The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-07-15
DRENNEN'S DEED.
He "Made a FIowery Play'' and Killed
His Man.

When the visitors and citizens of Challis
were making merry on the Fourth of July,
a terrible tragedy was being enacted on the
ranch of Messrs. Watson d Faulkner,
eight miles down the Salmon river from
here. One Henry Drennen, who came
from the southern country, Arizona or
New Mexico, some time ago, was employed
on the ranch as laborer, and had procured
Il quantity Of whisky with which to cele-
brate the day in Il fashion OF his own. The
man bore the reputation of killer, and was
considered an ugly one when under the in
fiuence of grOg. Towards evening he exhib-
tied his temper by breaking a valuable
rifle belonging to Mr.. Lump, his reason
for this being that the CUR over-shot the
bird at which he was shooting. After
destroying this weapon he entered the
house and took a six-shooter, which he
began ~twirling and 1ourishing in New Mex
leo cowboy style, when Litz Larson, also
an attache Of the place, entered and tri:d
to reason with the IA Drennen pointed
the pistol at Larson and told him that he
(Drennen) was Il tough ID but did not
care to kill his friends, or words to that
effect, when Larson, fearing the man would
kill him, tried to knock the weapon up,
and in his endeavor to do this it was dis
charged, the ball entering the right lung
passing entirely through his body. Chas.
Green Immediately started with the
wounded man for town, arriving here at
abont 8 o'clock. and from then until Mon
day nOon, when the poor fellow died, every
possible effort was made by DR.. Smith and
many kind assistants to lessen the mans
agony during his last hours, the fatal
nature OF his wound being too apparent
from the first to admit OF hope of his re-
cOvery. Larson was universally liked by
al ~ 1,,ou, liz mos q, <Jil:rn,f r ,n
liable worker, and did not have II known
enemy in the country.
About ~ o'clock Saturday evening a
Traveller passed through Challis and re-
ported that Drennen had stopped at Mr..
Ellis ranch at 10 o'clock, to nave a couple
OF dogs that were following him tied up.
He was mounted on the best horse belong
ing on the ranch, and stated that he had
been in IL shooting scrape, made a tlowery
play and got away with it, and that if
anyone should follow him they would find
him on the trail, and would get a "hard
This is about the story, as near
as the reporter could learn from current
Mr.. Watson and Uunder-Sheriff
Long Immediately started in pursuit, but
missed their man in the dark, we suppose,
since the horse was returned to the ranch,
unsaddled and staked out, Sunday night.
A warrant for Drennen's arrest is out, and
as he is undoubtedly in the neighborhood,
every effort should be made to effect his
arrest. The theory OF accident is argued
in Drennen's behalf, and if that line Of de-
tense is to be adhered to it would seem a
wise move on his part to appear and sub
nit his case. The Messenger has no biased
opinion to express in this matter; but has
grown heartily sick OF the indiscriminate
and reckless use made OF the SKIS baoter in
the hands Of desperate men, andN would
like to see a lively interest taken in the
and punishment OF the offenders.
This man should be captured and tried, if
it is necessary to employ every able-bo6ed
in Challis to do lt.-IdahO Messenger.