The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-07-27
L 6nUU TINH 81 AKR J.
He Is the Mate Of the Steamer
Red Cloud and Handles a
Gun Neatly,
As 'Tapioca, y ct. B. Oole), Has
Abundant Reason to Know.
An Unwarranted Attempt to Take HUI
man Life Which May Yet Prove
Successful.
Full Particulars Of the Affair, With the
Causes that Led Thereto.

Full Particulars Of the Affair, With the
Causes that Led Thereto.
The community was startled yesterday,
Just before the hour of noon, by the report
that esTapioca'' had been shot down and
probably killed by 2. r. Starr, the mate Of
the Red Cloud. The tragical occurrence took
place at the saloon OF Brennan s. Fisher, on
front street, but II had its origin Ga board
the boat the evening before. The particulars
as we have learned them BY making diligent
Inquiries Of eye witnesses, are as follows:
THE STARTING POINT.
"Tapioca' has been usually the lirgt one
to board a boat on lis arrival, and, in fact,
always aims to attain that distinction. M hen
the Red Cloud put in On Monday evening he
jumped upon the gang.plank before it had
quite touched the shore, and ran on board. In
doing SO he jostled againstsome OF the deck
hands and brought down upon his head the
ire Of the mate The latter reproved him in
8 gruff way for getting in the way and, it is
said, called ..Tapioca" - of q D. in
the course Of the eolloquy that ensued. They
had hot words but NO blows, and it was sup
posed at the time that the storm OF passion
would soon blow ever
THE SECOND MEETING.
About Il O'Clock yesterday HTapioca'
went into the saloon Of Messrs. Brennan 8
Fisher and enGiaeed il. y :gyarS.e pool 5Iie
had not been there long until Starr, the mate.
accompanied by the clerk Of the boat, enter.
ed and walking up to the bar called for the
drinks. "Tappy' soon observed them, and
going up to the mate renewed the quarrel Of
the evening before. He accused Starr Of
calling him S. of b, and the latter
answered by saying Il don't know as did. :"
"Tappy' proceeded with some remarks
about not taking such eplthets, and the mate
told him to stand back and let him alone.
.Tappy' persisted in continuing the quarrel
and Starr warned him two or three times to
keep away and not modest him, the mate
meantime moving back a few steps. The
latter then put his hand in his right side
pocket as if TO procure a pistol when the
former said:
"Don't make no pocket play at me God
d-m you, can crimp you y
By this time 'sTappy" had moved short
distance towards Starr, and the latter was
standing almost against the wall near the
north end Of the bar. Perhaps he warned
his victim again, but il an instant after the
above words were spoken the mate
PULLED HIS PISTOL
from his pocket, leveled il at 'sTapioca, \ and
fired. The deed was done SO quickly that
none Of the half-a-dozen persons in the room
realized il until all was over. At the time Of
the shooting the men were within arms
length of each other, and the murderous Wea-
pom was thrust into the very face of the vic
tim, so that it is simply matter of wonder
that he was not killed on the spot The ball
entered at the left corner Of the chin and ta-
king a slightly downward course passed
through the neck and lodged in the left
shoulder. A prominent artery and vein was
severed by the bullet and the wounded man
bled profusely. It is an ugly Wonnd, being
made by revolver of 38 calibre, and is To-
Gated in most dangerous place. Immediate
ly after the shot was fired the wounded man
was removed to the rear room of the saloon
and DIR. Atkinson called to attend him. 1t
was believed at first that his injuries would
prove fatal in few hours, but the unfortu-
nate man is still living and has some chances
Of recovery.
COOL AS A CUCUMBER.
Starr acted with wonderful GOODNESS
throughout the entire transaction. As soon
as he had felled his man he quietly re-
marked
1T doesn't take me long to fix such dd
sons OF b -- as him II and then stepping
over the PROSTATE form he walked leisnrely
out, stopping at the doorway to say to those
present, s.Gentlemen, you are witnesses to
this and see that ] was forced to it."
He then went TO the boat and proceeded
with his work just as if nothing had happen
ed. In less than half hour he was ar
rested by the Sheriff and lodged in Jail where
he still has quarters.
THE DEED.
It is the general opinion that the shooting
was an unWarranted and high handed out
rage. While 'Tappy" used some abusive
language and seemed bent on having fight
he made no attempt to strike Starr, had no
weapon in bis hand, and indeed none On bis
person, nor did his actions show that he IN
tended to take any unfair advantage. Starr
~ 1. E1l hyfs1 a