The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-11-15
True Even unto Death.
From the Dem yer News.

| FIOIlI LuS Deliver NeNSs
The following characteristic story
IF frontier life was told the reporter
fthe Ne,rs by Mr.. Nelson Frank
lin, who is in the city, and who has
lived for some time during the past
two years in Silverton and other
towns and camps in Southern Colora-
do:
"A daring robbery had been COM
mitted. The officials Of a weIl-known
banking institution in town 10
Southern Colorado, upon reaching
the building one morning, discovered
that siGe-d0or had been broker
open, the fastening of an inner door
forced, and the safe containing the
banks vaIuahles drilled and blown.
aud relieved of its contents. A care-
ful searcb of chs premises revealed
the badly of the Waterman in an adj
joining vacant lot pierced with knife
wounds and covered with bruises.
showing the evidence of a struggle.
and that more than one person was
engaged in the murder and robbery.
Soon the whole community was
aroused, and the sheriff, " 18th posse
of armed and mounted men, was
ready to start on the trail Of the mur-
lerers. But who were they, and
where could they he found, were
questions easier to ask than to an
1Wer.
"On the floor of the banking room
was found a large. .brimmed sombre-
rO, decorated with peculiar spAngleS,
and which several citizens identified
As having been worn Ivy one of three
strangers who came into town the
afternoon before and had been drink
ing at several saloons during the
evening. A tolerable fair description
of these men was obtained also the
information given by ranchman
who came into town during the
morning that three men answering
the description, armed and mounted
on powerful horses, passed him while
on his way in about daylight, going
south at a rapid rate, evidently on
their way to New Mexico.
Upon hearing the ranchman's
story, the officers separated into three
squads and started off well equipped
for an encounter. Eve y trail over
the mountain was examined and
every possible clue followed for sew
erol days, but to no purpose. The
bank officials, mayor of the town and
governor of the state offered rewards
tor the capture of the miscreants,
which, in the aggregate, amounted
to several thousand dollars. This in
iucpd large number of determined
and brave men to join in the pursuit,
which was prosecuted for more than
a week without result.
"Finally one of these parties, com
posed of three of the best frontiers
men in the country, came suddenly
upon the fugitives in a rocky canon
n the businesses of the Needle Noun
'ains shortly after dayhreak. just a.
hey were making preparations for "A
rude breakfast. Calling upon them
70 surrrnder, they were answered by
I v0lley of shots, which were at once
returned. The battle being one of
ife or death, the firing lasted some
minutes without result, when one of
he dpsperatlOeS fell mnrtally wound
81. The others, apparently man
md hoy, kept up the firing until
heir ammunition was exhausted.
when they were compelled by force To-
surrender, They were taken back to
he camp )r main rendezvous of the
,Iursuing patty, together with the
rody of the dead man. There it was
proposed to lynch the survivors.
when singular thing happened
The hoy, who appeared to be not over
eighteen years of age, and of fair con
plexion and long hair, addressed the
dSsemblage about AS follows Gen
tlemen, suppose we have not very
long to live but before you carry
your purpose into execution allow me
TO say that this man was innocent OF
any completely in the murder, but
that the man who is dead and myself
killed him, and your vengeance
should fall upon me, the only guilty
one living.'
"The clear, musical, pleading voice
The long hair streaming in the wind.
md the bright sparkling eyes, which
glOwed with animation and were
Sutfused with tears during the appeal
produced an impression upon these
rough men for which they at the
time could not account. AT the con-
clusion, however, the other prisoner
suddenly started up and said : Gen
tIemen, don't believe the stories told
you. This is my wife. who, from
lN.NE. ..VE -. L L