The Osceola times., 1884-02-16

bullets, six men went down yestcr-
day morning on our public thorough
fare, some Of them TO their death,
and others, with painful wounds. As
the direct result of a ieud amongst
the gamblers, who have for SO long
bid defiance to all law, and brought
disgrace upon this wonderful valley,
and the state itself, the most fearful
tragedy Of the age was perpetrated
here. Frank Flynn and his brothers
John, of Little Rock, and William
of Leadville were riding down Cen
tral Avenue in closely curtained
hack, with their trusty guns heavily
loaded by their sides. They went
habitually armed, ready to attack, or
| defend themselves from one Major
5. \. Doran, a New Orleans gambler,
with whom Frank Flynn had a shoot
ing scrape on our streets last Deccm-
Der. Doran was equally on the alert
and aided by six Of his henchmen,
all heavily armed with shot-guns
and Winchester rifles, they opened
fire upon the carriage, which was
literally riddled with bullets. John
Flynn fell dead, shot through the
head. Frank Hall, the driver of the
hack, received several buck shot in
bis back and neck, and cannot live.
Frank and William Flynn jumped
from the shattered hack, with their
guns in hand, and fired upon their
assailants, but without effect. Frank
received a shot in his hand, and Will
liam was shot in the breast, the ball
passing completely through his body.
His death is almost certain. The side
walk was crowded with pedestrians.
Men, women and children fled for
their lives, away from the pittiless
leaden hail, and the wonder is that
no more lives were lost, as signs,
windows, lamp-posts and dwellings
bore marks of hundreds of bullets.
As it was, Mr. J. 2. Craig, an old
citizen, received q severe and dan
gerous wound in bis shoulder; and
another citizen, Mr.. Robert Hargroye
received a bullet in his breast, and
will probably die. John Flynn was
buried to-day. Frank Flynn walks
the streets with his wounded hand
in sling, and his trusty revolvers
buckled about his person. Duuu
and lis followers were arrest d and
locked up in Jail whore th.y u.
strongly guarded. Horrible story,
is It not? But what is the remedy
for al this lawlassness? Evidently
the total ab9lisLmcnt of gambling in
this community; the bauishmcnt Of
all gamblers from our midst, and the
swift punishment Of every man en-
gagged in this awful affair. Our citi-
zeus are in the humor tor carrying
out this line Of policy. At a mass
meeting of citizens held last night,
a committee composed Of our best
cool headed men was appointed to
adopt some plan Of action; and their
plans will be promptly backed by
the citizens. The committee will
meet in the morning, when some def
mite plan of action will be adopted.
A law should be passed by our leg
islature similar to that in force in
Tennessee, making gambling in all
its forms, felony, to be punished
with Imprisonment and fines. What
do gamblers care for an occasional
paltry fine? but lock them up behind
the cold iron bars of a dungeon, and
they will cry picari quick enough.
Let every paper in Arkansas urge
this measure upon our Legislators,
and public sentiment will back them
in their demands, and such scenes as
yesterday will no longer prevail to
the utter disgrace and inconceivable
injury of the best interests Of our
city and state.
The stream of visitors usual at this
season of the year, has commenced
pouring in, and an unusually lively
season has been anticipated. But it
Is feared that this tragedy will deter
many timid ones from coming.
An effort is agtated to induce the
executive officers Of the various great
political parties of the state, having
the matter in charge, to select Hot
Springs as the place for the next
meeting Of their respective State
conventions. This is eminentlv pro-
per. The citizens of Hot Springs
should be encouraged in the face of
such disasters as she has lately been
called upon to meet. The people Of
the state should rally around her in
her time of need. Her citizens are
anxious for them to come, and will
welcome them with hospitable hands
regardless of their political predelic
tons or previous conditions
There is a growing sentiment that
this portion Of the State should be
honored by the selection from its
midst Of the Executive officer Of Ar
kansas. Since the election Of Col
John J. Sumpter, Of this city, AZ
Grand Master oc the Masonic Frater-
nifty for the state, his name has been
prominently used by the press Of
the state as a possible candidate for
governor ON the democratic ticket
The democratic party, and the state