Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-11-01
A SCRAP OF HISTORY.
Description Of . Righs With DesPora-
does Risteea Years Ago.

OCVVOCI 10, 1000. Will DC femcmDeI-
ed by all the old pioneers of Laramie
as a most momentous one in her his
tory. Fifteen years ago the moral
element of the then little frontier town
asserted itself and four human lives
were offered up on the alter of law and
order, with most gratifying results.
At that time there was no such thing
as law-at least, no such thing as what
we now term as LAWN Laramie. Men
settled their difficulties by resorting to
the revolver or knife, and in those
personal hand-to-hand encounters the
victors were usually the heroes of the
hour-the victims were hurried under
the ground and no questions asked.
Robbery and gsrroting were of daily
occurrence, and murder not unfrequent.
There gradually arose in the midst of
the better portion of the people feel
ing of uneasiness and fear for their
safety. Steps we're soon taken to or
ganize Vigilance Committee, and the
first organization of this character was
perfected in August, and numbered at
this time only twenty members. In
the new city directory, which will make
its appearance next week, we find,
under the head of early History, a
well-written description Of the work Of
this and subsequently organized COM
mittec, together with a graphic pen
picture Of the fight with the despera-
does and subsequent lynching of four
of their number. October Is, 1868
Fifteen years ago to-day. From ad-
vance sheets of this forthcoming work,
kindly furnished US by the compilers,
Messrs. Garrett & Morgan, We make
the following extracts:
There were few worthy and very
resolute men in this first vigilante or
ganization, but its only substantial
fruit was the hanging of young man
called Kid during the last days of
August, in the building occupied as a
residence for some years afterward by
our worthy townsman, John Keen. But
the hanging Of this miserable, insight
icant creature created an excitement
among the roughs, and they at once
organized thoroughly-not only for re-
sistance, but for aggressive movement;
They boasted of their strength, and
threatened all who dared complain of
their misdeeds with vengence dire!
Among the leaders of the roughs may
be mentioned Con Wagner, Asa Moore,
Big Ned, Sam Dugan: Tiger Bill, Nor
ris Kohn and Dave Mullen.
Their organization and their daily
crimes finally united all the better elc-
ments Of our society, and in very
short time new vigilance committee
was formed, numbering 300 to 800
men. These men were all thoroughly
armed, and on the night Of the 18th Of
October, lS6S-a day long to be re-
membered by the old residents Of Lara
mie-this committee met at an APP
pointed place on the west side of the
railroad track, in the city, and divided
into squads and proceeded to different
parts of the town. 1t was the inten-
ton to make descent at precisely the
same moment on all the most promi-
nent gambling bells in the town, and
take out without any great disturbance
some Of the most noted murderers and
and robbers, and quietly hang them be-
fore their companions could rally sufi-
cient force to rescue them. But fate
had ordained otherwise. The squad of
men assigned to the dancc-house known
as the 'Belle of the West" gathered
around the doors of the samoa bril-
liantly lighted hall filled with dancers
Gaudily dressed women, gamblers and
desperadoes we're whirling through the
intricate maze of the dance, their MIN
bic feet keeping time to sweet music,
which foated iu ravishing strains upon
the evening air, and ever aud anon a
burst of merriment would fill the room.
in which were mingled the silvery dull
cent tones of woman's voice, "fair,
though frail, yet women still" The
saturnalian festival was at it's height
when a pistol shot, loud and clear, rang
out upon the night air. This shot was
the signal for simultaneous attack at
several points in the town, but owing to
some undue excitement with this part
of the committee, the signal was pre-
mature, and the attack was made at
this point only. But at the signal, a
shout, a rush, and it was confusion.
The roughs, being well armed, resisted
the attack of the vigilantes with des-
peration, and fought like tigers driven
to bay.
What a scene was there, where but
few minutes before all was gayety.
The sweet strains of melody were hush
ed, and in their stead came harsh, dis
cordant sounds, tumultuous, wild and
prophetic of doom to the desperate.
For fifteen minutes the sharp crack
from the deadly revolvers made music
to the weeping and wailing of the
women, and the shouts and muttered
curses of the men. The smoke from
the pistols gathered in a cloud, and
hung like pail over the heads of the
doomed, as if to shut out from the sight
of the angels the dark scene below. The
roughs were overpowered, and the re-
suits were three men killed-one Of the
committee, one member of the band
of music, and one noted desperado-
and about fifteen men wounded. some
quite seriously, and three of the leading