The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-08-13
Letters Unclaimed

Superintendent Green stopped off in
Medora Tuesday night. s. ~ Z. W
Mrs. and Paul Pierce. wife and son of
the Governor and Col. and Mrs. Steele,
went west Tuesday to visit the Nation
al Park.
Fred Banan returned yesterday morn
from Fort Keogh, where he has COM
pleted his term Of service in the U. s.
army. We welcome him back to Medora
as making one of class of citizens
which we need. SCI -. 3
This season, about $500 cattle will be
shipped from Medora. On account of the
difficulty Of shipping here the most Of
the cattle tributary to Medora will be
shipped from Alingusyille or Dickinson.
The first sixteen cars Of tea from the
steamship Isabel passed through hledora
last evening. There are two hundred
car loads in the lot. The tea will be
taken from Portland to st. Paul in 100
hours. n
Monday morning our citizens were
startled by the news that Peter Birch
had been shot. As luck would have it
DR.. Robarts happened to come in on the
east-bound train and, taking charge of
the case, found that the ball had gone
through the biceps muscle, entered his
side under his arm and going around
under the skin to within an inch and a
half Of the backbone, where it emerged.
The account as told by Peter, was as fol-
lows, the other participatOrs in the affair
having gone to Mandan as witnesses at
court, only his side can be learned.
Peter states that at about half past
twelve o'clock Monday morning he was
in Bob. Roberts saloon, in company with
Roberts and Vim. Jones. That Roberts
suggested playing a joke on some one in
MacD onald's restaurant by cutting down
the hammock in which he was sleeping.
Peter started with Bob to the restaurant
and the hammock was cut down. Bob
asked Peter to take the knife back to the
saloon and Peter started back in COM
pany with Jones. The latter asked
Peter who was running the restaurant
now and Peter told him that lie had been
cooking there for about: week. This
led to what Peter thought was playful
banter, when Jones struck him. Oh the
forehead with the but of his revolver.
His eyes were blinded with blood but he
attempted to ward off other. blows, when
Jones shot. Attempting then to run, he
was struck several more times On the
back Of the head, there being eight CASH
Ie sextending to the skull. Peter did not
know he was shot until the morning
when he found his arm covered with
blood and examining it, found he was
shot. BE. further added that lie was per
fectly sober, only having two drinks
early in the evening, This is one side
of the case and we will gladly publish
the other. We have few comments to
make, as there were no witnesses. Both
men have regulations for peaceable dis
positions. Jones is well liked and every
one is anxious to hear his side Of the
story. Peter is as harmless man as
ever lived, lie being his own worst
enemy. The principal point We make
| is the one SO often mentioned iii tho
Cow Boy, that of carrying reyolvers in
town. Every shooting ARRAY we know
OF has been caused by Wiliskey, coupled
with the senseless custom Of packing d
gun. We have many times mentioned
our opinion and cannot sufficiently con,
denim d practice that no one, can say has
ever resulted In good and many timei
results fatally.
[Since writing the above, Sheriff Har.
mon arrived In Medora with q warrant
fol, the arrest Of Peter Birch. Probably
for assault and battery. Jones was
arrested at Afandan and released on his
own reeognizance. Sheriff { Harmon
returned this morning to Mandan. Birch
was vi unable y be 1loYed.