The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1882-10-14
A TRAGEDY ON THE Desc AT.
[Inyo Independent

| uageuy out mere III tHe Deatn v alley
region, which, in some Of the particulars
would make sensational chapter in tn,
most imaginative dime novel. The de
tails, in part at least, have already ap
pcared in the Phoebe RECORD. We now
have the following lat second hand how
ever from an eye witness of the bloody
affair:
One of the parties, named Gordon Ellis,
made his home in this county for time.
The name of the other, and who wa,
Ellis slayer, is given by one authority as
]. Center, and by another as Pat Shea.
In the uncertainties on this point, we ac-
cept the latter. The sncse Of the occur
ence is laid at Benefits ranch, located in
Lincoln county, Nevada, in the midst OF
the desert region on our county's border
out toward the Colorado. A short time
before the finale, Ellis sold some borax
locations to the Coleman Borax Company,
receiving 1000 therefor. On the day
before his last he got into dispute with
Mexican with whom he was gambling.
He notified the Mexican that he should
then and there shoot him, but only
through the leg, as warning of what
would happen if he (the Mexican) did
not conduct himself in proper manner.
Thereupon he did shoot the Mexican
through the leg, and things then went
on smoothly until the following day.
Ellis then had some difficulty with Shea,
with whom he was gambling; told Shea
that he contemplated shooting him
through the log, as he had the Mexican
the preceding day, if Shea did not amend
his ways forthwith. Shea dared him to
shoot an unarmed man, as he then was.
Without much ado, Ellis blazed away at
Shsa's leg, sending a ball through it be.
low the knee. Shea began abusing Ellis
after the fashion usual in such cases,
whereupon, after due notice, Ellis per.
forated Shea's other leg, very much as
he had the Grst. During the time some
men present had started for their camp a
short distance away to obtain their Henry
rifles, whether merely to protect their
own legs, or with q view of interfering in
the wounded mans behalf, can only be
surmised. While returning with their
rifles they met Ellis, and with drawn
guns compelled him to 20 back. Coming
up to where Shea was, the latter, apply.
ing foul epithet to one of the men with
the rifles, added: "You cowardly -
-, you want to shoot an unarmed
man, too, do you?" At this the man ad.
dressed replied: "If you think am
coward, come out here, you -"
concluding the remark by throwing his
gun down on the ground near Shea, and
brandishing his fists as if they were to be
his weapons in the impending conflict.
Shea, though with pistol shot through
each leg, as before mentioned, advanced
in threatening manner towards the man
with the fists and hot words, but got no
further than the rifle which he innedi.
ately snatched up. Up to this point
Ellis had remained sitting on his horse.
apparently disinterested spectator; but
"hSh h0 %" .chea piCA w us gun, the
seeming mystery of the bad blood became
so clear to his mind that he instantly
slid off his horse, but ON the side farther
away from Shea. The latter then ad.
dressed himself to Ellis in language ap.
propriate to the occasion and altered con.
dition of things, substantially to this
effect, less the oaths, bad names, etc.
Now, if You want to shoot ut my legs
any more, step out from behind that
horse, and blaze away, you cowardly
-" etc, etc. Ellis held his posi-.
ton behind the horse. Shea told him
that ne did not want to shoot the horse.
but if he did not come out at once, and
leone shootin'" he would drop the
horse so that he could shoot the man.
Ellis saw there was no help for it, and
dsdging under the horses head, raised
"a shootin'," sure enough, his first shot
striking Shea ALREADY twice wounded) in
the groin and ranging upward. Shea,
however, remained standing long enough
to fire two shots at Ellis, the first with
but triaing effect, the second knocking
him in death throes to the ground, Shea
falling at the same instant. Recovering
sufficiently, Shea arose to sitting DOS.
ture, and called to the men who had
in the meantime rushed in to "stand out
of the way till give the - an.
other shot" The dying man, hearing
the remark, whispered !" Do not let him
shoot; I've got enough" Shea was as.
sured that there was do need of another
shot, and laid down satisfied, Ellis al.
most Immediately breathed his last. De.
ceased had about 500 on his person,
which sum was used to defray burial ex.
penses As mentioned last week he also
had some 81, 800 on deposit with Harris
& Rhine in this place, which sum is now
under claim Of Public Administrator
Thompson.