Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-11-16
A DESPER ADO.

train 20 Los Angeles. Each one of the
party knew every one else, cigars were
freely passed around, and all wese en-
joying talk about carly experiences on
the frontier, and especially in southern
California, before railroads were built
in this region ThG best story of the
evening was told 10y Colonel John Will
Hanson, one of the most important
orange growers in southern California.
From 1919 until 1875, he said,
Il was engaged by Chicago lumber
company 10 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 20 induce them TO 90 into
the lumber business and buy of the Chi.
cago concern. At that time Ogalalla
Oh the Union Pacific railroad, was IA
nous throughout the country as the
toughest place III 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. passed night
in Dodge City in October, 1876, and /
assure you that / 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.
ION one side Of the railroad track
stood big balnlike building called the
America Mexican hotel, and on the 9TH
er row of 20 or 80 one story frame
houses almost every one of which was
a barroom. with gambling house at
tached. Over the doors hung such signs
as Cowboys Retreat, The Divan and
The Fronticrsmm 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 a Il 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 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 Amcri-
CO. Mexican hotel after 80 mile ride
Heavily armed men stood about IN
groups The looks thrown at me were
far from measuring, but | pretended not
TO see them and haStcEcd into the Ao-
tel Hardly had / taken my scat III the
dining room when four men, evidently
forming delegation, approached ne.
They demanded 10 know what brought
me 10 Dodge City in a way which left
ME 10 alternative but 10 answer. Ny
answers seemed satisfactory and one OF
them informed me the reason of their
curiosity. They had some idea that
was II deputy sheriff and frankly told
me THAT if / had been ! should have
been escorted out OF town, as 40 gov
eminent officers were wanted about
Dodge City that night. They further
informed me that there was to DO one
of the protticst lynching bees in town
that night that had ever taken place.
"Threc men had come 10 Dodge City
lOwreks before and had taken the town
by sto,m. They had made their head
quarters at tavern almost opposite the
hotel and had levied tax OH every one
who entered. Anybody who objected 10
paying or standing treat was beaten
and when resistance was shown pistols
were used. Ten men had received death
wounds from these three mon. and the
town had determined % set an example
TO all such characters by hanging the
three without ceremony Ii was not
easy however To accomplish this, as
the men were intrcnchCd in the barroom
and refused TO como out or allow any
one TO enter IL had been determined to
dislOdge them that night in spite Of all
resistance. and ! was invited 10 take
part in the affair. Tho men were named
Hank Martin, Jack Willis and Wat
Simmons and were desperate outlaws,
with large sums upon their heads.
Just mt dark the citizens of Dodge
City prepared for battle. The attacking
parties were divided into two forces.
One approached tho point of attack
from the rear, while the larger number
marched up to the front. All the citi-
zens wore handkerchicfso over their faces.
/ was in the main body of attackers, or
rather behind IL Wewere brought to a
sudden halt by r1ii9 shOt from one OF
the windows Of the besiegcd house, and
one of our leaders fell. Various means
were tried 10 dislodgc the three meB,
but to no purpose Every time the
slightest advance WAS made their rifles
rag out, and some one on our siae drop
ped, At last a small man slipped up ~
the shadow Of the adjacent building
and throw q lighted can Of kerosene
under the building Soon it began 10
burn at iast it was cnvclopcd in
flames. and the ti,Fts men were obliged
to rush for their lives. they wero half
blinded by tie heat ana sihohe Of the
Burning building 70 they wefs qdltlly
captured.
"rhen all the citizens of Dodge City.
non excepting the women and children.
formed ia line and marched down TO
rho cattle pens, where an old tree stood
that had served several times as gal
lows. a rope had been brought along,
aud If was quickly thrown over a
Branch, ana Cy0ythiug WA. ready for
The hanging. IL was at first intended TO