The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-04
A PARADISE FOR mURDRRERs.
The Mining Region Where Punish
ment of Assassins Was Impossible.
From the Ferguson gNevo LODE.

Prom the Ferguson tNevN LODE.
Occasionally these dull times reminis-
cences of the past spring up around the
comfortable fresides of some OF the old
timers. One evening recently a reporter
man called at the house of a friend. At
least half dozen old timers were present
and the heroic and bloOdthirsty deeds and
the fast life in the early '70s were the
subjects of the evenings conversation,
Instead Of an expression of sympathy a
smile would take its place with the
speakers as they would recall the manner
in which Garry, Marion King, Court
ney, Levi, Cody and a host of others
would lay out either one of their own
gang or some innocent unfortunate, as is
the cases when the Hermese and Ray
mond q Ely gangs were at war and
human beings became murderers for a
compensation of $50 day. How even an
unfortunate woman met her doom at the
hands of one of the gang by means of a
knife and revolver because she refused to
continue to maintain a contemplate gam
bier in funds and luxury. One thing
CommenGable with a few of them was
that they would meet each other face TO
face if occasion demanded it. Courtney
and some others were of this class, but
the end which invariably comes to all
murderers in time came to many of
these. 1t was not long in coming to
Courtney, but his end was the most cow
ardly of all, having been approached
from behind and six balls sent into
his back before he had time to turn
around. The Woods and Mccarthy MUIR
der caused one Of the speakers to become
little excited as he narrated it. Wood
was murdered. Mccarthy had a knife
with 10-inch blade and drove it into
Woods from his head to his hips until
from loss of blood he could no longer
throw up his hands and then began to
stagger Then his murderer forced him
against the house and completed the work
of death.
One of the strangest things and Gus
toms of the early days was that no muir
derer would be punished. They would
commit the deed, give themselves up to
the law, only to be Immediately turned
free to carry on their villainous de-
structiOn "What man for breakfast this
morning2" was, as a rule, the first ques-
ton of every one. The very air itself
seemed to thirst for human blood in those
days. Even the children's greatest amuse-
ment was to get broomsticks and call
them knives, revOlvers and shotguns, and
use. several hours of each day in their
mock fights. There were women whose
wrath would occasionally get the better
of their good judgment, but they would
not resort to weapons a little vocal and
then heavy pugilistic exercise would
usually settle their little differences
There were two or three whose grit made
some of the braves of the day call for ice
water.
"There was one, were she in her prime
today the speaker went on to say, II
would match in the ring for any amount
against Corbett. Why, l once saw her
chastise a heavyweight of her sex, and
the manner in which she pummeled her
was sight. The boys formed a circle
seconds, referees, etc, were selected and
round one began, but that was the only
| round, and it was Of an hours duration
They were both gritty, but betting
was all on the one / mention mos,
prominently. 1t was decided draw, anC
Billy, sitting over there, " pointing to one
of the party, gathered up enough hair t.
make pillow, which believe he has il
use to this day. Isn't that so, Billy?"
Eyes, - was the reply.
Great times in those days, boys, and
| would like to see some of them again y