The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-06-05
\ MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY.

William Elliot, commonly called Grip
pied Bill, from having been wounded in
one Of Morgan's raids. made his appear
ance Oh IOcum creek Immediately after
the surrender ut Appomattox and bought
= small tract Of rough land on Squirrel
ridge. by dint Of much labor he cleared
away the heavy timber and thick under
brush and erected II small cabin. Il cow
shelter. and the other rude shunties hat
30 to make mp the buildings "f ridge
farmer.
His nearest neighbor was Squire Enk
Hanna. and one night, much to the
S4aires indignation and every one else's
surprise. Crippled Bill and his neighbours
youngest daughter. Capitoa. mounted
their horses and rode across the country to
the Ohio river and We're married. About
year after the elOpement IL daughter
was born to the strangely matched couple,
and three days after the little one opened
Its eyes the mother closed hers in death.
TO cveryhniy's surprise the child lived.
Her father called her Kate and as she
grew Older the adjective little" was added
I" her name because OF her fairy-like grace
and delicacy of limb and feature. and
when she was ! years old everybody on
fmum knew crippled Bills Little Kate.
She loved her rough old father. and he
lived only for her. About this time, or to
oe more precise, in 1874. Crippled Bill fell
IN with the Alfrey boys. and then induced
him to join them in running Il moonshine
still The profits of the business were
something enormous-if yoU tlidn': get
saught-:'nd Crippled Bill became their
partner For upwards of ten years they
conducted! their illicit business and deted
capture.
Iocllm creek is one OF the most peculiar
streams in Mountain Kentucky. 1t heads
IN Morgan county and clnptirs into the
Licking nearly opposite Morphcad For 4
distance OF five miles ii runs through the
\arrow> of Iocum, u deep and gloomy
canyon through which trends Il rough
Wagon-road This road crosses the little
stream Is; times and the gorge is one of
the most wei',lly picturesque spots in
America Cliffs whose tops lower hum
'tlrds oi feet above the bel of the stream
wall IL on either side. Their faces are COW
ercd with y thick growth of laurel bushes
ana tall Hrs and pines overhanging their
SUBMITS. Professor Henry of the Smith.
>olian institute visited the Narrnws once
ana mue y careful examination
OF the cliffs on both sides. He found be-
hind the screen of laurel bushes roomy
caves. ami III the depths of these caycrns
the homes ut the great cave bear and traces
Ut that curious prehistoric race the cave
jewellers. II WAS in one Of these caverns
that Crippled Bill Elliott and the Alfrey
boys carried IN the business of illicit
tistilliny. They disposed of the product
If their still to the lumher,nen on the
river and divided among themselves the
profit. The gang had numerous encount
"r> with the revenue officers and one after
another of the Alireys were killed until
only Dick remained. There were warrants
out Tor his arrest. charging him with
Killing II revenue officer and with illici,
dlstllling. Armed with his long squirrel
rlt1e he ram"d through The mountains
ana Freely visited he towns. M,,>ting tina,
he W"'ll' Kill the first man VIM made !,
Warllke movement toward him He spent
his money freely ami had hundreds q,
arenas scattered ar"un'! the country. VIII,
warned him whenever IL mur>i,al> puSs,
approached.
Once IN 1850. while visiting his fathers
house on the Licking river road, ~ part )
OF revenue officers rode up and surrounded,
the house. Keeping. however. at Il r,.spcc,
ful distance. for they knew that Dick was
IL
make martyrs Of themselves Every doc,
and window Of the house was harricadpd
ami when III" hlar>l,al's men caulinlsly
approached Dicks voice was heard order.
ing them to halt.
'He all dlasSent make Il rush, for I'll kill
Il half dozen NV W afore We git hyar. tn.
ole mans well purvidetl with ,3,shuns
an | ken stand y" oft for II month Da.
an Ill take turns Standin guard, an well
Keep il up night an day
I'll" malshar> party. after cvnsultin.
among themselves, mounted their horse,
aud rode away. and Dick went lmck to his
mountain eyrie to distill more whisky
Crippled Bill Elliot was the factor ar 20
between Of the Alfreys. and when onl,
Dick remained to carry on the business hi
and the old man shared the profits If til.
still equally. Crippled Bill saved hi,
money to spend il literally on Little Kate
whom he 'lecked in the hantlso,nesr gown.
that could he purchased at the cr,sSroal.