The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-12-06
A Mild-Eyed Man.

AT Gunnison, C"l., last August while wait
ing for the small hours of the morning to
come around, We were entertained with mar
ratives illustrating the customs of the coun-
try, given by DR.. W. S. Corkrell, Lieu,s.
Febriger, Wagner and Wetherill, gentlemen
connected with the United States army, and
others familiar with life and death in the
Western wilds.
DR.. Corkrell on being asked whether the
reports Of killing affrays were not greatly ex-
while in other cases the truth had never been
told.
"Theie is man." remarked The Doctor, in
dicating a medurn-sized, mild eyed person
who stood in the doorway looking into the
billiard-reom Of the Tabor House, "Who has
killed twenty-six men, and he is only TWEEN
ty-seven years Of age. He is H. d. Master
son Of Dodge City, Kansas. He killed his
men in the interest of law and order. Once
he shot seven men dead within few min
utes.''
"How?"
"Whle in frontier town news was brought
to him that his brother had been killed by
squad Of ruffians just across the street. TAX
ing revolver in each hand for he shoots read
lily with both, in this manner (the Doctor
here crossed his right wrist over his left in The
form of an Ky, he ran over 20 avenge his
brother. The murderers became terror
stricken when they saw him coming, and
hastily locked the door. Matterson jumped
square against the door with both feet, burst
ing it open at the first attempt. Then he
| sprang inside, firing Immediately right and
| lett. Four dropped dead in shorter time than
| ii takes to tell it. The remaining three ran
for their horses in vain attempt to escape
from the town. He followed them up so
| closely that before they reached the outskirts
all three had bitten the dust.
"At another time," continued the Doctor,
''two Mexican half breeds, a father and son,
| became very troublesome i'll the mining
camps. They were the sharpest shots in the
country, working together with a precision
that made them invincible. AS soon as one
had emptled the chambers of his revolver he
would reload un4er cover of the other. Many
a nluer has been murdered and relieved Of
his outfit and treasure. A standing reward
of $500 was offered for their bodies Or their
heads. Finally, Masteison resolved to kill
the half-breeds. They occupied a cabin in
an almost inaccessible place in the mountains.
One morning, hours before day-break, Mas
terson crept to the verge OF the clearing with
a repeating rifle in lis hands. Hidden by a
friendly bush, he reclined on a sack which
he had brought from his horse, that he had
fastened mile away i'll a glen. Shortly af-
ter sunrise The door Of the cabin opened wide
enough to permit the shaggy head of the old
man to protrude. After sweeping the bound
aries Of the clearing with searching eyes the
head was slowly withdrawn. In 3 few mill
utes the head reappeared, followed by body
with belt of pistols strapped around his
waist and rifle slung over his shoulders.
The old man carried a waterpail, at his side
walked the son, fully armed. Masterson
covered the old man with his rifle over
path to and from spring a hunnred yards
or SO from the cabin at right angles. Tie
father and son were convelsing earnestly,
seemingly unwilling to le-enter the cabin,
before the door Of which they stood for some
time. Thirty minutes passed, which seemed
| hours to Masterson before he could obtain
what he considered favorable shot. Final
ly, the d man made move which uncov'
cred his son. MastersOn took advantage OF
his opportunity, aud the young 'uan fell 1C
r rise no more. Before the smoke revealed
, from whence the shot had come the Old mat
, was corps alongside OF bis boy. Cutting o
their heads, Masterson placed them in hi:
sack and started to exhibit his trophies i'll orde
> to.obtan the promised reward. A two day
irp under a hot sun swelled and dishsuia(
the heads so that they were unrecognlzable
taking advantage of which the sut" orlties re
; fused to pay the reward.'-Letter in the Ne,
York Sun.