Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-24
EDITING ARIZONA.
The Troubled Lot of the Kmigl,t Ofthc
shears.


Mr.. John p. Cum, until recently the
editor of the Yom6Stonc (Iri.ona) Epi-
taph, is in the city, and tells highly i'll
teresting story of personal adventure,
from which it would appear that, next to
running faro bank, editing a paper i'll
the unciyilized portions OF the west is
about ms dangerous an undertaking MS n
man can well engage i'll. He went to
New Mexico i'll 1871, and in 1874 was ap-
pointed Indian agent for the Apache
tribes, at San Carlos, Arizona. In May,
1880. Mr.. Clum established the 10hib-
stone EpHaJ3h as weekly. II is now
iiourishing daily. He was first made
postmaster, and aiterwnrd mayor. As a
postmaster he had hard time OF it, but
as the chief magistrate of the village,
brought as he was, into almost daily
contact with the rougher and most dcs-
perate elements, he grew accustomed to
write his editorials i'll sight OF his trusty
Colts six-shootcr. In attempting to pre-
serve order he made enemies of the cow
boys. This was the first step in Il long
and protracted warfare which lasted OFF
and on for more than six months. First,
there occurred drawn battle at midday
between Mr.. Clem's chief Of police and
three officers and four cowboys. Three
OF the officers were badly injured and
three cowboys killed outright. The
fourth, who happened not to he armed,
ran away and escaped. After this citi-
zens' committee was formed and paraded
the streets day and night, armed with
six-shoutcrs, needlo-guus, and Henry
rifles. Mr.. Cum assailed the cowboys
vigorously through the columns of the
EpUalh, and every time one was brought
before him as Il magistrate he imposed
heavy fines. Then the cowboys lay in
wait ior Mr.. Clum, until he was compel
led to 60 heavily armed, and dare not
stay ont after nightfall without being at
tended by bodyguurd. Every editorial
added new flel to the flame. The cow
boys rode into town by night and tried to
waylay the editor as lie went to his Office
in the morning. Luckily he escaped all
their bullets.
Every ordinary plan failing, the cow
boys banded together, and camping n
few miles from Tombstone in deep and
wide canon, signed deaths head agree
mcnt to kill Mr.. Clum, with pens dipped
in blood taken from II convict's arm, and
afterwards drank from cup Of warm
blood, diluted with pure spring water
This came to his ears, and he bought an
other six-shooter and another Henry rifle
and never went out into the street with
out being accompanied by several mem
bers of his police force. The chief of
police was shot at and nearly killed one
night. Things were getting very des-
peratc indeed, and the Ipitdj,h had great
difficulty il getting out without the death
Of compositor or IN adventurous news
boy. Mr.. Clum slept in n room guarded
by men armed TO the teeth. He did not
remove his clothes, but kept his gun and
pistol where he could lay his hands on
them instantly. Life WIS now becoming
such decided burden that he determin.
ed to pull up stakes and move to some
place where the shotgun played less
constant part in the progress Of civlliza
ton and the maintenance Of the press
To leave was however, not an easy thing
to do, for the cowboys, suspecting some
such move, had laid their plans according
ly, and We're posted around the outskirts
OF the town III the bushes, ready to shoot
hiIa MS soon MS lie appeared.
Mr., Clum determined to reach Tucsoi
at any cost, and one dark night about
o'clock got III II stage coach and drove
ont into the prairie. 1t was bitter cold
the horses We're galloping along in til,
darkness and snow, and Mr.. Clum wal
sleeping uhthhllN, lHullcu UP Ill ulS over
coat in the bottom OF the coach, dream
ing'of the good things in store for NJ
editor when he gets to heaven, when
loud voice outside cried "Ilalt !" HI
jumped to his feet, and the horses sud
denly reared back ana stopped.
The order to halt and the commence
ment of the firing were simultaneous. II
the command Hold up !" the driver re
sponded, "All right" but the shot
frightened the horses, and they brok
into run. After running about mill
one Of the horses fell dead, and the coacl
stopped. Upon examination twas foun'
that the horse was fatally shot. Will
this hose was being cut out of the trace
Mr.. Clum stepped to one side of TIN
road to listen, as n second approach o
the assailants was feared. Believing tina
the purpose Of the attack was to kill him
he decided to leave the coach and tax
his chances on foot, as he saw he had n
show of making fight in the coach. II
walked to the Grand Central mill, abou
seven miles distant, where he was kindl
provided for After n sleep of two hour
he started on horseback for Benson, AZ
irving there without any further trouble
From there he proceeded to Tucson, an
Immediately lett for the east. Mr.. Clur
has sold his paper, and will probably nc
Il. LakS