Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-02-25
NUMBER IS

Satuteo my ears, ana auued 10 the
wierdness of the scene. The tension
grew beyond endurance, and when two
hours had passed. 1 again attached the
horses to the wagon and went my way.
Thus all that night. the next day
and night, and the next day, reaching
Denver about nightfall. Aud there,
at length, found friendly assistance.
My brother had been member of the
Masonic fraternity, and the three or
four brethren of the order who then
were residents of the place, came to
my aid. Next day all that was mortal
of poor Edmond was laid to rest in the
village cemetery. with suitable rites
and decent attendance.
OF course, Immediately upon my ar
rival, told my story to the authori-
ties, the principal of whom was U. s.
Marshal Schaffenberg.
The funeral over. collapsed and
took to my bed, and lay under the doc
tors care for three weeks, at the
house of Frenchman named Charpiot.
can never be sufficiently grateful for
the kindness he extended to NE: TAX
ing me to his home and tenderly car
ing for me in my hours of pain and
delirum and convalescence.
And now l have to relate a singular
circumstance. The very next day af-
ter we left our camp in Kansas there
came a company of u. S. Cavalry un-
der command of lieutenant. follow
ing just one day behind us! If we had
deferred our departure to Saturday,
this sorrowful experience would never
have happened me. The company
proceeded by easy marches, from sta
ton to station, day by day.
Monday evening they arrived at the
station where The murderous blacks
were located, and Immediately ne
gro soldier asked to see the lieutenant
in private. Audience being given him,
he told how that day, about noon, as
he lay in his upper bunk in the dug
out" screened from view by his posi-
tion and the darkness of the interior,
there came in three of his comrades
quarrelling. Two were cursing the
third for having failed to kill his man.
and threatening vegeance upon him.
He replied in like spirit, aud as the
quarrel went on, the whole of the
mornings murderous transaction was
revealed to the unknown and badly
frightened auditor. The lieutenant
Immediately placed the accused in
irons, and they soon made full confess
sion. They had seen the S175 paid to
US by the stage agent, and that was
the incentive to the crime. But this
was not there first attempt. A month
or so previous they had waylaid and
killed two trappers in that vicinity
robbed, stripped and scalped them;
and when the bodies were found of
course the Indians got credit for the
murder. The three criminals were
taken to Denver, the company arriv-
ing three or four days after me. /
was then sick; but after my recovery
1 went to the Jail and identified them.
Then this Marshal Schaffenberg sent
for me. ! went to him and found him
playing cards and drinking with three
boon companions. Said he:
You want these rascals hung?
Very we'll! Pay me ten thousand dol
lars, and will have them turned over
to you to do as you please with them. "
1 was so surprised at such a propo-
sition from an officer that for minute
| was unable to answer. But ] then
told him | had no $4,000; I could
possibly raise $1,000 by the sale of
the outfit added to the sum in my pos
session. l said:
al expected the State to punish
them--not TO take vengeance into my
own hands; but, rather than have the
murderers of my brother 60 unpunish-
ed, I will pay $1,000 to have them
placed at my disposal. More | neith-
er can nor viii give.
Very good" said Schaffenberg; we
win turn the niggers loose, and let
them go where they please: and you
may do likewise!"
Then / left him, and made prcpara-
tfons to start home, in response to
daily kilograms and letters beseeching
me to return without delay. Ny rela-
tives feared for my life, and not with
out reason; in fact. did not venture
out at night. and in daylight was al
ways on my guard. schaffenberg,
when be found he could not bleed me,
began circulating the report that re-
fused to appear against the negroes,
etc. | thereupon published state
ment over my signature, OF the con-
versation that had taken place between
him aud me. He denied its truth.
and was backed by his three poker
companions. The reputable element
stood by me, but recommended eau