Bismarck weekly tribune., 1889-02-22

A Chapter in Ancient Dakota History.
The bill introduced in the council by the
Hon. Alex Hughes to reimburse DR.. B. f.
Slaughter for expenses in contesting his
seat in the territorial council in 1874, has
set the pioneers to talking of the events
OF that memorable winter. DR.. Slaughter
who was coroner Of Burleigh county, was
then engaged in investigating q murder
case; John Peterson, Swede living on q
claim north of Bismarck, having been shot
dead at his cabin door. and suspicion fell
upon some men with whom he lad quar-
relied in regard to his clam; but being
obliged to go to Yankton to attend the ses-
sion of the legislature, to which he had
been elected, the doctor turned his office
Of coroner over to Phil Lewis as deputy,
with the result that George Washington
McNear, a half-witted negro, was declared
guilty of the crime, and afterwards SEN
fenced to be hanged, but through the
efforts of Mrs., Slaughter and others his
sentence was commuted by Gov. Penning-
ton to life imprisonment at saltwater
where he now is.
No trains being run that winter DR..
Slaughter contracted with the Nc
Carry Brothers. Charles and
John-for fly dollars to carry him by
sleigh to the railroad at jamestown when
lie could go to Yankton via ST. Paul. A
journey overland through the unsettled
country was serious affair then, and the
entire population Of the village gathered
at the doctors house to see him off, and
bid him God speed. Johnny" McCarty
drove the sleigh-a large covered one,
furnished with small stove and weeks
provisions, and the party reached James.
town in eight days all right, but having
been overtakcn by d blizzard and storm
stayed in dugout for three days. But
the occupants Of another sleigh that left
the Doctors house that morning were not
SO fortunate. Charles McCarty was sheriff
of the county, and with his deputy, Chas.
j. Miller, was just starting up north to
subpoena witnesses in the murder case be-
fore alluded to. coming first to see the
doctor off. They had sleigh drawn by a
team of powerful black horses, and none
present will ever forget the parting lsceDe.
Their cheerful s'go0d-byes" proved TO bid
their last farewell 10 their Bismarck
friends, for returning, the same night they
had to cross the river after dark, and
drove into an air hole and
was drowned The doctors wife. Mrs.
Linda w. Slaughter in her "Portf0lio OF
Western Postmaster" thus truthfully
depicts the incidents of their death.
aIn crossing the ice bound river, by the
faint, uncertain light of the snow and
stars, they had missed the way, and driven
into one Of the numerous air holes that
flecked the borders Of the river. That was
all that was ever known. Friends followed
the track Of the sleigh; marked where
they in the consciousness of dan
ger had alighted to scan the path;
and again, when reassured OF safety.had
entered the vehicle and driven swiftly for
ward into the dark abyss. That was all.
A silent sleigh track entered the treacher-
GUS pool on the side. On the other, un-
broken snow. Nothing to tell of the the
fearful plunge; the struggles Of the gallant
steeds, or the shock of their terrible de-
scent; the icy, freezing chill of the sullen
water; the despairing thoughts of home;
the shuttering gasps IS the two brave souls
went down engulfed in that ice-rimmed
| pol of DEATH