The herald., 1894-12-08
A DESPERATE.

office Of the Hotel Palomares in Pomona
Che other evening waiting for lato
train to Los Angeles. Each one Of the
party knew every one else cigars wero
freely passed around, and all were en-
joying talk about early experiences on
the frontier, and especially in southern
California, before railroads were built
In this region. The best story of the
evening was told by Colonel John Will
hanson, one Of the most important
orange growers in southern California.
From 1878 until 1875" he said,
II was engaged by Chicago lumber
company to travel through the country
from Denver to St. Louis to look up
openings for lumber yards. It was my
business to visit new towns and settle
ments, and when found men of capi-
tai in them to induce them to go into
the lumber business and buy Of the Chi
cago concern. At that time Ogalalla.
on the Union Pacific railroad. was fa-
nous throughout the country as the
toughest place in the west. Then Dodge
City, Kan, came into prominence for
its cowboy episodes and the rough,
tough and desperate character Of a large
portion Of its residents. Ipassed night
in Dodge City in October, 1879, and
assure you that came quickly to the
conclusion that life in any other town
would bo tame and without excitement
in comparison with the pleasures that
place could afford.
ION one side Of the railroad track
stood big barnlike building called the
America Mexican hotel, and on the 9TH
er row Of 90 or 30 one story frame
houses, almost every one Of which was
. barroom, with gambling house at
tached. Over tho doors hung such signs
as Cowboys Retreat, The Divan' and
The Frontiersman Delight Behind
the town, on top Of the hill, was the city
graveyard An immense cross stood at
the top of the hill and served as land
mark for travellers for miles and miles
across the barren prairies. That grave
yard was the pride Of every man who
lived in Dodge City. The inhabitants
watched it grow and pointed with pleas
ure to the fact that there was hardly q
man taking his final rest there who hac
not come to his death by violence.
''It was toward afternoon when I
halted my horse in front Of the Ameri-
co-Mexican hotel after q 40 mile ride.
Heavily armed men stood about in
groups. The looks thrown at me were
far from reassuring, but pretended not
to see them and hastencd into the ho-
tel. Hardly had taken my seat in the
dining room when four men, evidently
forming delegation, approached me.
They demanded to know what brought
mo to Dodge City in way which left
me- no alternative but to answer. My
shswers seemed satisfactory, and one of
them informed me the reason Of their
curiosity. They had some idea that l
was . deputy sheriff and frankly told
me that il I had been / should have
been escorted out of town, as no gov
ernment officers were wanted about
Dodge City that night. They further
informed me that there was to be one
Of the prettiest lynching bees in town
that night that had ever taken place.
"Three men had come to Dodge City
10 week. before and had taken the town
by storm. Thoy had made their head
quarters at a tavern almost opposite the
hotel and had levied q tax OH every one
who entered. Anybody who objected to
paying or standing treat was beaten,
and when resistance 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
the men were intrenched in the barroom
and refused to come out or allow any
one to enter. It had been determined to
dislodge them that night in spite of all
resistance, and ! was invited to take
part in the affair. The men were named
Hank Martin, Jack Willis and Wat
Simmons and were desperate outlaws,
with largo sums upon their heads.
"Just at dark the citizens Of Dodge
City prepared for battle. The attacking
parties were divided into two forces.
One approached the point of attack
from the rear, while the larger number
marched up to the front. All the citi-
zens wore handkerchiefs over their faces.
/ was in the main body Of attackers, or
rather behind it. We were brought to a
sudden halt by 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 ono OH our side drop
ped. At last small man slipped up in
the shadow of the adjacent building
and threw lighted can Of kerosene
under the building. Soon it began to
burn. At last it was enveloped in
Games, and the three men were obliged
to 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 tree stood
that had served several times as a gal
lows. A rope had been brought along,
and 1T was quickly thrown over q
branch, and everything was ready for
the hanging. It was at first intended to
dispose OF all three at the same time.
but there was not enough rope, SO it
was decided to hang one at time. Jack
Willis was the first to be strung up.
His end was hastened by dozen bull
let's, which were fred into the body
- 4 4 VWy y-A