The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-03
SKELETON GULCH.
The Terrible Punishment OF Desperate
by Gold Seekers.

SKELETON GULCA
The Terrible Punishmeut OF . Desperate
by Gold Seekers.
It Is strange scene hero this August morn
ing in the camp on the upper forks OF tho Big
Cheyenne River. Dakota. with the Black Hills
looming up in tho west. There are six emf
grant wagons In camp-gold seekers and their
families hurrying to tho new FL Dorado. There
are half dozen horsomen besides. making
fourteen men In all. Breakfast has been pre-
pared and eaten. and thirteen OF the men are
sitting in a circle. The other occupies the
centre. tied hand and foot. The women and
children look on and speak in whispers.
Is 1t a trial by iury2 No. There is no need
OF trial Last night this man attempted rob-
berry. murder. and flight. Accident aided his
capture. and when he found himself baflled he
cursed tho companions with whom he had
travelled for many days and boosted that he
had meant to poison them all had not circum-
stances prevented. He is guilty on his own
admission. Ho is still cursing the luck which
betrayed him. He is to die. but howp That Is
tho point the counsel will decide. Llstenl
The leader OF tho party is speaking:
'Ail in favor OF shooting hold up the right
handl Six hands up. All in favor Of hanging
hold up the same handl Six. It's q tie. !
vote aRin both. Fake him up that ravine!'
The White Hills arc right hero to tho left.
and the mouth OF q dark and rugged gulch Is
only fifty rods away. Four stalwart men pick
the prisoner UP and carry him along. The
leader goes to one of tho wagons and secures
chains and tools and follows on. The prisoner
struggles and curses and reviles as ne is car
ried along. but no man replies to him. They
have not advanced forty feet into the gulch
before they are in twilight. Lanterns are
ffyhN AA and kl1yv n1N fNro h,,nI rNI
feet more. Neither sunshine nor the light OF
day has touched this spot since the creation Of
tho continent. 1t has been midnight hero for
thousands Of years. 1t is doubtful IL eyes
other than those OF sorpents and fierce wild
beasts have ever rested upon these wet and
Shiny rocks:
The men group about tho prisoner. who has
suddenly been awed to silence. and the leader
and uses 4 boulder tor an anvil as he rivots it
Then with cold chisel and hammer he works q
hole into rock projecting from the side. and
up and down and the hiss Of the serpent when
heard down here In this awful darkness but
never before the blows OF u hammer or the
wFFDsr dds suRs So aSs and shoot
So cries the prisoner as the men gathor be-
They hold up the lanterns 10 SEQ that he is
safely fastened and then turn their backs on
Nave mercy on mol Como back and shoot
They hear his voice and the clanking Of his
pleads for him. Thoy emerge into the sun
shine. bitch up their horses. take their PLACES
the rear wagon is out Of sight;
;, Up the eulch tho man stands listening, He
as oHe Sne with the tes
horse and the Shout Of q driver comes iaintiy to
only once. Then oil Is quiet. An hour ago his
eyes were BLAZING, with fury and his speech
now and his lips are SO dry that not whisper
could pass over thom.
, All! Is some son. {, one ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS enc who
the muzzle Of rcy2 2I to his broast and Kill
drir! drip drip! of the water MS 1t falls off the
shelf aboyo and strikes on tho rocky bed Of the
lin Samp ad SIes Sn
Hicks It to cool his parched tongue and feyered
lips. one at the mouth Of the gulch could hear
tries II link by ,link-as no sways to tho
right and a. left and puts forth the strength Of
realizes his utter helpiessness reaches the
trectops far above as they battle In the bright
sunshine. and he sinks down exhausted and
, Might has ,s come: New and then there Is Ia
spllu VI " HUMAN NOlce lhlkluS anu IHuHnlHp.
But for that ceaseless drip of water the soil
tude would be that pf tho grave. But for tho
Gulch to Investigate the strange sounds hoard
ut intorva IS the darkness would be that OF tho
first day OF creation. Listen
got away from them in tho darkness and
they can't find tho tral-ha. hn! ha! They
had money and WAS bound to have It! Did
the fools think was going to dig and dclvo
for gold In tho earth! I'd have wiped out tho
whole lot II | hadn't lost my bottle of poison
ha ha! ha!'
liaving,l Yes! Tho solitude and the dark
next day and tho next have driven, him to in
sanity He will live on for several days yet,
Those who oord KIM NAV narer ret n b
hunters and prospoctors and Indians will
stand here and cry out in horror at tho sight
No man will utter n prayer ovor it-no man
give It u burial. They will 20 away to speak
OF Skeleton Gulch" and to shiver about their
camp fires Us thcy recall its awful backnoss