Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1895-12-19

Highest i'll Ieavenng Power-Late Us Govt Report
R3H!A!!! q! Rs%as&F Rsk!aH&
ABSOLUTELY PURE

and blue calico dress, boots and spurs
!, typical frontier woman. Soon bun
come riding down the avenue
on II buck skin ponyat furious pace
and when almost opposite James shanty
shot ut her. She Immediately went TO
the rear of the house and with an oath
jumped on white horse in masculine
fashion, revolver III hand, and started
in pursuit., yelling like an lndaln. The
bull whackcr was the noted "Arkan-
saw" afterwards killed by the viglamts.
This was the first and last time ! ever
saw Clamlty Jane.
Abou, November l5, 1850, after the
time when an election should have been !
held FOR county officers, robberies were
frequent. The county was still unorgan-
lied and the citizens we're ,t the mercy !
Of thugs, robbers, gamblers, etc. The
reason WAS apparent. If am election
was held citizens would elect the ticket.
III the time went by November l the
governor would appoint all the officers.
This he did and they were mostly i'm
por,a,ions with The exception of Joseph
Reed and Major Icdwich, who where
appointed commissioners, but they
were Il minority of the board and were
helpless. Colonel George Ordway WAS
appointed Il member.
On the night of November L, .Jen
nings and Mclaughlin, who had a rest
aurant ut the foot of Pierre street, were
robbed about o'clock, Jennings being
nearly killed by ~ shot from one of the
robbers named Pock Marked Kelly, al
though no money vas secured.
This created great excitement among
the better class of citizens and lynching
was frequently talked of, the evidence
being very complete against Kelly, who
had Il bad reputation. a ,uan by the
name Of Arson Hilgci, q brother of
John Hllger, arrested Kelly and pro-
posed to lave him tried before the ter
ritorial court which would convene in
January. Ililgcr had IL store located
where the Pullman House now stands
aud kept his prisoner there. One day
Kelly tried to escape and would have
succeeded had not Anson Hllgcr used
his revolver pretty freely and stopped
him. Whca he started back TO the
store, in passing Il tent occupied by
two men, Bell and Baker, and about
fonr Amazons, Bell stepped out and dc
manded Anson's authority for arrcsting
Kelly. Arson replied, it was his right
us II citizen in the absence of any organ
izaiion in the county or officers.
Bell whipped out his revolver and
swolc he could not hold Kelly any long
cr. Kelly tricd to get away Anson
commenced TO pound him over the
head with the butt of his gun. BY this
time there were ten men al trying to
rescue Kelly from Anson. thought
every minute Anson would be shot and
had it not been for Long Joe there is no
doubt he would have been killed. Joe
Knocked Bells gun from his hand and
it was discharged in the air. Anson
was ovcrpowcrcd, and his gun, hat and
coat taken from him. Kelly escaped.
Arson walked away from the crowd
the bravcst man ever saw-rcmarking,
if the citizens of Pierre would not help
Him they were at the mcrcyof set OF
robbers anA cut throats, which was true.
That afternoon about twenty-five men
met as if by instinct in the Office OF
shack of Lawyer kincaid each man sign:
ninga paper joining Il lazy and order
league for self protection. In an hour
from the time of meeting eighteen men
marched down Pierre street without
masks, armed with shot guns, rifles, re-
yolrers and ropes, and notified Bell and
his female companions TO leave town in
thirty minutes, and they stayed will
them until their request was complied
with, and all others who were Ill Bells
class received the same notification
Twcnty-thrce toughs, gamblers and
their female companions were hustled
into boats and pushed from the shore
under the penalty of death should they
return.
The league met that evening III Il larg
cr room, which was crowded. Th.
organization was perfected by elcctinl
Anson Hilger rs captain.
The better element in Pierre breatlet
easier and Thoughts, gamblers, black-lcg.
and their ilk spoke in whispers. there
was sense OF security that MAJ
could go to the post Office after darl
without being robbed. The banks O
the river were patrolcd and word wa
: sent to Jim Doud, of Fort Pierre, wht
; was manager of the Fred Evans trans
portallon line, that "Arkansaw" and hi
companions, who were bull whacker