Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-10-05
A DESPERATE.

the other evening waiting Tor late
train to Los Angeles. Eacn one OF the
party knew every one else, cigars were
freely passed around, and all wcs9 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 1873 until 1878, he said,
81 was engaged by Chicago lumber
company TO travel through the country
from Denver TO st. Louis TO look up
openings for lumber yards. 1t was my
business to visit new towns and settle
ments. and when | found men Of CAPT
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 IA
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 large
portion of its residents. Ipagsed night
in Dodge City in October 1876, and
assure Won that | came quickly to the
conclusion that life iu amy other town
would be tame and without excitement
in comparison with the pleasures that
place could afford.
"On one side Of the railroad track
stood a big barniike building called the
America Mexicam hotel. and on the 9TH
er a row Of ~ or 80 ono story frame
houses, almost every one OF winch was
a barroom, with a gambling house at
tached. Over the doors hung such signs
as COWBOYS Retreat, The Divan and
The Frontiersman' Delight. Behind
the town, on top Of the hill, Mas 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 praifies That grave
ward was the pride Of every man who
lived in Dodge City. The inhaI4'3nts
watched it grow and pointed with pleas
IRE TO the fact that there was hardly q
man taking his final rest there who had
not come to his death by violence
1T was toward afternoon when
halted my horse III front Of the Amerl-
co-Mexican hotel after 40 mile ride.
Heavily armed men stood about III
groups. The looks thrown at me were
far from rcassuring. but ! pretended not
to see them and hastcncd into the ho-
tel. Hardly had / taken my seat ~ the
dining room when four men, cyldehuy
forming n delegation, approached 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 satisfactory. and one OF
them informed me the reason ~ fAtr
curiosity. They had some idea that
was q deputy sheriff and frankly t0ld
me that if | had been / should have
been escorted ont Of town, as no gov
eminent officers were wanted about
Dodge City that night; They further
informed me that thcro was 20 be one
of the pretticst lynching bees IN town
that NIGHT that had ever taken place.
"Throe men had come 10 Dodge City
1Owecks before and had taken the town
by storm. They had made their head
quarters at tavern almost opposite the
hotel and had levied q tax o1t every one
who entered Anybody who objected 10
paving or standing treat was beaten,
and when Resistance. WAS shown pistols
were used Ten men h,d received death
wounds from these thrco t''ii. ana the
town had determined 90 set an csanple
TO all such characters by hanging tbc
three without ceremony. 1t was not
easy. however to accomplish this, as
the men were intrenched IN the barroom
and refused to come out or allow any
one 10 enter 1t had been determined 10
dislodee them that night in spite OF all
resistance. and / was invited 20 take
mart in the affair. The men We're named
Hank Martin, Jack Willis and Wat
Simmons and were desperate outlaws.
with large sums upon their heads.
''Just ut dark the citizens CT Dodge
CITY prepared for battle. Tho attacking
narties were divided into two forces.
one approached the point Of attack
from the rear, while the larger lumber
marched up TO the front All the citi-
Gems wore handkerchief over their faces.
yyas in the main body ~ attackers, or
,.otbcr behind il. We were brought to a
sudden halt by a rife SHOT troiu one Of
the windows Of the bcsifgcd house, y44d
ono Of our leaders fell. Various means
We're tried to dislodge the three men,
but 70 no purpose Every rimo the
SLIGHTEST advance was made their rifles
rang out, and some one On onr side drop.
ned. At last small man slipped up in
the shadow Of the adjacent bulsiWg
and threw lighted 'an Of kerosene
under the building. Soon it began to
burn. At last it VIZ envelopcd in
flames and the three men were obliged
10 rush for their lives. They wcrc half
blinded by the heat an smoke Of the
burning building, so tha were quickly
captured.
"Then all the citizens d Dodge City.
not excepting the women mo eniidren'
formed i'm limo and mardled town 10
the cattle pens. whcrc an ed trcc stood