The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-14
|DLOODSHED IN ALABAMA
II Grew Out of the Capture and
Rescue Of Moonshiner
Sims.
Tho Outlaws Son Killed While
Assisting in His Fathers
Release.
Enother Badly Shot by His Brother
Through Mistake and Then Hanged
by an InfurlAted Mob.

by An Infurlated Mob.
Monrrr, Ala, Sept. 1.-THE details Of
the bloody state of affairs existing In Ala
bama over the capture and rescue of Bob
Sims, ths noted outlaw and moonshiner,
read like romance. The trouble origin
ntsd through the bungling of Deputy
United States Marshal w. B. StriblinR.
On Wednesday about two weeks ago
Etribling started out from Rladon Springs,
small summer resort, thirty-three miles
from the Sims residence, to arrest the
moonshiner and seize his still. He had
eleven we'll armed men with him, including
Capt. r.. M. Hearon, an sx-marshai. Ihe
nrrest WAS effected without difficulty. Sims
made no resistancs. He spnt twics in
Stribling's face, however, and Obliged the
men to carry him to the wagon. He was
taken at once to Bladon. Stribling IN
tended to take his prisoner to Mobile by
the boat, which passed by on Friday. This
was the shortest and easiest route, the
nearest railway and telegraph office being
forty miles distant. Sims WAS confined to
ono of the cottages belonging to tho hotel.
His guards were +. j. Dalburgh and +. w.
Curry. Ed Long, another guard, was sta
toned ON the gallery of the hotel. On
Thursday everything was quiet, the vigl-
lanoe of the guards was relaxed, and only
one remained on watch. In the afternoon
Neil and jim Sims, brothers of the outlaw,
snd his son, Bailey, with oneIor two moro of
his followers, came into town. They an
nounoed that they were going down to
Mobile ON the boat in order to effect Bob's
release on bond. Jim Sims, in speaking to
deputy said: "We're going to do the best
we can for him. This deputy, J. J. Flint,
informed Marshal Stribling that the Sims
crowd were heavily armed and that extra
precautions should be taken or there would
bs trouble. Stribling is said to have told
Flint that he was running the affair and
knew his business. The sequel shows, how
ever, that in this he was mistaken. There
being only one guard over the outlaw, and
the way to liberty seemingly easy. the Sims
outfit determined to rescue their leader.
And they did. :,
lape were reused by the quick firing Of
shots. In few minutes crowd of forty
men had gathered near the hut where the
outlaw had bsen confined. But 1t was too
late The rescue had been effected and
Bob Sims was at large. In the hut whore
hs waa imprisoned had been seated his
guard, Dalburgh, and DR.. A. T. PuRh. a
Young and popular physician. They were
eating watermelon. Suddenly looking mp
they observed three forms in the doorway.
Recognizing tho three Sims both DalburRh
and Pugh started to their feet, knowing
full we'll that rescue was meant. Before
they could reach for their guns three shots
rang out and they dropped in their tracks.
Pugh was killed instantly, being shot
through the heart. Dalburgh was fatally
Id HpN %tn nautx xun0N
was hurried out into the street and a few
yards further on he jumped on horse
and galloped away in the darkness. The
half dozen or more of the Sims gang
made short stand outside the hut to ena-
Bile Bob to get clear and then made a break
for their horses. By this time guards, dep
uties and citizens wero on the spot and q
short battle snsued. The Sims gang backed
away as rapidly as they could toward their
horses. But all of them did otreach their
animals. Bailey, the younger son OF out
law Bob, WAS killed. Several others were
wounded. One citizen, negro, was killed,
and few wounded. but it was luckily too
dark to do good shooting.
On reaching their horses the Sims outfit
mounted and galloped away, followed by
the deputies and citizens. dim Sims was
about the last one to go away. He was
we'll mounted and soon caught up with the
bows ahead. When within twenty yards of
them, however, he was shot twice by Neil
Sing, who mistook him for one of the pur-
As he fell to ho gS g5ounS ao from the
shot ns!' Neil turned back and in an in
stant had his arms around the man sup
porting his head. my brother, my broth
er, what have I done?" he said. But the
pursuers were close upon him. Jim urged
him TO fly. II am done for" he said. "but
you must go on to help save Bob and the
boys" Jim gave him his gun and they
kissed one another. The next minute Neil
had remounted and amid n storm of bullets
was once more on his way to the hills:
The pursuing party oams .a W. up with r. jim
put into room and John Flanders was
placed as guard over him. The agony he
suffered from his wounds was such that he
prayed his guard to end his misery by
shooting him, The miserable fellow. after
much persuasion, 1elnetantly pulled out ms
revolver and shot at Jim twice as Le lay
writhinR on the floor. His shots showed
the effects Of nervousness, for they did not
kill. Jim exclaimed, you're poor marks
man." and tainted. The shooting had
startled the already excited citizens, and
other rescue. Indignation ran high at the
guards action, for the throng wanted to
keep Jim to hang him. A doctor was sent
for and he found five wounds, none of
which wore pronounced fatal. Jim's arm
was broken, his cheek was pierced, and 81
right breast by the proximity of three bull
let holes. The crowd would not allow the
Doctor to set the arm or dress the wounds.
by their orders he WAS left alone in the
bare room, suffering excruoating agonies,
groaninR and praying for water.
The deputy marshals, deputy sheriffs and
citizens organized themselves into vigi-
lance committee. The citizens generally
were furious at the killing of DR.. pugh, an
entirely innocent man, who had nothing
whatever to do with any of the Sims people,
or even the authorities. The vigilance com
mittec decided at their midnight meeting
to wreak vengenae on the wounded man.
now prisoner in their hands. Al day
break a two-wheel OK cart was driven to the
hotel door. Jim Sims, suffering indiscriba'
BILE agonies and slowly bleeding to death
was placed in it 80 roughly that he tainted
from sheer pain. motley procession was
formed and marched toa large live oak
tree Il short distance from the town. Here
rope WAS thrown over limb, loop put
around tho wounded mans nook and he
was told TO prepare for death. Give mo =
gun" hS said, land fair show. and weak
as am l will lick the whole of Bladon.'
When the lyncheis attempted to bandagt
his eyes he said: Don't do that. Are yor
afraid to look mo in the eyes like menr'
uh;u ayaanarutad tha crnxy1 aud tha