Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-03-23

AlHeo lllolibuS ldteI, however, Wnen the
Earps were living at Gunnison, Colo, and, of
course, were running the town, their sister
mysteriously disappeared one night. The re-
suit OF inquiry convinced them that she had
fled in company with Ike Clanton. This was
pouring salt and vinegar into their fostering
wounds. The whole band comprising Vir-
gil, Wyatt and Julian carp Doc Halliday.
Curley Bill, Sam Saunders, Texas Ike and
Monroe Tucker, armed, mounted and pur-
sued. The lovers had about four hours the
start, but they were easily trailed They
headed for Arizona. They expected pursuit
and lost no time. They reached Lake City,
eighty miles from Gunnison, i'll twelve hours
Both were on horseback From Lake City
they started to Ouray, 100 miles by regular
road, but, getting afraid of pursuit, they
lett the road and crossed over the trackless
mountain, going $1,000 feet above sea level
and finally reached San Miguel-thirty hours
without food.
Here they rested for. two days, being con-
vlnced that the pursuit they expected was off
their trail. They were to certain extent
right and to certain extent mistaken The
carp party went to Ouray, and finding no
trace of the fugitives, became convinced that
they had made short cut to San Miguel
From Ouray to San Miguel is less than thirty
miles, but the way is over painless, pre-
cipitous mountain, yawning gulches and i'm
passable canyons. The Earps, however
tackled the journey and made it within
twenty-four hours. They reached San
Miguel about 10 o'clock in the morning, and
as they rode down the winding trail the
fugitives saw them. Clanton and the sister
OF his arch enemy had been man and wife
about twenty minutes. They were married
by Dr. Hoge, an Episcopal clergyman, whose
name is held in grateful remembrance by
every person familiar with the early days of
Colorado. When the newly welded pair saw
the horsemen approach, they recognized the
situation at a glance. Clanton, though as
brave as any man, knew that it was
hopeless to join combat with seven or eight
men practiced in the use of firearms But,
being accustomed to danger, he knew how to
act. He grasped his trembling bride. rushed
from the cabin where they were resting and
made his way to the nearest mine tunnel.
The miners were just changing shift, and
were surprised at the haste of the visitors.
Clanton told the miners his story as sincerely
and eloquently as he could. The miners were
all Irishmen, and Irishmen love lovers They
became partisans of the fugitives without
thought or consideration. Clanton intrusted
his bride to one of the miners, who took her
into the bowels of the earth, away from all
danger. Soon the Earps arrived and de-
manded the fugitives. The miners answered
with more spirit than politeness The Earps
invited parley, which the miners granted.
The Earps said that Clanton sought to dis
honor their sister because of hatred for them.
Clanton, who stood in the tunnel, within easy
communication, sent back word that the lady
they sought to dishonor and reproach was
his wife. The Earps tried diplomacy, which
failed, and finally they announced their de-
termination to storm the mine if the fuei-
tives were not surrendered. In those DAYS
an armory was necessary department Of
every well regulated mine, and the mine in
which Clanton and his bride sought refuge
was no exception. The miners presented
arms and announced their readiness to re-
ceive an attack. The Earps tainted them
with shelterlng coward, who had to seek
the bowels of the earth like a squirrel to
evade just punishment. Clanton sent back
word that he was ready to meet any of the
carp party in single combat. The Earps
held conference, and Julian, the youngest
and bravest of the tribe, volunteered to fipht
Clanton.
1t did not take long to arrange the prelim-
inaries. The carp party were required by
the miners to move off about a quarter of
mile and the miners in turn obligated them
selves to remain in the tool house. from which
the tunnel cut into the hill When all was
ready Clanton emerged from the tunnel, Dis
tol in hand. Julian carp was awaiting be-
hind an ore pile 100 yards away. The two
men approached each other, with pistols ele-
waited When they were within twenty PAGES
carp fired and missed. Before the report of
his shot had ceased echoing Clanton fired and
lodged his bullet in the heart of his enemy.
Julian carp fell dead. Canton retired to
the tunnel, and forty miners fully armed
turned out and served notice ON the carp
party that Clanton had proved his bravery
and sincerity and they were ready to defend
him. The Earps buried their dead, the good
Dr. Hoge officiating at the funeral. Then
the miners held meeting-nothing can be
formally done in mining camp without
meeting-passed resolutions sustaining Clan
ton and ordering the carp party to move out
of town. The Earps, understanding the miners
and the characteristics of the people they
were dealing with, retired. When they We're
out of sight Clanton and his wife came out
of the mine and took their departure in. the
direction of Rico
The Earps, though making promise that
they should return, merely made circuit,
and rode round San Miguel, striking the Rico
road about ten miles from the former place.
They found fresh horse tracks on the road
and concluded that those they were in pur-
suit of were in front of them. They followed
on with haste and overlook Clantcn and his
wife at Rico. The Earps reached town while
Clanton and his wife were at supper When
they discovered them they fired .volley
through the window of the hotel. One bullet
struck the bride and the husband ESCAPED.
He grasped his wife in his arms, rushed to
the back yard and from there to the corral
where his horses were quartered Hemounted
the first saddled horse he met, and with his
wife bleeding and insensible in his arms. rode
into the night. 1t was in October, and al
ready cold in that latitude and altitude He
rode all night, tenderly caring for the pre-
ciouS burden in his arms, and at sunrise next
morning she died.
Two years later Ike Clanton and Curley
Bill, a cousin of the Earps, met accidentally
i'll gambling room at SocorSo, n NJ Two
shots were fired simultaneously, and ten min
utes afterward Curley Bill was corpse.
Clanton was uninjured About a year and
half ago Clanton went to Phoenix, A T. There
he met Virgil and Wyatt carp. The moment
the old enemies saw each other they began to
shoot Clanton was killed, and Wyatt carp
was so badly wounded that he is no longer
numbered among the desperadoes of the west.
st. Louis Republican.
Eating TO Honor Somebody.
porcn, T H. al, holt =,