The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-07-03
OLD MITCHELL'S LAST VICTIMS.
The Dangers That Environ Men Who NEEDLE
with a SMnmp ANGEL

| Out Vi lHc MOISl lltf III LUc WOIlt
so far as reputation goes, is old Marti
Mitchell, who lives in the swamp jus
back of here, writes Blackfish, Ark
correspondent to The New York SIN. II
is terror to the hard men for hundred
of miles around, and yet personally he i
one of the most affable old fellows tina
ever lived. Not one person in
thousand who tells with prodlgiou
adjectives and explosives of the
''swamp angels terocity ever saw
him. His Repatriation has grown by
degrees, until the old colored people
have come to look upon HIM as il
partnership with Satan, and many a
black mother and nurse scares her lit
tie ores by telling them that "dat ole
debbil what swums aroun' in de mash
es is arter ye!''
Now, the fact is that old man Mitch
ell, according to his own story and the
common judgment of his fellow-men
in this vicinity, is harmless and law
abiding citizen. He has hut of some
kind in the swamp, where he makes
his headquarters, but when the wealth
e. is good he is just as likely to camp
| twenty or thirty miles away, wherever
nightfall may find him, as he is TO be
at home. He is hunter and fisher,
and it is probably true that if nobody
had ever bothered him he would not
have hurt anybody. He has been in
the swamp for thirty years or more,
killing man now and then, as &C.
casion seemed to warrant, and making
no fuss about it. Heretofore, when
these difficulties have occurred, the
Old man has not thought it worth
while to come in and explain matters,
or even pay much attention to his vic
tins. Ii no one claimed them he has
buried them in the bullrushes and
gone on about his business. The other
day, however, he found that he had to
kill three men in bunch, and as this
was something unusual, he came to
Blacklist to apologize, and eventually
went over to Memphis and commune
Gated with the sheriff there on the
point. This was the first real glimpse
Of civilization that the ''swamp angel
has had in many years, and he enjoyed
it much.
Two men named Cummings and |
Bryson, living at Memphis, came over
into the swamps short time ago fish
ing and hunting, and knowing old |
only by reputation rhey fired |
several shots at him, one of them in
dieting a painful wound. The old
nan lay low for while. then arming
llmself he got canoe and made pur-
suit. He found the trail q difficult one,
out being thoroughly acquainted with
very nook In the great river, he knew
hat unless they took to land he would
overtake them. He follow
ID them seventy-five miles down
tream and then lost theSi. He waited
here three or four days without find
ng trace of them, but at length he
vas informed that they had gone
lorth, and he started after them. Dur
ng all this long chase he passed al
most his entire time in his dugout. and
nlv went ashore as he found it
ecessary in order to lay in provis-
ons.
At length he found them, near his
wn swamp. He had gone ashore in
he brush in order to cook little cof-
ee. and, hearing voices, peered out
4 the river. There was a boat, with
Bryson, and an unknown
ian in it. Selling his rifles, the old
nan made for tree and opened fire,
he men in the boat standing up and
eturning it with great spirit. At
1itchell's second shot Cummings
ropped and fell into the river. He
ext brought down Bryson. who also
I'll out of the boat. The stranger
ras then left standing alone. with
evolver in each hand, with (which he
as making the bark on the old mans
zee fy. Mitchell took careful aim
nd fired, and the stranger dropped in
le boat, which was drifting slowly
own stream. Satisfying himself that
lie job had been well-done, the old {
ian got into his canoe and came up
, his hut, where he rested day or
vO, and then, with the idea of telling {
DIV it happened, he came to town
nd reported. J
In conversation Mitchell is very |
yreeable. He said to the sheriff here: |
This here last little difficulty of mine 6
as on a bigger scale than anything !
lat I've ever been in before, and l
lat's what troubled me little. You 8
e, l know white mans rights ev- G
" time, and l wouldn't bother you at |
! with this matter only l wanted the |
ing all straight. If it amt all t
raight just put your clamps on me.
it is l want to be getting back to
lsiness. I've had shooting before, I
1t only one at time. and everyone +
them was of some cuss who want '
| to murder me. I'm a harmless q
an, and yet l never shoot without
tting something. It's been my luck e
ways to be on the defensive. Every t
an that I've been compelled to kill '
Is come at me wrong, and wouldn't 4
lrm anybody if every body would let L
e alone. The reason that Pve never y
ZEN in before is because you were
lsy, and l knew there want any S
Sc against me. If this last thing is V
right I'll get back to the swamp" S
As no complaint has been filed, the v
ramp angel is evidently to be left I'M
sturbed by the authorizes. With
tie better understanding between b
m and the fellows that prowl around
) headquarters and take him for t.
Id man there might be less blood a
ed.