The Dickinson press., 1888-12-29
A TOUGH TOWN.
1T WAS NEWTON, KAN, NOW A
NICE AND ORDERLY CITY.

NODCuy ever knew oil u tougher town tuap
Newton, Kan, was in the carly days of its
existence. Nobody knows of II more lovely
OF more peaceable city than that same place
is today. In the spring of 1871 the crmlnus
Of the Santa lc railroad was 1T Emporia. 1t
was detcrmincd to build to q point scvcnty-five
miles further west. Tho object was to catch
tho Texas cattle trade. On the l4th of April,
1871, the writer reached the banks of Sand
creek. Two men were found campcd there.
There was not n foot of lumber in what is
now Harvey county, Kan. These men were
the pioneers of the Town that Capt. John
Sebastian afterward named Newton.
Six weeks later there was n population of
nearly 1900. Tho history of the town for its
first eight months is a story of lawlcssncss
and blood that has never been cqualcd on
this continent. Other places, mining camps
and cattle towns, have kept up the music of
the pistol a greater length Of time, but for
downright cusscdncss and cold killing New
ton wears the belt. AS soon as it became
known that Newton was to be the end of the
railroad for Il year, and that it was to be Il
cattle shipping point, whisky sellers, GAM
blcrs and thieves 1ocked there 10y hundreds.
or course many respectable men, seeking
legitimate business, went there, too, but the
STeaI H~liJofity ol tHc new corners were
dangerous.
IN A GAMBLING DEN.
They migrated there for the purpose of
robbing the cowboys and cattlcmen. For
months it was Il never ending battle between
these law breakers on the one side and the
men who knew no law on the other. From
first to last thirty-six were killed with their
boots OH. AT least n dozen gambling houses
h,,l ,1,,n. ,, tlo ,,,,.,, .t,,, ,..,,- 4i-:.
doors wide open day time and night time,
Sunday and all the time. One of them, the
"Gold ROOM was capable of holding 500 or
GOO people. Every known kind of gambling
was practiccd. y sight was seen in this
place one Sunday night that is not often wit
messed. y Methodist preacher went to the
boss of the place, "Doc' Thaycr, and re-
questel permission to hold divine services.
1t Was granted, and with every gambling
table running, the bar sending out its liquid
hell, that preacher, the Rev. MIR. Hahn,
stood up and told the story of the Man of
Nazareth. Before ho had finished his sermon
Il quarrel arose ut one of the card tables and
Il man was shot. a detailed account of tho
KILN and murders is not intended. If IL
gang OF cowboys rode into town the smallest
provocation would set their guns going, and
going to kill.
~ bond election was held. Several special
constables were appointed for election day.
One of them was u Texan named Martin. At
the polls there was a quarrel between 4 big
lriSli!uan, who went by tine name of McClus-
key, but whose real name vas Arthur Dc
lalcy, and the spccia! constable. Martin. Tho
result of that quarrel was the death of eight
men and one woman, and the woundins of
just an equal number. After the election
was over McCluskey and Martin met in tho
Lonc Star saloon and renewed tho quarrel.
y proposition was made and accepted to go
out on the street and settle it with the fist.
Both men laid off their belts and started for
the street. Martin, however, had u gun hid
den i'll his boot, and just as tho door was
reached he Went down after it, intending to
kill the Irishman; but McCluskcy was too
quick for him, and, taking the gun away
flcm him, shot him dead. McCluskcy gave
himself up and was acquitted. Martin had q
host of friends, and they vowed vcgeance ON
his slayer.
TIE "B1G KILLING"
The death of Martin led to what has al
ways been known us the "big killing" in
Newton. There were three dance halls
across the railroad track in what was known
as Hyde Park In one of them the "big
killing occurred. McCluskcy was u hanger
on at one of them. Martins friends sworo
they would kill him and all that took his
part. Martins friends got the worst of tho
fight. 1t was known by both sides that tho
fracas was likely to happen on Il certain
night. The engagement took place accord
ing TO programme. McCluskey was killed
early i'll the fray, two holes through his
neck and enough lead scattered around
through his body to make any one who digs
him up after u while imagine that he has
struck q paying lead mine. A man ON tho
McCluskcy side Shot nine of the long horn
crowd and did it III IL novel way. Knowing
that the fight would occur, this man, Riley
by name, went prepared to mako himself
felt. He had four six shooters on him. At
the first pop of Il gun lie deliberately walked
up to IL Texan and shot him in tho eye; then
running his two arms between the arms and
body of the dead man, he made Il human Lar
ricadc and shot at will from u safe ambush.
After tho fight ended ho went out, mounted
Il horse and left. The dead at the big killing
were speedily disposed of, tho wounded
taken care of.
BOSS OF THE "sIDE TRACK"
Mike Fitzpatrick kept a dive that he called
the "Sido Track" Tho unlucky chap that
got in there found himself side tracked until
his money was gone. Some of tho decent
people We're bold enough to protest against
some OF his robberics, among others a prom
inent merchant. Mike did not like any ill.,
reference with his business, and one morn
ing he loaded himself u little fuller than
usual with his vile whisky and started out to
do a little slaughtering. The merchant was
sought, but happened to be out of tho store.
Mike went up the street terrorizing every
body and walked into Il saloon. There lie
saw the city's police judge, George Halliday,
and without tho slightest provocation or a
word of warning he shot him through the
heart. Tho marshal, Jack johnson, had
been advised that Mike was Oh Il
rand and had started to capture him. See
inS Mike coming out of tho saloon,
johnson took Il rest for his Winchester rifle
J Oh the we'll curb and shot him down. This
: was Newton's last killing. In an hour after
3 ward the citizens had formed u league anc
t the suspicious characters were notified tt
leave. They left. Only a few incidents arc
, mentioned; only u few of the shootings dc
+ tailed. Tom Carson, q nephew of old Hi
S Carson, was sent for and came to take til,
!, marshalship of the town. He stayed thrc,
. weeks. The toughs had it i'll for him, and t,
save his life lie skipped. "Wild Bill' u.
t Hiciox) tried to be marshal. lie couldn't d,
it. Marshal King was killed in the disclarg
t of his duties, and altogether it was the tough
d est town Oh record.
c The person who sees the lovely city today
S the county seat of ono of the best countic
(Harveyl in tho state, with its business, it
opera houses, its street cars, gas and waite
II works, and talks with its law abiding an
wide awake citizens, little dreams of lib
! scenes Of blood witnessed in its infancy
Omaha Herald.
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