The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-11-29
Judge Rucker's Backer.

Editor John Atkins, of the Rocky Mount
ain News, of Denver, Colo, was asked in New
York if he thought Judge Fuckers open let.
ter to Senator Blackburn would result in q
duel. He said:
II confess that I did not think there was
anything serious in Judge Fuckers attitude
toward Senator Bla ckburn until Judge w.
Z. Ferrill was brought into the matter.
Judge Ferrill is not the man to engage in any
affair of honor unless business is meant.
Judge Ferrill has a remarkable record for
courage and daring, and Judge Rucker is
web aware that if he is backed by him there
is no retreat from q square open fight upon
the field of honor
"Then you think there will be a ducl?"
II know there win be il Judge Ferrill contin-
ues to be Judge Fuckers friend.
Judge Ferrill is one of the most re-
markable men in the West, and his
history is the record of the bravest pio-
neer, Kit Carson not accepted. He is six
feet three inches high and proportional like
q young hercules. There never was a cooler
man under the fire and q better shot. Just
before the Sand Creek massacre, and indeed
before the Hungate family was cruelty slain
by the Indians, Judge Ferrill had started to
hold court in a distant settlement. He had
heard the Indians were on their war path,
but that did not deter him from going. In a
lonely part of the country, not far from the
canyon, the Indians attacked him. He heard
them coming, and, knowing they could over
take him if he ran, he decided to fight for his
life. Dismounting he shot his horse dead
and made q breastwork of the animals body
and a few stray rocks. Armed with q six
teen-shooter rifle and two pistols he boldly
faced the Indians. They numbered about
thirty, and attacked him with wild yells and
a volley from their old guns. To make a
long story short, Judge Ferrill fought them
twelve hours and killed over half of them.
They tried
ALL KINDS OF
to get him to leave his breastwork. A big
Indian noted for strength crawled up behind
the judge while the others we're shooting at
him from the front and sprang upon his
back. He managed to wrench the redskin of
and smashed his skull with a blow from his
powerful fist. In the meantime the Indians
in front charged up, but he was too quick for
them and picked them off with ease before
they could reach him. After the battle he
coolly proceeded on foot to Pine Creek and
held court. This encounter established his
reputation. In 1879 Leadville was overrun
by roHehs and no citizens life was safe. A
deputation Of citizens wrote to Judge Ferrill
and asked him to come to Leadville and help
them. He went and Immediately organizad
a vigilance committee. His life was threatened
by the Ioughs, but he did not mind it. An
example had to be made and the Judge
headed a posse of citizens, proceeded to the
county jail, took two notorious footpads
observation-disclosures and Fordham- and
hanged them. He then warned the other
roughs to leave or be peaceable citizens. The
citizens owed their deliverance to Judge Fer
rill, but he would not consent to pose as a
leader or accept n honors. His feats in
hand-to-hand conflicts are, well known. One
time, while riding on the plains, he was sur.
rounded by two Indians and three half breeds.
They started to kill him at once. He called
the half-breeds towards, and said he would
fight three of them on foot with bo%wie-knives.
The half breeds were very expert with knives,
and in a spirit of mockery consented. He
the Indians SO they took to fight. This is
the man who is backing Judge Rucker, and
there will be no foolishness.