Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-09-10

Iho modern ROumanlanS are held Dy
many scholars to be descended from q
Roman colony, in other words to be the
cousins IF the Italians; and, curiously
enough, a variation of the polenta
called mamaliga is the national dish of
Roumania. The mamaliga is like the
polenta in that it is made of boiled
maize, but it is unlike the latter in one
important respect, as the grains are not
allowed to settle into solid mass, but
are kept distinct, after the fashion of
oatmeal porridge.
THE MARSHALS OF TIN CUP.
Tragic Fate of Peace-O Officers in q Col
orado Mining-Cam
[From the Gunnison (Colo.) Review Press.]
Tin Cup is one of Gunnison County's
richest mining camps. It is situated
far up on the backbone of the Rockies.
facing the Pacific, within close prox-
unity to perpetual snow, and where
burro trails form the principal means of
approach and egress. The mountains
are underlaid with the shining dirt" !"
and the streams glitter with sparkling
placers. In 1880 the camp had it's great
boom, and thousands of great pros
pectors, miners, and gamblers (who al
ways center about booming camps),
turned toward the gold-bearing cliffs
and rocks which lay up among the very
clouds. A demunicipal government
for the camp was created. A mayor,
council and marshal were selected.
The roughs completely controlled
everything, and of course selected the
officers. They chose for their marshal,
or chief of police, F. B. Willis, or "Old
Man Willis" as he was known. He was
waited upon and informed by authority
by those who created him marshal that
@the first man. he attempted to arrest
would be his last" He was told to see
nothing or know nothing that transpired ;
that he was simply elected to give the
camp the appearance of being orderly,
as in that way it would be less difficult
to get ~tenderfeet" into the camp and
fleece them. "Old Man Willis" did his
part nobly. He never arrested q man
or got cent for his services the entire
term.
The next marshal of Tin Cup was
Tom Lahay, a brave and fearless border
rufian. His term expired March, 1882.
There are many stories told of his dar-
ing deeds. At times he would, just to
show that he could, assert his right as
chief of police, and stand off an entire
mob of half drunken miners or tin-horn
gamblers. After capturing four or five
of them he would disarm them, start
them for the station house, then release
them as he got to the door to show his
contempt for them.
He was followed by Frank Emerson,
brave and popular miner, who had
had many years experience roughing
in the mountains, and feared nothing.
After short term, during which he as
serted his authority, and was as fre-
quently opposed by the ex-marshal, the
two men met in deadly combat, and
Frank Emerson was carried from the
street corpse. 4s
Harry Rivers, another typical noun
taineer, as brave a boy as ever crossed
the range, was the next to put on the
star as marshal of Tin Cup. This was
also in 1882. The dance-halls and gam
bling dens were running night and day
'tstud poker" "keno," and "bucking the
tiger" reigned supreme. Thousands o1
dollars we're daily flowing into the rich
camp. A genuine effort was now be-
ing made to control the roughs. Harry
frequently disarmed the men who defied
him, and marched them single handed
to the lookup. One night he was
called to arrest one of the principal
gamblers and saloonkeepers, Charley
La Tourette. Henry knew he had the
worst man in the camp to deal WITH
but he did not shirk. He walked bold.
" up to him and told him he must go
with him. A quarrel followed, and
guns were drawn. Rivers, by his com
manding address and fierce eyes, con-
quered his man without shot, and they
started off arm in arm for the station.
house. They had proceeded but q
block or two when La Tourette pulled
q gun from another pocket and shot him
dead. Thus ended the life of another
marshal of Tin Cup.
The writer will here digress suf6.
ciently to give one incident in his career
as marshal. Jack Ward was noted
character in the mountains. He was
then, as he is now, known in every
camp, and his name was the terror to
all to whom he did not take fancy. He
brought burro train into Tin Cup one
day, and it was but few hours until
he and his pals got into row with the
residents, miners, and gamblers, and 8
pitched battle in the street was the
result. Fully a hundred shots were
fred. Harry Rivers rushed to the
scene. It was getting dark. He singled
out the daring Jack Ward and started
for him. Several shots passed between
them, but Harry captured his man. He
was locked up and paid his fine. II
was Jacks first surrender; he resolved
it should be his last. He reformed
went to preaching, and is to-day occu.
pying the pulpit in the new camp ol
Glenwood Springs, in Garland County:
this state. f. /: ..;-
Sam Micky was the next victim. He
| accepted the responsibility reluctantly
but bravely did his duty. His life was
constantly threatened, and he not un.
frequently came near going the road o1
his illustrious predecessors. Seven
mOnCnB AC0E ulS SAppOlutuout u1S StIOAe
mind became shattered from the con.
slant pressure and excitement. He be.
came insane and was sent to Illinois
asylum, where in few weeks he died
still bravely pacing his cell and fancying
that he was walking his beat as marshal
fo Tin Cup.
Andy Jameson was finally induced to
put on the ill-fated star and do duty as
Chief of police. He was doomed to an
early and sad end. A few months after
his appointment he was shot in quar-
rel by Will Taylor. This was in the
fall of 1883. For the first time in
the history of these marshals was the
murderer punished. Taylor was arrest.
ed, tried in Gunnison, convicted, and
is now serving i've years term at
Canon City.
For some time the position remained
vacant, but at last Dave Corsaut, an old
| pioneer who was identified, with the
early border history Of Kansas during
the John Brown days, and who has fol
i ~voo~r, 1oo,, tho vpnonrfosno oooonto6