The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-11-30
& READY REVOLVER.
A Desperate Shooting Affair near Fort
Maginnis.
One Man Killed, one Dangerously Wounded
and two Others Slightly.

One Man Killed, one Dangerously Wounded
and two Others Slightly.
On Sunday, Nov. 10Th, one Of the mos
desperate shooting affairs known in the an.
nails Of the Territory occurred at the saloon
kept BY Atkinson s Gray, about three miles
from Maginnis, OF the Carroll road, in which
one man was killed outright and three wound.
ed, one dangerously, being shot three times.
Ihe facts as we have learned them from diff
ferent parties are substantially as follows:
The saloon in question has been run by
Atkinson & Gray and during the absence Of
the former at Benton, where he came to pur-
chase supplies about a month ago, Gray con-
Quoted the business. During this time a man
named Thomas Pool, a well known despera-
do in that country, f%requented the house and
at times succeeded in running the ranch
70 suit himself, the proprietor and every body
else seeming to be afraid of him. He ran a
saloon bill Of twenty odd dollars which At
kinson on his return concluded to collect.
On the date above mentioned Pool rode up
to the saloon and hitched his horse at the
rear Of the building. Atkinson, who is
sometimes called "Buckskin jimmy went
out soon afterwards and took the saddle as
collateral for POOLS debt. This is the step
that led to hostilities. AS soon as Pool dis
covered that his saddle was missing he en-
tered the saloon and drawing his revolver ac-
cused another man who was present at the
time Of the theft, and at the same instant
fired at him. Atkinson told him to hold up
and explained that he (Atkinson) had the
saddle behind the counter and would keep it
until the saloon bill was settled. swell, we
will settle it right now,' retorted Pool, who
instantly commenced firing at Atkinson, get
ting in three shots before the latter secured bis
revolver, two Of which were effective. At
kinson then returned the fire, but without eff
feet, He then walked from behind the coun-
ter, bleeding from TWO terrible wounds, and
moved upon his antagonist. The latter fired
again hitting Atkinson upon the right arm,
shattering the bone. When hit upon the arm
the revolver dropped out of Atkinson's hand
and then the men %grappled, Pool having ex-
hausted the contents Of his weapon. In the
scufHe Atkinson managed to get hold of his
pistol with his left hand and placing the mug
zle against his antagonist throat fired, fairly
blowing his head off, and thus ending the
desperate encounter.
The victor was badly wounded in three
places and it was at first supposed that he
could not survive his terrible injuries. Being
a man of vigorous constitution and iron will
he rallied when other men probably could not
and at last account was alive although not
out Of danger. During the exchange of shots
by-standers received slight wounds, one
in the leg and other in the foot.
Thomas Pool is said to have been a des-
perate man, always seeking and ready for q
row. 1t is said he began his career as a cow
boy On the Texas frontier, a good place and
to become schooled in rutianism
md the use Of the ready revolver.
A gentleman who is intimately acquainted
with Herbert Atkinson and has had business
with him informs US that he is an
exceptionally quiet and inofensiye man. lie
las no bad habits-does not drink or smoke
)r sWear-and is not at all quarrelsome, but
s a strong, determined man and fearless as a
ion when there is danger ahead. II he had
been anything else he would have come out
econd best in his encounter at q disadvan-
age with such a desperate man as Pool.
The truth Of the adage that misfortunes
lever come siDg]y is fully established in At
,inson's case. Two or three weeks before
he occurrence Of the exciting event above
and while Atkinson was at Benton
or supplies, his partner ran away taking
3, 600 il clean cash belonging to the firm.
lie followed the %absconder as far as Carroll
ut was a few days too late to capture him.
Quar- Postal F0uefa.
Ten or twelve days ago a notice came from
he Pension Office for VIM. McElhenny in
aforcron ~ thu ~ A4nr. aF 4 nrJ;n,tin, for:n