West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-12-05
THE STORY OF HANG TOWN,
How 1t Came to Be Callod bv
That Significant Name.

The winter of As was not severe in
the Dry Diggin'S. The population was
made up of Englsh-spcaking people,
Sandwich Islanders. old Callfornians.
and such as could get there before the
tide of 40 set in. Miners from the
forks of the American rivers had made
their winter quarters there. and there
was. no doubt, pile of gold dust big
enough to tempt the cupidity of enter
| priSing highwaymcn. The log cabins
OF the men lay along both slides 6f the
main ravinc and its branches. and these
were usually divided into two rooms
the berths or sleeping-cribs being built
| up, one above another, on both sides of
this partition, which was usually GOV.
cred with white muslin; but the logs did
not come close together. and thav who
| lay in bed on the ono side might hear
much of that which was spoken. even
in low tone of voice on the other side
III so fell out that one night an Amcri-
can, lying awake upon one side, became
| Interested in what was transpiring i'm the
house of his ncighbors, who were French.
men. IL seems that there was a visiting
| party OF three countrymen there and the
/ entire company had passed the evening
playing. somebody losing heavily. The
| occupants of the house had retired to
their berths, and one of the visiting
| party proceeded to rifle the chest while
the other two stood with drawn dirks
| by the beds, threatening instant death
II either of the sleepcrs moved. All of
this was overheard by our friend Nutter
who understood French. The end of
the cabin occupied by his company was
next below, and only n few yards dis
tancc from the hall In which we lived
and for which we paid the modest little
sum OF S5OO-S10O each-the other half
OF our house being owned by Martin,
who with his wife and two children
| lived there.
Now it so happened that in the long
evenings and balmy days our little room
was made TO subserve the interests of a
| spelling circle, debating, court of iud-
feature for the trial of imaginary ofIenses,
and court of equity for the settlement
of differences between friends. II had
fallen to my lot to- preside, and to this
date matters had been arranged so as
| that all felt that even-handed Justice
had been dealt out.
Very naturally Nutter. the American,
made his appearance early next morning
| seeking advice. There was no Justice of
the Peace there. for the laws of the
United States had not been extended
over this region. There was no alcalde
| except in the old settlements and mis-
sions. 1t was case requiring prompt
| dispatch. The villains might already
| be moving off with their stolen gold
| dust, or, what was even worse perhaps
| domiclled in our very midst, like a lion
In MS lar, ready TO pouncc upon some
other unwary one. The result of a CON
| ference was that Nutter was appointed
| Sheriff, to give these neighbOrs Il call.
| and ask for information concerning
those visitors who came and went in
| the pitchy darkness. The Frenchman
refused for fear Of vengance, until. upon
| second visit they were notified they
| themselves would be arrested as con
| fcderates unless they revealed what
| they knew. There was q cabin standing
AT the distance of, say. a quarter of a
mile away from all others out i'm n lonely
rayinc, past which men from the forks
| usually came with their treasure. How
| 1t came there, when it came. who lived
| there, what they did. was all mystery
| One old man was sometimes seen but
| he was busy. appearing 10 notice nothing
| but his work. Nevertheless, suspicion
| had often pointed her finger at Chat hab-
itatiOn when some robbery had been
| committed, or some murdered man found
| by the waysdo, and when Nutter re-
| turned with his report that seven men
| lived there; and that the three robbers
were part Of that band, itrcquired no
| long speeches to bring the company to
! n decisive stand.
Locked in for the season by wretched
| roads impossible for teams ten miles
| from The nearest settlcment-Su 8
| mill the discovery Of q nest Of vipcrs
| at work in our very midst caused each
| one 10 feel 10 10 be important that no
time be- lost. The two Frenchmen were
warned not to move ont Of their house,
nor To- communicate by signs or other
| wise with anyone during the day Mean
while word was quietly given to such
| rs could bc relied upon to act Epyp-
tan darkness reigncd that evening when
| Nutter opened the door where the
seven armed sat around the supper
| table, and charged them with the theft
In an instant hands moved 10 the re-
/ volvcrs by the sides. n shrill whistle bv
/ The Sheriff checked them. and when
twenty brave men armed like them
selves came through that door and stood
around them, they surrendered. The
excitement was intense
EX-Judgc Russell Of Oregon. was
there al the time, and a. j declined 10
take the responsibility in the presence
Of one skilled in law, he took the bench.
a cour7 was organized, jury impanneled,
| prosecuting attorney and prisoners
counsel appointed, in order that every
thing should be done fairly The result OF
the nrst trial was that nothing beyond
the act of robbery was proven, and the
three on sunday morning received a
service Of thirty-ninc lashes on the bare
/ back, although none doubted that they
] deserved hanging. They had escaped
Abe gallows
Nun - Lnn rnnr H.. nnMnh -.