Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-11-15

chief orange growers Of southern Cal
lfOrnla, according to correspondent
of the New York Sun, told an interest
ing story OF his experiences with a
prominent character of the laWIess
days OF Dodge City, Kan. He passed
a night there in the fall of 1876.
ON one side of the railroad track
stood a big barn-like building called
the AmericO-Mexican hotel and On the
other a row of 20 or 80 one-srory frame
houses, almost every one a bar-roOm
with gambling house attached. Over
the doors hung such signs as Cow
boys Retreat The Divan' and The
FrOntiersman's Delight Behind the
town On top of hill was the city
graveyard. An immense cross stood
! at the top OF the hill and served as
landmark for travellers for miles and
miles across the barren praries. That
graveyard was the pride of every
| man who lived in Dodge City. The
! inhabitants watched it grow, and
pointed with pleasure to the fact that
there was hardly a man taking his
final rest there who had not come to
his death by violence.
1T was toward afternoon when |
halted my horse in front Of the Amer
icO-Mexican hotel after a 4O-mile ride.
Heavily armed men stood about in
groups. The looks thrown at me were
far from reasSuring, but l pretended
not to see them and fastened into the
hotel. Hardly had l taken my seat in
the dininS-rOOm when four men, EVIL
IDENTIFY forming Il delegation, approach
ed me. They demanded to know what
brought me to Dodge City in a way
which left me no alternative but to
answer. My answers seemed satisfac-
tory, and one Of them informed me the
reason Of their curiosity. They had
some idea that l was a deputy sheriff,
and frankly told ME that if 1 had
been l should have been escorted out
Of town, as no government officers
were wanted about Dodge City that
night. They further informed me
that there was to be one of the pref
test lynching bees in town that night
that had ever taken place.
Three men had come to Dodge City
10 weeks before, and had taken the
town by storm. They had made
their headquarters at tavern almost
opposite the hotel, and had levied
tax on every one who entered. Any
body who objected to paying or stand
ing treat was beaten, and when resist
ance was shown pistols were used.
Ten men had received death wounds
from these three men, and the town
had determined to set an example to
all such characters by hanging the
three without ceremony. 1t was not
easy, however, to accomplish this, as
the men were intrenched in the bar
room and refused to come out or to
allow any one to enter. 1t had been
determined to dislOdge them that night
in spite of all resistance, and was in
vited to take part in the affair. The
three men were named Hank Martin,
Jack Willis and Watt Simmons, and
were desperate outlaws with large
sums upon their heads.
Just at dark the citizens of Dodge
City prepared for battle. The attack
ing parties were divided into two
forces. One approached the point of
attack from the rear, while the larger
number marchd up to the front. All
the citizens wore handkerchiefS over
Their faces. was with the main body
of attackers, or rather behind it. We
were brought to a sudden halt by a
rifle shot from one of the windows
| Of the besieged house, and one of our
| leaders fell. Various means were tried
to dislodge the three men, but to no
purpose. Every time the slightest
/ advance was made their rifles rang
out, and some one on our side dropped.
At last small man slipped up in the
shadow of the adjacent buildings and
threw lighted can of kerosene under
the building. Soon it began to burn.
! At last it was envelOped in flames,
and the three men were obliged to
make a rush for their lives. They
were half blinded by the heat and
! smoke of the burning building, so they
were quickly captured.
! Then all the citizens Of Dodge City,
not excepting the women and children
formed in line and marched down to
the cattle-pens, where an old dead
tree stood, which had served several
times as a galloWS. A rope had been
: brought along, and it was quickly
thrown over a branch, and everything
! was ready for the hanging. 1t was
at first intended to dispose of all three
at the same time, but there was moi
) enough rope, so it was decided to hang
one at time Jack Wallis was the
first to be strung up; his end was
fastened by a dozen bullets, which
were fired into the body while it wa:
still twrithing, Wat Simmons was
then disposed Of.
Next came the turn Of Hank Martin
and all held their breath when thu
boldest desperate known on the plains
in those days was brought out. Jus
as the big. powerful fellow was LEI
, under the tree he made a sign tina
he wanted to say something. The ga:
! was removed from Martins mouth
, and he said
: IF you will take this rope from
round my neck and slightly loesel
these bonds, 1 will tell you men some
thing that will interest you all.
There seemed no danger with S
I many on guard so his request was com
- piled with. When his letters wer
+ loosened he rose, stretched himsel
. and began his speech
"'You are a set of Villains b