Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-20
THE HAUNTED GULCH.
The Scene OF Colorado Tragedy Where
the Victims Cry of Agony is Still
Heard

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the Victims Cry of Agony is Stin
Heard.
Coyote guleh, one Of the numerous
arroyas on the divide which during heavy
rains become the course of raging rivers,
in a few hours to become as dry as the
surface Of the surrounding hills, says the
Denver Times, is situated right in the
heart Of the district which is now the
scene of the gold excitement of Douglas
county. At the distance of few rods
from its banks stands a dilapidated
cabin, one-roomed structure originally
built exclusively of logs, but to which
several apartments had been added of
frame roughly constructed. At the present
time the place is in a state of decay,
peOpled only by the numerous families of
swallows who live in absolute and undis-
turbed possession. Nothing could be
more lonely or desolate looking than this
pitiful remnant Of what was once a home.
Stripped of its sheathlng the log wall of
the abode stands out like the ribs of
skeleton from which has fallen its cOmely
outer covering, between whose openings
the storms pitilessly beat, and through
which the winter winds howl their re-
QUEENS.
Thirteen years ago the cabin and ranch
upon which it stands were occupied by
the McIntyres-tather and two grown
sons, together with the wife of the elder
Mcintyre and two children by a former
husband. The reputation of the family
in this sparsely-settled neighbOrhOOd was
anything but good, and dark stories were
told of unwary travellers who had sought
shelter there for a night, but who had
never atterward been seen.
One stormy evening in June, 1878, a
stranger, supposed to be from Denver,
who had missed the stage and had at
tempted to walk TO Russellville, but who
was oyertaken by the storm, knocked at
the Mcintyre abode and asked shelter for
the night. The house at that time con-
sisted of the main log structure, two
frame additions in the rear and rude
sort of loft over the principal room,
reached by narrow flight of steps. The
one window lighting this loft over
looked the roof of the low addition
Immediately in the rear, in which
Jack and Jim Mcintyre, the two ssboys,"
slept. The knowledge of the torrihle
tragedy which followed was derived
chiefly from the confession afterward
made by Jim Mcintyre. When the
stranger, after the door was opened had pre-
ferred his request, he was told to be seated,
when the old man and his two sons went
into back room and had a long whis-
pered conversation, at the end of which
the father returned, and, taking a candle,
asked the visitor to follow him up the mar
row stairs to the apartment above, and
showing him rude bed babe him good
night. Soon his deep breathing,
which could be heard through
the chinks of the floor in the
room beneath, attested that he was
asleep. No sooner was this made certain
than the two boys slipped outside, placed
a ladder against the low building, gained
access to its roof, and thence to the room
in which the stranger was sleeping,
through the window, which had been
purpOsely left open. Stealthily advancing
upon the unconscious sleeper, a blow with
a knife was delivered with swift and
sure aim. Death, however, was not in
Simultaneous, and there rang out upon the
night air, up and down the gulch and far
over the divide, such a cry of mortal
agony as haunted its listeners to their
dying day. Another deadly stab, and all
was over.
Upon examining the person and effects
Of their victim, the murderers found, as
they had suspected, considerable sum in
money and gold dust, costly gold watch,
and other valuables. Appropriating these,
they lifted the body, while yet warm, with
the blood Oozing from the gaping wounds,
through the open window, carried it down
the ladder, and thence to a thicket of oak
brush few rods to the rear Of the house,
when, hastily digging a shallow grave,
they thrust the CHASTITY evidence of their
crime into it, filed in the earth, and COW
cred the whole with dead leaves.
Several days elapsed, and the murder
ers, after dividing the spOils of the dead
man, were living in fancied security, until
suddenly, one morning shortly after day
light, and before they had arisen. the
cabin was surrounded by a large body of
determined men, armed and evidently
bent upon an errand of vengeance. En-
tering the abode the father and sons were
quickly made prisoners, their arms PIN
Toned, and strong guard placed over
them, A thorough search Of the prem
ises began, and in the fatal loft were
found damning evidences of the crime in
the stains of blood in the bed, ON the
floor, and casing Of the window. Tracing
the course of the murderers when re-
moving the body by the clotted spots
which had not been removed, the object of
search was eventually found and disin-
tered, and their horrible suspicious con-
frmed.
1t seems that the stranger, who proved
to be prominent banker OF Denver, had
left for Pueblo with a considerable sum
of money which he intended to use in the
latter city, but leaving the stage at the
first station for few moments was for
some unaCcountable reason left by it and
in his anxiety to reach his destination
had started to walk to the next station of
thinking to obtain there some
sort of conveyance with which to proceed
on his journey. Upon the return of the
stage to Denver two or three days after
ward his mysterious disappearance was
learned by his friends.
A party was organized and mounted on
good horses, started on the road making
inquiries everywhere. Learning at the
station where he had been left the fact of
his having started to walk to Russellville,
they at once proceeded to that place and
that he had not been there.
Feeling convinced of foul play, and being
aware of the bad reputation of the McIn-
tyres, they resolved to make them a visit,
whose discoveries justified their worst
fears.
After disinterring the body they return
ed to the house and found that through
the negligence of the guards Jack McIn-
tyre, the elder brother, had slipped of his
shackles and escaped. He was never
captured, but from accounts published
some years afterward a man answering
his description was lynched in New
Mexican town for killing another over a
game of cards. Ropes were placed around
the necks of the old man and the other
son, and they were led down to the gulch,
where a gigantic pine reached its long
arms nearly across its bed. Jim McIn-
tyre was given sufficient time to make
confession, in which, after reciting in a
cold-blooded manner the details of the
horrible deed, from any participation in
which, however, he eXculpated his
father, he was swung off from
one of the branches of the tree by
strong and willing arms, thus meeting a
swift punishment for his CHASTITY crime.
The body was left swinging over the
stream for some time and was then cut
down and buried at the foot Of the tree.
Partly from Jim's strenuous assertions of
his fathers innocence, and partly because
of the pleadings of the latter's wife, he
was suffered to go, with the understand
ing that he should at once leave the State,
which he lost no time in doing with his
family and has never since returned.
Travellers and cowboys, who have occa-
sion to pass the deserted cabin after
nightfall, stOutly assert that the agOnized
death cry of the murdered man can be
heard every night, echoing over the hills
and through this gulcb, which, strange
to say, is the heart of the gold district,
and has proved to be one of its richest
placer diggings.
SKIPPER TILDEN, OF THE VIKING