The Portland daily press., 1892-12-20
SOME ODD STORIES.

Days.
ICopyright. 1879. by American Press Associa-
tion.l
Billings Ford, out on the headwaters
of the Brazos, in northern Texas, is not a
place of note today, but twenty years ago
it was known only tohunters and frontiers
men, who at that time were gathered at
and about the Ford in great numbers,
called there by the rumor of great gold
discoveries.
For lew months the more sanguine of
these adventures believed that the dis
coveries of early California days would be
repeated in northern Texas, and that a
great city must speedily spring up on the
site of Billings Ford
With the first newcomers gamblers be-
gan to pour in like jackals attracted by
the smell Of blood. In tents more or less
ragged Grand Northern" hotels and Gu
reka" gambling and drinking saloons
were established.
Law there was none in that land at that
time-nor indeed is there much to be found
there at present--for every man went
armed. On getting up in the morning
one of these adventures might by chance
forget to put on his coat or his boots, but
by no possibility could he forget to put on
the belt containing his knife and pistols.
Men might live in that land for some time
without clothes, but there was a very gen.
eral belief--a belief that was invariably
acted on-thae he might suddenly die if he
had not pistol within easy reach.
It would be an error TO suppose that even
In the very worst of these frontier camps
and settlements honest, earnest men were
not to be found. This was certainly the
case at Billings Ford. Among the 200
Adventures drawn thither by the dis
covery Of gold in the sands of Comanche
creek was young man named Howard
Winton, a native of New Jersey, and a fine
looking, intelligent fellow, who had been
led into the lawless wilderness by that love
of adventure and novelty that is charac-
teristic of manly natures.
Howard Winton, although tenting with a
desperate and gambler named Florida, be-
cause he claimed to have been born in that
state, kept aloof from the gambling sa-
looms, never bet on cards, and on this ac-
count came to be regarded by many of the
Others as suspicious character, or, what
was worse as one who thought himself too
good for his associates.
Young Winton honestly searched for
gold, and he was the first to announce what
the others were at length compelled to be-
Iieve, and that was that the precious metal
was not to be found in paying quantities in
that part of Texas. Even this opinion add
ed to the young mans unpopularity, and
there were not wanting those who proposed
to invite him to seek other diggings or to
face the consequences.
just at this time the camp at Billings
4I- -. -
excitement. Florida was missing. A pool
of blood, the evidence of a struggle along
the bank of the river and Howard Win
toms hat trampled into the mud told of a
fight and gave clew to the disappearance
of the missing gambler.
Under such circumstances and in such
place men came to sudden conclusions and
acted upon them almost as quickly. Sus-
picion pointed both hands at Howard Win
ton. He protested that he had gone to
sleep alone in his tent the night before, and
that his hat at the time was under his sad
die. which served for a pillow. But the
men at Billings Ford reasoned, and per-
haps rightly, that the man who would
commit cowardly murder would not lie
to get out of it, and SO the accused man
was arrested. and as there was no Jail in
which to confne him his hands and feet
were secured by ropes, and for his further
safety two men, with revolvers in their
hands, were placed over him as guards.
A lynch court was at once convened. It
is unnecessary here to describe in detail
this travesty on justice. Suffice it to say
that from Doc Sweeney, who acted as
judge, to the jury and the temporary sher-
if every man connected with the farce was
either criminal who had fled from justice
or an ex-convict who had done time in the
older states.
Howard Wirton, though seemingly
friendless and with strong circumstantial
case against him, did not lose his head. He
pleaded his own case with GOODNESS and
skill that won the respect of nearly all
present, but he was powerless to change the
verdict which had been decided on before
tthe court" was convened.
He was found guilty of the murder of
Florida and promptly sentenced to death.
AS there were no trees in that part of the
tate large enough on which to hang man,
Doc Sweeney, in passing sentence, said:
we'll be 'bleeged to shoot you, primer
at the bar, but the court will give you from |
now till sunset to get Ia your prayers if you
think praying will do you any good"
Again protesting his innocence and ask
ing as last favor that his execution be
until the body of the missing
man was found, Howard Winton, still |
bound, was carried to his tent, and his |
guards held their cooked 'revolvers in their |
hands.
Just as the sun was turning to hills of
fire the cloud banks in the west the pris-
oner was led down to the bank of the river,
where six men, the executioners. were |
drawn up with rifles in their hands. Under |
a stunted cottonwood the young man could |
zee the red earth thrown up, and he knew
that it was his grave.
Doc Sweeney, who was present as master |
of ceremonies, wanted to blindfold the |
doomed man, but he asked as favor to
have his eyes uncovered.
~ am not afraid to look into the muzzIe
Of the rifles" be said.
He refused to kneel, and he was permit.
ed to let fall handkerchief as the signal
sor his death. He stood facing the rife
men, and he was about to let the handker-
chief fall when he heard the pounding Of |
flying hoofs along the bank, then wild |
cheer. The executioners had lowered their |
rifles, for the horsemen had refined in be- |
fore them. One was an Indian warrior; |
the other was Florida, his clothes torn and |