Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-10-02
A DESPERADO.

tTlln 10 LOS -4Ilr-e+cS- EACl Olle OI the party knew every one else, cigars were freely passed around, and all weEe en- toying talk about early experiences on the frontier. and especially ill southern California. before railroads were built i'll this region The best story of the evening was told by Colonel John Will liamson. one of the most important orange growers i'll southern California.
 From lS13 until IS7S," he said, II was engaged by q 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 mcntS, and when found men of capi- tai in them to induce them to go into the lumber business and buy of the Chi caCO concern. At that time Ogalalla. on the Union Pacific railroad, was fa- moCs throughout the country as the toughest place i'll 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. Ipassed night i'll Dodge City ill October, 1876, and l assure you that I came quickly to the conclusion that life in any 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 barHlike building called the Amcrico-McXi Xican hotel, and on the oth- CT q TOW of 20 or 30 one story frame houses, almost every one of which was a barrOom. with a gambling house at tached. Over the doors hung such signs aS Cowboys Retreat, The Divan' and The Frouticr<IHau' Delight. Behind the town, Oil top of the hill, was the city graveyard. An immense cross stood at the top of i!lr hill and served as a land mark for travellers for miles and miles across the barren prairies. That grave yard was tic ride of every man who lived i'll Dodge City. Tho inhabitants watched il gr0w and pointed with pleas urc tU tie fact that there was hardly q man takiH, his final rest there who had not come to his death by violence.
 1t was toward afternoon when halted u,y horse iI front of the Ameri co-NcX!c.n hotel after 10 mile ride. Heavily armed r!yu stood about ill gruI.Ie<. The l,p'ks thrown at me were far from rc.:~surins, but l pretcEded not to sJ;. tLc;n and haStcncd into the ho- tel. Hardly L...I I taken my scat i'll the dining room when fOur men, evidently forming a allegation, approached me. Tlivy dvrlaI,i,I Ia kEow what brought nlc to D,r.., City ill a way which left nlc ro alt. liatIVc but to answer. My answers seemed satisfactory, and one of them informed me the reason of their curiosity. They had some idea that 1 was a deputy sheriff and frankly told me that if l had been 1 should have been escorted out of town, as no gov ernmcut officers were wanted about Dodge City that night. They further informed ne that there was to be one of the prcttiest lynching bees ill town that night that had ever taken place.
 "Thrcc men had come to Dodge City l0weeks before and had taken the town Lv storm. They had made their head quarters at a tavern almost opposite the hotel and had levied a tax on every one who entered. Anybody who objected to paving 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. It was not easy. however, to accomplish this, as | inc mon Were intrGnChcd ill the barroom ! and refused to como ont or allow any one 10 enter. IL had been determined to l diSloGsu ii, III that night ill spite of all resistance, and l was invited to take | part i'll the affair. The men were named Hank Martin, Jack Willis and Wat i simmons and were desperate outlaws. with large sums upon their heads.
 ] Just at dark the citizens of Dodge 1 City prepared for battle The attacking | parties were divided into two forces. One approached the point of attack l from the rear, while the larger number marched ID to the front. All the citi. ! ZCnS Wore handkt rchiCfs over their faces. i Was ill the main body of attackers, ol | rather behind 1t. Wewcre brought to a sudden halt by rife shot from one oi the windows of the bcsieged house, and one of our leaders fell. Various mean: were tried to dislodge the three men,
 but to no purpose. Every time the slightest advance was made their rife: rang ont, and some one on our side drop
 ped At last small man slipped up il the shadow of the adjacent building and threw q lighted can of kerosene
 under the building. Soon it began tC ! burn. At last 1t was envelOped il ] flames, and the three men were obliged
 to rush for their lives. They were hal
 blinded by the heat and smoke of tn
 burning building, so they were quick,
 captured
 Then all the citizens of Dodge City
 not excepting the women and children
 formed i'll line and marched down t
 the cattle pens, where an old tree stoo' , that had served several times as gal lows A rope had been brought along
 and 1t was quickly thrown over
 branch, and everything was ready fo the hanging It was at first intended t
 dispose of all three at the same time but there Was not enough rope, so was decided to hang one at a time. Jacl
 wIiIIs was the nrsr to De strung ut
 His end was hastcned by dozen bul , lets, which were fired into the bod while it was still writhing Wat Sim
 mons was then disposed of.
 Next came the turn of Hank Martin
 and all held their breath when th
 boldest desperate known on the plair
 in those days was brought out Just {; the big, powerful fellow was led und, the tree he made sign that he wante
 to say something. The gag was remove
 from Martins mouth, and he said: "'If you will take this rope fro round my neck and slightly loosen the
 bonds, I will tell you men somethiI
 that will interest you all
 !. There seemed no danger, with = many on guard, so his request was COT
 piled with. When his letters we . loosened, he rose, stretched himself an
 began his speech:
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