The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1879-12-07
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The sound Of pistol Sbot n the
Boak Exchange Saloon At 8 o'clock Last
plight. attracted the attention Of our re-
porter. Who happened just At the dr1s
20 10 Atepping round the northeGst cor
nor Of tho building; and At the moment
camo near being run over by q hatless
man. Who rushing from the direction
whence the report proceeded, Was fran
teallS stridipg for the corner mention
ed, aud upon reaching which. his head
long career was continued down 4th
street. until lost to view in the sur
rounding gloom. Hastily placing him
self behind the brick wall, tho reporter
awaited further Developments, but as
all remained quiet. he boldly emerged
from the protecting shadow of the
building. and walking 10 the open door
OF the saloon, saw two men in the ex-
treme corner Of the room. between an
iron safe and an ise-ehest. engaged in
. desperate struggle for possession of
something apparently held between
them. No other person was visible la
the room. and the struggle continued for
perhaps q couple OF minutes. no sound
being heard but the heavy breathing Of
the two men. and the slight scufie of
their boots upon the floor. The first
ahnt had haan board b, no,,;.s ANNA
distance from the scene. however,
and by this time. o number Of men
came running mp. from the Gem saloon
and from the opposite side Of the street.
and AN attempt was made to separate
the two mon inside, when the report Of
n pistol was again heard and one Of the
men at once ceased his efforts and
stepped backward. Sheriff Fitch just
then appeared and demanded OF the
other party, possession Of the pistol,
which had just been discharged, which.
after Rssurance of protection on his
part. was surrendered. The man men,
toned as stepping back. turned and
walking to the door. replied, i'll answer
TO q question from the reporter. who
then recognized him rs Thomas Smith,
Il am shot through the bowels; get me
u DOCTOR" The wounded man was i'm
mediately taken To a room in DR.. Terry's
building, close by, and a doctor sum-
moned, when It was discovered tsnt
the ball entered about two. inches
to tho right Of the navul. slant
ing outward and downward. passing
around to the back, from where it was
extracted. The man who did the
shooting is George Hill, a sporting man
we'll known in this part Of the. State,
md who arrived here some two or three
weeks ago. lie was Immediately taken
by the Sheriff to tho Jail aud locked up.
The primary cause Of the trouble be.
tween the men is not known, but cir
eumstances Immediately preceding the
collision, are about as follows: Hill
vas standing at tho bar. having just
drank, when Smith entered, the two
men nccosting each other in a friendly
manner, the latter proposing to treat,
which was assented to by tho former.
While the ~bar.keeper was engaged in
drawing the beer ut the further end Of
the bar, q few words in on uudertone
passed between tho men. int rs he re-
turned to their vicinity, each admitted
that the others treatment Of himself
had always been quite satisfactory.
Smith then observed, "wcll her let
mp" Hill r~ejoining, II won't dry mp"
and turning toward Smith, dropped his
right arm to his side. Smith, from
mischief md moved mp toward Hill,
who said, don't come so close"
Whether Hill made any further demon.
s~tration is not known, but directly after,
Smith either slapped or struck him in
the fnce and the men grnppled instantly.
Hill being forced back into the conner
rs stated above, when Charley Drnm,
the barkecper, discovered thut Hill was
clutching the handle Of n pistol. while
Smith held tho barrel. AS Drum
stepped up behind Smith, to interfere
to prevent bloodshed, tho weapon was
discharged, the bnn passing over Smiths
right shoulder; grazing Drums head
and burying itself in the ceiling. This
was tho first shot. which cleared the
room. leaving the combatants to work
out their own salvation.
Smiths wound though severe is not
regarded as likely to prove fatal. Ho
was resting comparatively easy this
evening. His sister who was sent for
last night, arrived hcte from Tuscarora
to day.
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