The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-01
TOUGHEST TOWN IN THE WEST
That Was Newton, Kansas, in the
EarIN Seventies.

Ahat was Newton, Aunsns, in the
Early Seventies.
From the Philadelphia Times.
Los Angeles. Cal.-"The toughest, Gus
sedest wild west town ever knew" said
Buffalo Bill once, was Newton, Kan, as
it was in the early seventies. Dodge City
and Mason Junction used to figure in the
newspapers as the typical tough towns on
the border, but Newton could give cards
and spades on wholesale depravity and
recklessness."
Newton to-day is wide awake. enterpris-
ing and peaceable and the citizens know
only by tradition of the scenes of blood Of
the early days. 1t has a handsome opera
house, costly and imposing county build
ings hundreds of pretty homes, wide ave-
nues of residences, long commercial streets
and prosperous wholesale and manufactur-
ing concerns
In the spring of>1S71 the terminus of the
santa Fe railroad was at Emporia 1t was
determined to build to a point seventy
nNe miles further west The object was TO
eaten eaten me Iexas cattle trade: TWO men
went ana camped on the spot in April, 1871
mere was not foot of lumber then in
what IS now Harvey county, Kan. These
men were the pioneers of the town that
capt John sebastian afterwards named
Newton. Six weeks later there was a popu-
lauon of nearly 1900. The history of the
a
OF laWlessness and bloOdshed that has
probably never been eoualed on this con-
tinent. although other places mining
camps and cattle towns have kent nm the
music or the pistol a greater length of
time. As soon il became known that New
ton was to be the end of the railroad for
year. and 1t was to be a cattle shipping
point, whisky sellers, gamblers and thieves
hocked there by hundreds. Of course many
respectable men seeking a legitimate bus
mess Went there, too, but the object of the
apT nsaVeN 20, 81
cowboys and cattlemen.
tor months it was a neYer-ending battle
between these lawbreakers on the one side
ana the men who knew no law on the
other From first to last thirty-six per-
sons We're killed with their boots on. At
least a dozen gambling houses were RIM
on the main street, and the doors We're
Kept open day and night including Sur
day One of them, the Gold Room. -"
was capable of holding 500 to COO peoD;e
Every known kind of gambling was prac-
tsed A scene occurred in this place one
Sunday night that is not often witnessed
A Methodist preacher went to the boss
of the place. Doc" Thayer. and reoues;
ed permission to hold divine service. II
was granted, and with every gambling
table running and the bar sending out its
uqulu neil the preacher, the Rev Mr..
Hahn, stood UP and told the story of the
Man of Nazareth. Before he had finished
ms sermon a quarrel arose at one of the
card tables and a man was shot.
II IS not intended to give a detailed &C
count OF the murders. If a gang of cow
ton would set their guns going, and 90
| ing to kill bond election was held
Several special constables were appointed
Tor electlon day. One of them was a Tex
an named Martin. At the polls there was
quarrel between him and a big Irish
man, who called himself McCluskey, bur
whose real name was Arthur Delaney
Inc result of that quarrel was the death
OF elght men and one woman and the
M DIoUtidiI OF an equal number. After the
elecuon was over McCluskey and Mar
TN met IN the Lone Star saloon and re.
neWed the quarrel. A proposition was
made and accepted to go out on the street
ana settle 1t with the fist. Both men
lad OF their belts and started for the
street. Martin had gun hidden in his
Doot, ana Just IS the door was reached
ne Meht down after IT, intending to kill
the freshman McCluskey was too quick
LOT hl1n and, taking the gun away from
Martin, shot him dead. McCIuskev gave
himself IN and was acquitted.
Martin had host of friends, and they
vowed vengeance on his slayer His
death led TO what has always been known
as the big killing" in Newton. There
We're three dance halls across the railroad
track IN what was known as Hyde
fark- In one of them the big killing
occurred. McCluskey was a hanger on
at one of them Martins friends swore
they would Kill him and all who took his
part. Inc engagement took place accord
ing TO programme. McCluskey was killed
early IN the fray. He had two holes
through his neck and enough lead WAS
scattered about through his body to
make any one who discovered his grave
imagine that he had struck a navineg Load
nine. A man on the McCluskey side shot
| nine of the long-horn crowd, and did it
IN novel way. Knowing that the fight
would occur, this man. Riley by name
went prepared TO make himself felt. lie
had four siX-shOoters on him. At the
first pop of a gun he deliberately walked
up to Texan and shot him in the eye
then running his arms between the arms
and body of the dead man. made hu-
man barricade and Slot at will from q
safe ambush. After the fight he went out
mounted mo a horse and left. The dead st
| the big killing" were speedily disposed
of, and the wounded taken care Of
NIKE F1tzpatrick kept a dive that he
tracked until his money was gone. Some
of the decent people were bold enough to
protest against his robberies, among 9TH
erS prominent merchant Mike did not
| like any interference with his business,
and one morning he primed himself with
more of his vile whisky than usual and
sought, but he happened to be out of his
store. Mike went up the street threaten
ing everybody and walked into saloon.
mere ne saw the c.tys ponce Judge,
George Halliday. and, without the slight
est proVocation or warning, he shot him
/ through the heart. The marshal, Jack
Johnson, had been advised that Mack was
on a raid, and started to capture him.
Seeing Nike coming out of the saloon,
Johnson rested his Winchester rifle on the
Well curb and shot him down.
That wax Newtons last killing. An
hour afterward the citizens had formed
league and the suspicious characters were
notified TO leave. They left
Tom Carson, nephew Of Kit Carson,
was sent for at one time and came 10
I take the marshalship OF the town. He
stayed three weeks. The toughs had II In
for him. and to save rs life he skipped.
wild Bhl' q. n. HickoXl tried 10 be
marshal He couldn't do H. Marshal King
was killed In the discharge OF his duties.
DIR. Chrysander. for many years the
Nf.sFrs