The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-07-07
SILVER MOUNTAIN TRAeEDY.
Full Particulars Of a Bloody Affair
Costing the Lives Of Two Men.

/
On Wednesday of last week
man named Will Ninernier ane
lobe Pitts, son of Doc. Pitts o
this place, got into dispute a
Silver Mountain. Ninemier slap
ped Pitts in the face, -whereupor
the latter knocked Ninemier dowr
and bruised him up considerably
The matter then rested for the time
but on Thursday evening the par
ties again met and stripped to fight
it out but were hindered by by
ISLANDERS. The Statesman gives the
following account of what followed
On Friday Ben Ninemier came to town
and he and party named Wilson and
Will Ninemler went to interview Pitts.
The encounter took place in Rooms sa
loon. 1t is reported that Ben Ninemier
asked Pitts What he meant 10y beating his
brother, and one word bringing on an
other, the affair ended in blood. Seeing
that row was imminent Pitts went be-
hind the bar to get his revolver. and as he
stopped down he was shot in the back,
his own revolver going off at the same
time and intlicting a wound in his hand.
Pitt Smith. who had recently been APP
pointed deputy sheriff, then came on the
scene of action and commanded the peace
At this Wilson drew his revolver and
stepping back pace, fred, killing Smith
almost instantly. 1t is reported that Will
son also shot lobe Pitts, but that Ben
Ninemier took no part in the shooting
While the row was going on, a young
man by the name of Townsend, said to be
from Wood River, started to run across
the street to get out of the way, having
taken no part in the row aud not being
connected with it in any way, when he
wounded. Later advices say that he can
not recover. A man named George Hard
ing was standing across the street dragon
ally from the scene of the shooting, when
a bullet pierced the rim of his hat Ben
Ninemier gave himself up, but Will Nj
nemier and Wilson, after staying around
Graham until five O'Clock the next morn
ing, skipped out. On Saturday morning
Sheriff Havalrd and an assistant started
from idaho City for Graham to arrest the
parties. When near Graham they met d
man coming to Idaho City with Ben Nj
nemier, and after exchanging few words
Havaird rode on intending to take in
Wilson and Will Ninemier, sending his
deputy back with Ben aud the other man.
He had not proceeded far before he met
the parties he was seeking, whereupon
the two bold fighters drew their revolvers
and commanded Havalrd to hold up his
hands, which, as they had the drop on
him, he did with as much grace and dig
nifty as possible. They commanded him
to ride on and lie rode on with all dis
patch aud soon overlook the others, to
whom he related his adventure. Some
thirty men from Silver district are scour-
ing the country for Will Ninemier and
Wilson, who are still at large.
Later adyices from the scene Of
the tragedy state that lobe Pitts
died on the came evening at 8
o'clock. Doc. Pitts, his father. is a
respected citizen of this place,
where he has lived for several years
past, and spent the summers in
prospecting. He takes the death
of his son hard, and avows his in
tention to pursue the murderer UNI
til Justice is melted out to him.