Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-01-10
TRUE EVEN UNTO DEATH.

OF frontier lie was toiu the reporter
of the ,er: by Mr.. Nelson Franklin.
who is in the cry, and who has lived
for some time during the past two
years in Silvertnn and other towns
aud camps in Southern Cd dorado.
"A daring robbery had been com
mitteai. The officials ola well-known
banking institution in a TOWN in
is utl ern Colorado, upon reaching
the building one morning, discover
ell that Side-sl,nr had been broken
olmn, the fastening of an inner sleor
forced, and the safe containing the
banks valuables drilled and blown,
and relieved of its contents. a care
full search OF the premises revealed
the body of the Waterman in an ad
j"ining vacant lot pierced with knife
wounds and covered with bruises.
showing the eyidepce OF IA struggle,
and that more than one person was
engaged in the murder and robbery.
Soon the whole community was
aroused, and the sheriff, with posse
of armed and mounted men, was
ready to start on the trail of the
murlerers. Bul who were they.
and where could they be- found, were
questions easier to ask than to ans
wer.
.sOn the floor of the banking-rooln
WAS found Il large trimmed sombrero.
decorated with peculiar splngles,
and several citizens identified it as
having been worn by one of three
strangers who came into town the
afternoon before and had been drink
ing at several saloons during the
evening. A tolerably fair descrip-
ton OF these men was obtained: also
the information given by ranch
man who came iatO 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, 60
ing 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. Every
trail over the mountain was examin-
ed and every possible clue followed
for several days, but to no purpose.
The bank officials, mayor of the
town and governor of the tate offer
ed rewards for the capture of the
rniscreantS, which, IN the aggregate,
amounted to several thousand dol
lars. This induced large number
Of determined and brave men to join
in the pursuit, which was prosecuted
for more than week without result.
Finally one of these parties, com
posed Of three of the best frontiers
men 10 the country, came suddenly
upon the fngitiyes in a rocky canon
in the Businesses of the Needle Noun.
tains shortly after day break, just as
they were making preparations for
IA rude breakfast. Calling upon
them to surrender, they were ans
wered Ivy volley of shots, which
were at once returned. The battle
being one of life or death, the firing
lasted some minutes without result,
when one OF the desperadoes fell
mortally wounded. The others APP
parenlly man and IA boy, kept up
the firing until their ammunition was
exhausted, when they were comprll-
ed ptrfOrce to surrender. They
were taken back to the camp or
main rendezvous Of the pursuing
party, together with the body of the
dead man. There it was proposed
to lynch the survivors, when a singu-
lar thing happened. The boy, who
appeared TO be not over eighteen
years ofase. and of far complexion
and long hair, addressed the assem-
blage about as follows: "Grntle-
men, suppose We have not very
long to live; but before you carry
aonr purpose into execution allow
me 10 say that this man was limo
cent Of amy completely in The mur-
der, Int that the man who il dead
and myself killed him. and your ven-
geance should fall upon me, the only
guilty on. living"
:. The clear. musical, pleading
Voice, the long hair streaming. in the
wind, and the bright, sparkling eyes,
whicl, glowed with animation and
were snff'ised with tears during the
appeal. produced IN Impression upon
these rough men for which they at
the time could not account At the
conclusions, however, the other pris-
oner suddenly started up aud said:
: Gentlemen, don't believe the stories
told you. This in my wife. who, from
her devotion to unworthy me, has
accompanied me in all my wander
lngs dressed in the garb Of Il mall
She has in many desperate encouh
tiers saved my life, and, althouglidel
icately reared. has shared in all the