Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-12-01

Three are large ones, fully grown.
Then there's an odd ono there.
II shines between with mschievous
CLEAN.
Then three ''likc steps in a stair"
Aunt Louisa In Minneapolis Housekeeper.
A DESPERATE.
A company Of gentlemen sat in the
office of the Hotel Palomares in Pomona
the other evening waiting for late
train to Los Angeles Each one of the
party knew every one else, cigars were
freely passed around, and all we've en-
joying talk about early experiences OIL
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 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. 1t was my
business to visit new towns and settle
ments' ana wnen FOUND men OF capl-
tai IN them 10 induce them 10 go INTO
the lumber business ana puy OF the Chi-
cago concern. At that time Ogalalla,
OH the Union Pacific railroad, was ia
nous throughout the country as the
toughest place In the west. linen Dooge
Civ Kan. came into Draminence for
Its COWBOY episodes ana the rough,
tough ana desperate character OF large
portion OF IT'S residents. Ipassed mght
IN Dodge City IN Octooer, 1875, and
assure you That l came quickly TO the
conclusion that lie III any other town
would be tame and without excitement
IN comparison Win the pleasures that
place conid anord.
ON one side OF the railroad track
stood big oarhllke building called the
Americo- Mexican hotel, and ON the 9TH
er row OF ~ or ~ one story frame
houses, almost every one OF which was
barroom, with q gambling house at
tached. Over the doors hung such signs
as cowboys RETREAT, The Dlvan and
The Frontiersman' S 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 Tor 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 1t grow and pointed with pleas
ure to the fact that there was hardly
man taking his final rest there who had
not come to his death by violence.
1t was toward afternoon when l
halted my horse IN trent OF the Amerl-
CO Mexican hotel after Az milo ride.
Heavily armed men stood about i'll
groups. The looks thrown at me were
far from reassuring, but pretended not
TO see them and hastenod into the ho-
tel. Hardly had taken my seat in the
dining room when four men, evidently
forming delegation, approached me.
Ehey demanded TO know what brought
me to Dodge City IN way which left
me no alternative but TO answer. My
answers seemed satisfactory, and one OF
them informed me the reason OF their
curiosity. They had some idea that |
was a deputy sheriff and frankly told
me that II L had been l should have
been escorted oct OF town, as no gov
eminent ofhccrs We're wanted about
Dodge City that night. They further
informed me that there was to be che
Of the prettlest lynching bees III town
that night that had ever taken place
Ihree men had come to Dodge CITY
loweekS before ana had taken the town
by storm. They had made their head
quarters &C tavern almost opposite the
hotel and had levied a tax on every one
who entered. Anybody who objected to
paying or standing treat was beaten,
and when resistance was shown pistols
We're used Ten men had received death
wounds from these three men, and the
town mad 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 lntrenched IN the barroom
and refused to come out or allow any
one TO enter. 1t had been determined to
dlslodge them that night IN spite OF all
resistance, and 1 was invited to take
part In the affair. The men were named
Hank Martin, Jack Willis and Wat
Simmons and were desperate outlaws.
with large sums upon their heads.
just at dark the citizens or Dodge
city prepared for battle The attacking
parties were divided INTO two forces.
ono approached the point OF attack
irom the rear, while the larger number
marched up to the front. All the citi-
zens Wore handkerchlefs over their faces.
was IN the main body OF attackers, or
rather behind It, we were brought to
sudden malt by rife shot from one OF
Inc WINDOWS OF the besleged house, and