Pr8-
tries to Denver Jail. 100 Miles Away.

Fought Israveiys for Life, Ono Asaiast
Eleven-A Terrible Ride Across the Pra-
fries to Denver Jail. 100 Miles Away.
A New York correspondent writes from
Denver, Col, as follows: In 1874 | was en-
ployed on the Rocky Mountain Neacs of this
city, and enc autumn evening OF that year was
detailed to vista prisoner in the local Jail.
MIR. Gibbs, here's paper man come to see
you," was the jailcr's formula Of introduction
as entered one of the cells. ''Be sure am
mister, Gibbs" he added, in an under tone.
HES mighty particular bout the only title an
American ken have. Whenever he goes to a
hotel in the States, he always signs himself on
the blotter, MIR. Gibbs of Colorado Never
no initials, an always the Mr.. an of
Colorado He's known everywhere only as
Mr.. Gibbs, an"
The jailor stopped as Mr.. Gibbs advanced
and held out his hand. The visitor knew that
within the previous twenty -four hours the
blood of four men had redeemed it. But it
was q firm, hearty grip that Mr.. Gibbs
gave. His appearance was not unprepossess-
ing. Good nature beamcd from his clear blue
eyes. His rosy cheeks and round face, tanned
by exposure to prairie sun, might, but for the
yellow moustache, have been those of healthy
baby. Stray dogs would instantly have
sought in him friend.
One midnight in june 1874, the prairie about
one hundred miles south of Denver was light
ed up by the flames of a burning barn. The
figure of the barns owner was clearly reveal
ed as he vainly tried to put out the fire.
Crouched in dry ditch in the outer darkness
was an assassin with leveled rifle. He fired,
and the barns owner fell like a log with q
bullet in his brain. It was known that Mr.
Gibbs, who was the dead mans neighbor, had
had a dispute with him the week before, re-
speeding the boundary line between their
Denver for murder: The dispute was proved,
but there were no corroborating circumstances
and the jury brought in verdict Of acquittal.
Mr. Gibbs returned to his ranch,
but the friends of the dead
did not accept the jury's decision
and determined to take the law in their own
hands. This was how they Jared in their at
Tempt as Mr.. Gibbs told the story in the Den
yer Jail:
The previous midnight the Gibbs family was
awakened by blows on the door OF their log
cabin, that threatened to burst it open. Grasp
ing his rifle, Mr.. Gibbs cautiously looked
from q convenient window and saw eleven
armed men whom he Knew to be friends Of
his lately murdered neighbOr.
"What do you want?' he asked.
"You," was the short answer.
SWhat do you want with me:"
"To put you to better use than the Denver
jury did"
Mr.. Gibbs was always a man OF few words.
Leveling his rifle he warned the vi gilantes away
with an expressive Cit"
The vigilantes now retreated around the
corner of the cabin, where they were out of
range. Presently two brothers named Booth
returned with the ultimatum: Surrender, or
We'll roast your woman and your babies in
one oven"
'And kill you by the light OF your own
ranch, as you did poor Drummond," said a
voice from around the corner
They We're in earnest. Mr. Gibbs heard
them piling brush in the rear of the cabin,
where there was apparently no window or
lOophCle through which he could fire In the
stiffness OF the autumn night he heard the
scratch Of the match. There followed
cracking sound as the flames spred over the
dry wood. Then there was a great roar, and
the fire leaped up to the roof of the cabin,
while the air within began to grow hot, and
binding smoke poured through the crevices
between the logs.
-. This was the work OF six Of the vigilantes.
The other five, meanwhile, had taken posts
behind trees and fences in the front, ready to
fire at Mr.. Gibbs when his house grew too hot
to hold him. There they waited, each man
with his rifle levelcd.
Mr. Gibbs all this time had not been idle
Long before the fire had spread over the
brush, he had torn the plug from long dis
used loophole, cut for just such an emergency
as this into the rear wall. Telling his terri
fled children to lie down on the floor, and or
dering his wife to load his three rifles as fast
Us he fired, Mr. Gibbs began his desperate
IuiOuSu Tue lOOpuOie, himself unseen
he could see the six vigilantes who had fired
the brush. watching their work = few yards
distant The light of the burning brush
threw their figures in relief against the dark
ness that formed the background. They saw
nothing,till the barrel of Mr.. Gibbs rifle
wind drove the smoke away for an instant. A
flash followed from the cleaning barrel, and
bullet pierced the brain Of ore of the Booth
brothers. There was another flash, and the
second Booth fell mortally wounded. Snatch
Ing the third rifle from the nimble hands of
his wife who had already reloaded the first,
Mr.. Gibbs again took aim.
The first shot had come upon the vigilan.
ties like lightning from o clear sky. Seeing
no window in the rear of the ranch, they i'm
aglned themselves perfectly safe. Panic
stricken, the four started to run. A ball
manning three got around the corner, they
found they had but exchanged the fire for the
frying pan. They had forgotten that on the
cabins side was o window, through which
Mr.. Gibbs fired his fourth shot, sending ball
through the outstretched musket arm of
fourth man, breaking his bone.
so" said Mr.. Gibbs, critlcsing his failure
TO score centre. II must keep COOL" Then
he saw the five who had been lying in wait
or him start up from their hiding place. A
bail buried itself in the log. against which he
was leaning as he spoke. 1t was the first Gun
OF the enemy. Changing his aim, M. Gibbs
composedly st pped till the foremost of these
five came within the light of the fire. now
blazing high above the cabins roof Then
another vigilante fell dead. Before the shot
could be returned, Mr.. Gibbs placed lie bali
in the right shoulder OF the second of the adj
vancing four.
The three that were left began to waver. A
seventh shot from Mr.. Gibbs, Mrs. Gibbs hay
ing reloaded his first rife for the second time
brought down its viglante with ball in the
hip. and turned the Wavering advance into a