The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-28
BAD MEN AT MERCUR.
FEATURES or LIFE AT THE NEW
UTAH MINING CAMP.


Etiquette Enforced-Bm Tauner and Buff
faIo B~iI-Unique Boarding House Keeper
Mercur, the new mining camp 80 miles
south of Salt Lake City, which, by reason
Of the peculiar character OF its ore, has
been called the Johannesburg of America,
Is already assuming the characteristic OF
the typical western mining town. AL
though the place is scarcely three months
old, IL has a population of 3 1000, and min
ers from all over the west are pouring In
daily. Among them, of course, are some
of the tough characters who drift from ono
scene of excitement TO another, and Mer-
cur has its share with Creole, Cripple
Creek and other now camps.
An impression has gone abroad that the
bad man has lived his day, but such is
not the case by any means. While he has
been toned down TO a certain extent he Is
still in the land, and although his CONVEX
sation has improved TO a certain extent no
Is just as dangerous as ever when crossed.
The "hyars'' and "thars" of the old
frontiersman are no longer In his vocabu-
larry, but improved rovolyers continue In
fashion, with a change In the style OF
wearing tho arsenal ON the outside. II Is
no longer the thing to exhibit the butt OF
a weapon. The proper caper Is the con-
cealing OF the same underneath tho coat
and just outside the waistcoat.
Merour hasn't had a killing yet, save
one or two In the mines, but this condi-
tion Of affairs Is not the fault OF Jack
Scott, who at one time was city marshal
OF Telluride, Colo, when hat town was a
warm location for "a tenderfoot. Jack has
q couple of notches on the handle OF his
shooting iron, carved there while he was
acting in his official capacity, and OF
Christmas night he sought 10 add another.
1t was In one Of the Is saloons which flour
ish In the town, and Jack was full Of the
liquids dispensed under various titles.
His aim was bad, n ms u result Jim
Campbell Is nursing q broken thigh bone
instead OF ornamenting a new made come-
terry. Jack claims it was an accident,
and, considering his past record as n good
shot, this appears TO be a fact.
There are NJ officers In Merour, and IL
required IA deputy marshal from the city
TO get him before the nearest justice, who,
with "a degree of legal acumen refreshing
In the extreme, fined the shooter S25 and
costs. Jack is nothing II not generous,
however, and Is paying tho doctors bills
for his victim and declares he will restore
him TO sound condition IL no has To sell
every foot of ground he owns.
Bailey Young Is a gambler who at one
time killed "a man at Lcadville. He Is
dealing faro at Mcrcur and making n good
thing OF 1t. Young declares he wants To
kvc in peace with his fellow man and
abandon the slaughtering business, but q
few nights ago, when Gn outsider attempt
ed to copper" a stack of whites belong
Ing TO one Of tho players, he playfully
slashed of a couple OF the fellows fingers
with a bowie. Since that time bettors
and players in Young's joint make sure
they arc playing their own chips.
Bill Tanner, who is known all over the
west as an OK government scout and q
man who at ono lime made Buffalo Bill
throw his hands over his head, is a mem
Der of the fraternity at Merour. Bill Is
n OF tho mildest hammered men who
ever looked over the barrel Of a gun. Ho
Is n terror, though, when aroused, and
when q wild and woolly stranger from
Phoebe, New, happened into the camp a
night or two ago, and threatened to wipe
the location of the map, Bill extended IN
invitation TO begin at the place where he
was doing business. The bad man began
by shooting out a light, accompanying
this demonstration with a series OF yells
which resembled a cross between the wall
of u dying Pah-Uta and the exultant howl
of a coyote who has discovered a lunch.
Bill sized him up, and with the remark,
"You wouldn't dare shoot mt a man."
seized him by the collar, took the pistol
away from him and traded il off to the bar
tender down stairs for IA round Of drinks
for the house, not emitting tho owner Of
the gun. The fellow rode away that even
ing.
Tanner Is n man with a history. His
true name Is not known. Those who know
him best say he served with distinction In
the war; that no was discharged with the
rank Of major, and that his regiment camo
from the state Of New York. He started
west during the mining boom of Nevada
and made u couple Of fortunes, one OF
which no bestowed On his mother and sis
ter, who live somewhere in the northern
portion Of the state. The other he spent
upon himself, IN he Is now accommodating
a third, which he declares will be used in
making his last days on earth comfortable.
He was with General Clusters command
for n long time, and was valued highly by
that unfortunate officer. Tanners expert
enco with Buffalo Bill was Mt Newton,
Kan, when that town was the terminus
of the Santa Fc. There was n row on hand
In which u friend of Tanners was en-
gagged, and no was on the spot to sec fair
play. Cody came In and attempted to stop
the proceedings, declaring that he would
shoot the first maj who made n move.
Tho next second saw him looking down
the barrel of tanners .f5. Cody is no fool,
and took water.
Jack McNally, another New Yorker,
who hadn't been In thu States for 20 years
up to the Saturlay when Utah was ad,
mitted into the Union, is another inhabit-
ant of Mcrcur. Old Jack Is as homely as
an Egyptian statue, but q good old man
withal. He Is absolutely devoid of fear,
and he won his reputation by getting
away with a man named Campbell In
Elko, Nov, many years ago. Campbell
was a big follow, while Jack Is n small
man. The former took q cowardly advan-
tage Of a friend of Jacks and shot him In
the back with n double barrelcd gun load
ed with goose shot. McNally waited until
the man had reloaded the gun, and then