The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1879-09-23

know, unless it was at the sight
of blood, shed they did not know
why, but they ,Oers angry, sure and in first
class hunor for a iiot. Threats against the
officers and loud insulting remarks concern
ing them were to be heard on every side, un-
iii thecry1t.hang the city officers v' was greet
ed with long continued cheers. Just at that
time. anyone who ever saw a mob break into
arIotswould rot, have gisenSin much for Butte's
chances for a peaceful night, but by way Of
improving matters it was precisely at that
critical moment hat Mr.. William Owsley, the
leader apparently of the street crowd, felt
himself called upon to make an incendiary
speech. After,dwelling at length upon the
pedigree Of the city officers; and stating that
the city government had been unable to ar
rest him, although a warrant had been issued
and he had prayed the officers to try t. carry
it into effect. Mr.. owsley proceeded to say
that there We're not officers enough il the
city to arrest either him or any of his friends
that he would see to it that no other arrest
would ever be made in Butte, and finally that
he would '.protect" his friend Carver, and
would not allow him to he taken to prison.
Concluding his remarks, Owslcy, with three
or four others, approached the door, where
the following conversation passed between
him and the Marshal, guarding the doorway:
Owsley-We want to go in.
Marshal-You can't 60 in, gentlemen.. ~
Owe are bound 10 go iii R, w
M.@-Oh, no; you are mistaken, gentlemen.
You can't get in. 81"
O.-(Tapping the Marshal on the shoulder)
Il tell YOU wesme going in.
MIR. Owsley, don t lay your hand on me
again. gYE
ii MIR. .Owsley took tlis advice, m the two
men, the representative of the law and the
leader of the mob, stood facing each other in
silence tor a. few. moments. 1t was only
through the Marshal's GOODNESS and nerve
that blvodshed had already been averted, but
whether the catastrophe could have been
warded off any longer is very doubtful, if re-
lief had not come az that IN of supreme
danger. As the Marshal and Owsley stood
facing each otherin silence. two responsible
citizens came forward and offered their per-
solal security for Mr.. Carver's appearance
before the Police Court at nine O'Clock OH the
following morning. Their offer was accepted
Mr.. Carver vas removed to suitable lodgings,
and the crowd dispersed. Yesterday, accord
ing to promise, Mr.. G. appeared before the
Police court, but the case was postponed I'M
til to-day. Mr.. Owsley also appeared, but
was released Oh his personal recognizance,his
case being also fixed for to-day. This step
by Mr.. o. saved his arrest by the Deputy
Sheriff of the county, officer Smith having
been telegraphed for to Deer Lodge, as 1t was
desirable to have the case brought up under
the Territorial statutes.
Here,as achrOuicler of events our duty ends,
but a few remarks on the above proceedings
may not be out of order. In the first place,
with regard to our city government. We are
far from being of its admirers there is much
in its management that we have already free
ly criticised; but for all That the city govern
ment is established by law, and if contested
it must be contested by the law and accord
ing to the forms of law. Anyone offering
mob resistance must deal first with the Mar.
shall and his policemen, next with the Mayor
and an armed posse Of citizens (plenty ready;
next with the county sheriff and such forces
as he may bring TITO the field, and finally
with the troops. So let our "chiefs know ex-
actly the nature of the job they take in hand
when they set up in business to ''run things
Furt :ermore, no easier, speedier or more Ger.
tain method could be devised of making a
quick trip to the penitentiary than that OF
wounding IN officer while in the lawful dis.
charge of his duty. "~"
Another thing our "chiefs'' may well re.
member is the fact that they are not a bit bet
ter adapted than are ordinary men for the
absorption into the system of any large guam
tity OF cold lead, and if trouble ever comes i,
will come in precisely that way. This is
poor country for shoulder ~jolters, and they
may as well know it in advance, instead OF
waiting to learn it by experience. With the
modern arm with which we are all liberal
ly provided a man a foot high would be g
match for Goliah of Gath, so let no over
confidence be placed in muscle. Grit is no
measured by inches, and if it comes to a show
down it will be found that the law will have
as much of that commodity arrayed on it
side as against it. .....
'h~.r.,
Cable Mining News.
- AZ IL 49, .. -l