Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-11-03
HUNTERS HANGED
Wyoming Vigilantes Apply
the Hemp to Two Bold
Sportsmen.
They Took Revenge on n Ranchman
for Interfering With Their
Sport and Forfeit
Their Lives.

"CHEYENNE, Oct. GA cowboy who
rode in from The Snake river country to-
day brought news of the lynching Of +.
Nj. Adams and a companion known in
these parts as "Dntchy," two hunters,
who maliciously burned the house of a
ranchman a few miles north of the Snake.
The pair started out with horses and
Winchestcrs to kill elk and deer. They
found game in abundance everywhere on
the plains. but instead Of killing one or
two stays, as hunters generally do, they
began a wholesale slaughter Of the ami
mails. They were not hunting for ven
ison, but for hides and horns. Tom
johnson, ex- %ranchman, met them Thurs
day and demonstrated with them. He
said they were violating the game laws Of
the territory, and he threatened to have
them arrested if they did not cease the
useless slaughter. This threat enraged
Adams. and that night. accompanied by
his partner, he rode down to Johnson's
ranch and set fire TO his house. He did
not attempt 10 avoid detection. 30 instead
of riding away he lowered around the
burning building until Johnson came out,
carrying his wife and little girl IN his
arms. Adams rode over to the rancbman
with a cooked revolver in either hand
and smilingly tod him that he was going
to kill all the elk in Corbin county.
And, he added. III you interfere with
me again I'll kill you too"
A short time afterwards Adams rode
away, accompanied by his partner, and
then johnson, who bad placed his wife
and child in a barn, mounted a fleet
proncho and set out for a little settlement
on the Snake 10 alarm his friends. He
reached the settlement about daylight.
and within an hour hc had gathered a
force of forty men who were eager to
join him in the chase after the vandal
hunters. The pursuers separated into
squads and started IN a nurlherly and
westerly direction. They rode on until
noon without discovering any trace
of their men, but a short time after
that hour an old trapper, whs be-
longrd to the party. found : trail that led
in "A southerly direction. Fresh imprints
OF hors s hoofs could bctraccd distinctly
in the clay. and every member of The
party who saw this agreed with the trap
per lhDt they were made by the brOnchos
Of Adams and Dutch. Such proved to
be The case for the trail had not been fol
lowed an hour when the prisoners rode
down upon "A little dinner camp, Of which
the hunters were the only occupants.
AIaphc uuxu the annrnurHfnR gIIlaIrnp
first and ms 'inctively grasped has Win
chester and raised it to his shoulder, but
be lowered it Immediately when he saw
the long line Of six shooters that suddenly
sprang INFO view.
The two hunters were made prisoners,
and after being tied securely To their own
horses were s tarted back for the settle
ment. They reached here about : o'clock
Friday night and were placed in an old
adobe hut for safe keeping. Armed men
guarded the only entrance. Their orders
were to shoot the first head that showed
outside of the mud prison. About 10
o clock thai night, while a furious thun-
der storm was raging, q hundred men
whose faces were hidden by crude masks,
surrounded the dohy, their leader, a tall
man, who carried a six shooter
in his right hand, commanded
the guards to fall back and re-
turn to their homes. The command
was obeyed without a murmnr, and the
ga "A, followed by half a dozen Of his
comp.- ons, sprang through the narrow
entrance Of the hut. Those who were IN
the outside heard a chorus of angry yells
and curses, ounds Of a fierce struggle,
finally \ single shot. When the masked
men VINO entered the hut rcappearcd.
In Y were carrying Adams and
'Dltchy," both of whom were bound
han 1 and foot.
What ye goirg to do with u.s."
slrang, assembiage.
Hang We. yc varmi's," said the leader
in a low voice. Boys" he added,
take them 80 the red tree and let 'cm
both dance from the ann limb
The boys responded with a cheer.
Adams and "Du'chy'' were seized by a
score Of hands and carried swiftly in the
direction of the river. Neither o. the
doomed men uttered "A word. though he
knew he had only a few minutes to live,
and when the moose of a lariat was adj
iustcd around Adams mech he smiled as
if he rather liked the touch of the leather.
Presently the red tree was reached. The
knots and nOoses were r~eadjusted, the
ends Of the ropes were thrown over the
lower branch and seized by as many
hands as could find n hold.
Have you anything to say?' the tall
leader demanded, and he eyed the two
victims sternly.
Adams shook his head. but "Dutchy'
did not move muscle. The leader raised
his pistol, cooked it, and after counting
one -twO-three as deliberately as posi-
Bile, fred 4 shot in the air. This was the
signal the men who held the lariats were
waiting for. The instant they heard the
drtonation they gave a great shout, and
two writing bodies sprang into the air.
The ends Of the lariats were made fast
around the trunk OF the tree, and the
lynchcrs left the spot with oil possible
haste. When the cowboy who brought
the news left the Snake the bodies were
still swinging. in the air.
Int rstate Missions.