The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-02
HE WANTED TO SHOOT
Alex McCann Starts Out to Lay Page
Out Cold.
A CROWD OF BULLDOZERS
Their Insulting Actions Provoke
the Bartender, Who, in the
End. Severely Beats One
of the Toughs.
A CROWD OF BULLDOZERS

John Pages saloon at No. % East
Quartz street was the scene of an at
tempted murder and a bloody encount-
er yesterday morning, and the result of
the trouble was that the man who un-
dertook to do the killing came within a
very narrow margin of being killed
himself. He was fearfully beaten up,
and If he RECEIVERS. as he probably will.
he will always carry with him striking
mementoes of his experience with a
mad Butte bartender. The engagement
was a lively one while IT lasted, and the
bartender owes his life to a streak OF
good luck, which, II IT continues TO fol-
low him, will insure him a death from
natural causes.
About o'clock yesterday morning
Alex Mccain and five other fellows en-
tered the saloon in a body and at
tempted to work the bartender, James
Page, who rs no relation to the pro-
prietor, for drinks Page explained that
he did not own the stock of liquors and
that he had conscientious scruples
about giving them away in wholesale
quantities. The visitors replied that II
the proprietor was there he would set
up the drinks, and the bartender told
them that they could wait until he ar
rived, and then they would be good and
thirsty. After few more remarks one
of the gang invited his fellows up to
the bar and the drink-mixer, supposing
that he had the money to pay for them,
filed their orders. When the drinks
had disappeared the man who had or
dered them refused ITO settle, and Page
walked out from behind the bar to
throw him out. McCann took up his
friends fight and grappled with Page.
Although Mccain was nearly twice as
II, \ I'D
himself to be the better man Of the
two with his fists and Mccain beat a
haSty retreat, after receiving a few
well-directed blows. AS he went out OF
the door he shouted to Page: TIL fix
you, you -; I'm going to come
back here and kill you"
At Z o'clock John Page, the proprie-
tor, arrived, and James Page started to
go home. AS ne was going out of the
door he met McCann coming in. Nc
Cam had Colts Al in his right hand
and he was in such hurry to reach the
bar that ne did not notice the man at
the door until Page put himself very
much in evidence. The instant the lat
ter saw The gun he made "A grab for IT.
and as he did so Mccain raised the
gun, apparently TO fire at him. The
gun was Of the double-lction style, and
as he elevated it he pulled the trigger
Page made a desperate grab for the re-
volver, and as his hand closed around
it the hammer dropped on his thumb
| which, prOvidentially for him, had fall.
en- between the hammer and the cart
| ridge. Page then frightened his grip OF
| the gun and kept his thumb just where
| it was in order to protect himself from
| bullets. Mccain snapped the gun re-
| peatedly, but only had the doubtful
satisfaction of drilling a hole in Pages
thumb. Page quickly threw Mccain
| down and proceeded to punch him en-
erget1cally with his free hand, and the
proprietor assisted him heartily as SCOT
| as he could mix in. They used his owT
| gun on his head and dubbed him with
| out mercy, and If officers Anderson anC
Baldisero had not arrived just wher
| they did. 1t would have gone even hard
err with MoCann.
All three of the men were arrested
| and taken to the city JAIL Mccain be-
| ing conveyed there in a hack. He wa
| horribly beaten up, and his head looked
| as though a dozen men had kicked /
| and jumped on IL until they were tired
| He had two long gashes on the RICH
| side of his head and a hole in his lief
| cheek, which injuries were evidentl!
| made by gun or steel knuckles. DR.
| McCrimmon sewed up the cuts anC
| dressed his other wounds, after which
| he was removed to his home. A charge
| of threatening to kill was entered
| against Mccain and the two Page
| were charged with assaulting him will
pair of steel knuckles and a gun
They were all released on bonds of $25
1