Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-02-18
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tinction OF the bloodiest of bloody
grounds, none other, with the possible
exception OF Sam Brown, ever attained
to such a pitch of eminence as Farme:
Peel, says the San Francisco Chroni-
Gle.
He came to Virginia City from Salt
Lake with n record of five murders.
Within a few years he had added rs
many more to his score, and his COM
paraLive youth and visor promised a
long continuance OF the harvest.
He was a singular character. When
sober ne was as mild and pleasant a
gentleman as one would desire 10
meet, but when in liquor ne was a de-
mon.
But drunk or sober, his instinct vas
to kill. Not that he wasquarrelsome,
but he bore the perilous title OF
aChief." and had to defend il agains.
all Corners, and ne vas sIud'ously are
full that no one should ever get the
drop on hun.
Thus, when FL Dorado Johnny, a
little Irishman who made precautions
TO being a bad man, arrived in Nir-
ginia CiGy, and incidentally inquired
IN Pat Lynch's saloon ii Ihere were
any Chiefs about
''You probably intend that remark
for me- said Farmer Peel, who
CHANGED to be within hearing.
"Any one can approprite 1t chat
likes" replied Johnny.
every well; we will settle it right
now" rejoined Peel. "Come out into
the middle of the street"
The guileless Johnny did as proposed
but Peel paused at the doorway, and,
az his rival turned TO see II he were
followed, fired a shot that stretched
him dead in his tracks.
Peel was never punished for any OF
these murders; in fact, he was neve:
arrested for them. They were con-
fined to a Class that the authorities
probably considered the more killed
OF them the bet ter. Atany rate, they
did not appear anxious to NEEDLE
with him.
But one day he got drunk and be-
haved so outrageously that there was
a general cutlery for his arrest, which
was accomplished by a large posse OF
officers and citizens with great diff
Guilty. He was taken before Police
Judge Davenport, who fined him 500.
Peel said he had not money enough
with him to pay the fine, but he would
get it, and the Judge allowed him to go
upon his own recognizance. The next
morning he walked into the room
while the court was in session, and adj
vancing close to the judge, said:
"Judge Davenport, I've come TO
sci Tie that fine"
Every WE'LL" replied the Judge, strok-
ing his magnificent beard with COM
placency at the subdued tone OF the
outlaw.
Thereupon Peel seized Davenport by
The whiskers with both hands, and
pounded his head against the wall I'M
Til he was almost insenslble. Hall a
dozen officers were in the court, but
they made no attempt to arrest the
ruffian. They knew him too well.
When he had done "wooling'' the
Judge he walked calmly out of the
court room, and that was the last OF
it. The fine had been settled.
Dan de guile, city editor OF the En-
terprise, however, took occasion to re-
view the whole career OF Peel in the
local columns of the Enterprise next
morning. He did not mince matters.
He pictured the character of che des-
perado in its true light, spoke OF his
misdeeds in the plain and forcible
terms they deserved, and called upon
the authorities to overcome this terror
md bring him to summary punish
The Article was so bold that Dams
friends we're alarmed, but 1t Is not
likely that he himself had given a
thought to its consequences. In spite
OF the gravity OF the situation the
printers, in the spirit OF hat familiar
ity which exists between the editorial
and composing rooms ofinterior news
paper offices, resolved to have some
fun at Dams expense; so, when he took
his seal at his desk that evening, one
OF them told him seriously that there
had been q party in several times dur
ing the day making inquiry for him.
Dan asked VINO it was. His inform
ant replied that he did not know for
certain, but hetbought it was Farmer
Peel a. his look and manne appeared
decidedly hostile. Dan applied him
self to his work without making any
comment. After his nights labor was
finished, without saying a word 10 any
one, he took a stlletto that he had
picked up somewhere as a curio, the
blade OF which was scarcely larger than
a knitting needle, and sticking 1t inside
the lapel OF his coat as You would a
pin, sailed forth from the Office.
He had accepted the printers state
ment in good iaith, and had made mp
his mind that if there was any hunt
ing to be done he would take a hand
in it himself. He did not know
Farmer Peel by sight, their lines never
having come together. By inquiry he
finally located him in a big gambling
house on c street. He entered the
place and asked the bartender to
point put Farmer Peel to him.
The obliGing youth indicated a
square-built, full-bearded man stand,
ing near M of the tables. Without
an instant's hesitation Dan approach
ed him and stood shoulder to shoulder;
then extending mis- left arm he pinioned
Peel to his side with the irmness of a
wise, while with his right hand he drew
the stilletto and held it to his throut,
"Iou are Farmer Peel, you not?'
said Dan.
81 am" replied the a%stonished des-
perado.
81 am Dan de guile, OF the. Enter
prise. l understand you are hunting
tor me. If there is any grudge we will
settle it right here"
"Ive not been hunting for you, but
I'll make it very warm for any one
who told you so if you will let me
know who it is. There's no hard feel.
ing on my part, ! assure you. On the
contrary, [ hold you in high respect
and esteem. You wrote nothing about
me but what was true and deserved
and | admire a man who is brave
enough to say publicly what he thinks
about a character like me-"
The desperate was sc manifestly
sincere that Dan released his hold,
Withdrew the stiletto and apologized
for his uncalled for behavior.