The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-02-10

equally fatal effect. With the con.
cussioa the candle went out aud q
third shot, directed atS Haines, sped
to its mark in tho dark The bullet
passed through the tent walh imme.
diately behind where Haines had
been sitting. He had fortunately
thrown himself on the hoor, thus es-
Gaping the bullet intended for him.
Pierce had, meanwhile, jumped be-
hind some boxes, ranged on the other
side of the tent. 81.
The desperate cowboy, believing
he had killed Haines, aeWeA as Call
and Lee, walked calmly to tree
about ten PAGES distant and waited
for chance at Pierce. Some twigs
on the branch where his revolver
rested disturbed his aim and he
trimmed them carefully away with
his jack knife. ':,''
While the murderer stood watch
ing warily, Haines succeeded in
sneaking away by the back Of the
tent aud reused the main camp of
miners at Port Valdes. There was a
hasty parley. One of tho men ap-
preached the tree behind which Tan
ner had taken his position and said:
"Doc, the boys think you'd better
surrender your gun"
AL right" was the pply; "if the
boys think so, I'll do it.
Quickly be unbuckled his pistol
holster and belt and passed them ov-
or and without word joined the
crowd. Several men now entered the
tent. The body of Cal was lying
face downward. Lee was just breath
ing his last. Pierce O still in hid
inI behind the boxes.
Tanner was securely bound, hand
and foot. 1t was quickly decided tc
rouse all the prospectots who could
be reached that night and call a gen.
eral meeting to decide O the fate oI
the murderer. The summons was
answered by 38 men. In the wild
watches of an almost Arctic winter
night the crime OF Tanner was
weighed. The majority advocated
immediate retributioni q. minority
held out for sending tho prisoner te
Sitka to be dealt with by the regu
larily constituted authorities. 1t waf
no unreasoning mob; M. crowd OF
Iawless border ruffans thirsting fo1
the blood of their fellow man, but q
calm, determined gathering Of such
as at home rank amongsthe most re-
spected and law-abiding citizens
There were professional men, mer
chants, office men, artisans and la
borers. The prisoner was the coolest
of them all. He even dozed during
the proceedings. He urged that he
be sent to Sitka, where he thought be
would be able to clear himself. Al
excuse for his deed he pleaded self
defense. His companions had
planned to abandon him, he said, and
in such q county that meant death.
A vote was taken. Twenty-nine
were for immediate execution, nine
for conveying, him to Sitka..The de
cision seemed to hsvs reflect So1
Tanner. When, by the same vote
he was doomed to perish by the rope
instead of by a shot, his only com
ment was:
"aentlemen, =, guess you are doing
what is right"
It was four o'clock in the morning
when the deliberations of the i'm
promptu court came to an end. Snow
had been falling steadily since th'
day before, and at daylight Monday
morning, January 8, the vigilante'
broke trail through the covering O
white and led Tanner to tree. Ove1
a sturdy limb which hung out from
the twisted trunk, a rope was thrown
The prisoner watched the prepara
tions calmly.
"What is this going to be-? h
asked. "Are you going to haul M
up and down few times, or will l g
up and stay there?"
"Yofll 60 up and stay," he wa
assured.
Gan right. Remember, gentlemen
you are stringing up the best maj
with six-shooter that ever came tt
Alaska or any other country"
According to Liable, the eye wit
ness who returned on the Alliance
the moose was put about Tanner
neck by DR.. Edwards, a dentist o
Oakland, CaI., and "A men pulled OF
the rope.
When life was extinct three grave
were dug. Tho remains of the tw'
victims were inferred with sole al
ceremony. The body Of the murder
er>was hastily consigned, face down
ward. to a shallow grave at the too
of the tree which had borne his lite
less remains.
William A. Lee was 81 years Of agt
He leaves young widow in Lowe