The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-06-18
HIS FATAL SHOT.
One Man Killed and Two Wounded
in a Dispute Over q Horse
Race Near Silver Lake.
The Trouble Believed to Have Had Its
Inception in the Jumping of -
a Mining Claim.
The Murderer Takes 10 the Hills and So
Far Has Eluded HE Pursuers-A
killing Near Red Rock

ANACONDA, June I7.-ISpeciaI TO the
Independent "details OF the tragedy az
Silver Lake, Sunday afternoon, have been
furnished by E. Z. Thomas, proprietor
of the stage line from Anaconda 10 George
town, who was an eyewitness to the
events leading up 10 the murder OF one
man and the W0unding Of two others.
Silver Lake is a small village about three
miles from Georgetown, and In the early
days OF Montana WAS quite noted for It's
diggings. Ii is now the site OF = small
quartz mine or two and is contiguous 10
several logging camps Of the Montana
Lumber and Produce company. About .
year ago two Swedes, brothers, named
Bjornstern, located mining claim in the
vicinity. Some three OF -four months ago
four lOggers, among them two named Rice
ana Scalep Perry, jumped the claim and
were bitterly opposed by VIM. Mccoy,
saloon keeper and prominent sport about
Georgetown. who had espoused the cause
of the BjOrnsterns. Bad blood ensued be-
tween Mccoy and the l0ggers and the lat
ter have been heard to threaten 70 ''do Nc
Coy up"
A horse race yesterday Sunday had
been widely heTAlded throughout that re-
gion at Silver Lake between local scrub
celebrities. A rifle shooting match was
also announced for the occasion, the prfn-
cipal candidate for the prize being Willie
Thomas, the II year old son OF Il. p.
Thomas, Of Georgetown, and an unknown,
who was 20 have been entered by Mr.. r.
G.. Brown. OF the Blue Eyed Nellie mine.
IL was a red letter day for the sports in
the country around and the programme at
tracted hundreds OF men from the neigh
boring towns of Cable, Pyrenees, George
town and Southern Cross.
The scheutenfest was postponed inde6n-
itely on account of the non-aIrival of Mr..
Browns dark horse, but the horse race
took place in due time. Immediately after
the regular events Of the programme
a ''shakeback" race, for a small purse, was
arranged between a horse owned by Rice,
one Of the loggers, and a hlly owned by
Ole Anderson, of Georgetown The race
was for 800 yards and L. +. Thomas was
the stakeholder. After some jOckeying
the horses got of 10 a pretty fair start, rid
den by their owners. with Andel sons cay
use in the lead 10 the hOmestretch. Here
the Rice horse forged 70 the front, but In
passing Anderson the latter caught the
Rice horse by the rein. and putting whip
and spur To his own nag won easily with
his hands down. At the finish foul WAS
claimed and allowed, and another 70 :,
ordered by the judges, resulting in me-,
bitter feeling.
The crowd then adjourned 20 neigh
boring saloon, where the hOstilities were
blows and Rec was soon down and being
terribly pummeled when Mccoy, standing
near, leaned over the wrIthing combat
ants and cried TO Anderson, "Stay with
him, old boy, I'm your friend" at this
juncture Scalep Perry, who had ridden of
20 an adjoining house, returned % the
scene OF the melee and whipped out his
six shooter, first knocking Mccoy down
with its butt and then began his deadly
work with the business end of it. The
first shot aimed al Mccoy missed him, but
passed through the window Of the saloon
and struck Ef. Baxter, of Butte, infictinR
painful but lot fatal wound. The sec
Ond shot struck Mccoy ia the forehead
penetrating his brain and killing him al
most instantly. The third shot grsz-d the
top of the head of a man named FreddeII,
Of GeorgetowD, telling him to the ground
but producing only a scalp pound.
Perry then with yell uf defiance mounted
his horse and with a farewell shot 1lade
for the dense timber b0rd, ring tie lake,
hOtly pursued by the friends % the dead
Mccoy Escaping hot fusilaae the fugi-
tive plunged into the intricate mazes OF the
forest and eluded further pursuit When
last seen his little Indian pony was climb
ing the foot hills beyond the woods with
the speed and agility Of a mountain goat
and quickly disappeared over the range.
Sheriff Moore, OF Deer Lodge County and
pose are securing the country for the mur-
derer, but apparently with little chance of
etiecting his capture The murderer Is about
SS years OF age, wearing a large white hat
with large leather band around it. He has
a light moustache.
This evening about O'Clock four loggers,
among them the too Rice brothers, a brother
Of Perry, the murder, and a fourth whose
name is unknown. but who is known 70 be
the man who furnished Perry with the
murderous pistol, were brought 70 Ana
conda and jailed. They are charged with
completely In the murder and will have an
examination tDmUrroV