The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-13

some ysars a-o, said the philosopher
before trolley cars came in and beared th'
. hcr~s market there were numerous crowds
q organized horse thieves in the wild and
woolly west who. when not engaged II
the serious occupation OF horse lifting,
varied their Afternoons by little stage rob-
berries aud incidental murders. One OF
these outfts in the neighborhood Of Dead
wood became especially annoying TO the
authorities and 10 those citizens who were
happy or unhappy in the possession OF a
pony. Finally patience ceased 70 be a viz
sue, and the orders came from headquar-
ters TO the marshal OF tho district TO or
ganize a posse and bring the gang in 30
that retribution could be melted out. In .
short time the department of justice was
informed that the posse had been formed,
had gone on the hunt and had returned
with three prisoners, who were turned
over to the authorities and whose fate Il
not set down in legend or song.
After time, however, the department
here was grieved by receiving without ex-
PLANTATION bill reading "the United
States government, debtor 10 the Deadwood
| posse, $l2, 600 for T. expenses Of catching
| three horse thieves" Although with a
doubling mind, the department sent the
| bill to the treasury department The
treasury did not spend moment in doubt
ing, but with promptitude and harsh
ness born of long experience turned the
bill down-in fact, turned it upside down.
The auditor did not content himself with
rundown but added some American
language about people who wanted 81, 900
apiece for catching everyday horse thieves
when the variety could be picked up any
day on the road for $40 a head. The
auditor closed with some uncomplimentary
illusions TO a department that would send
up such accounts The department Of
justice felt even more grief at this rebuke
than at the receipt of the original bill and
sent friend of mine, who was in the
service, out to investigate the account
This man went out TO the Deadwood
neighborhood with mind filled with |
prejudice. He did not want to go TO Dead
wood at all. At any rate he began TO take |
testimony.
His first inquiries consisted of an in |
formal talk with the big leader OF the |
posse, and what no learned went some. |
thing like this:
"How many members were there to that
horse thief gang?"
well, about 25. F"
And you captured threcl'
Eyes, we put three of them in Jail. ;"
Have the rest Of the gang been giving
any trouble since them
well, no. They haven't troubled us
none.
Then you must have captured the lead
ers?"
"No. Can't say they was. The three
we brought in didn't amount to much.
They only cooked and carried water for
the rest. -
"Umph. "
That closed the first round, and after !
light refresbment the inquiry took new
line, tho man from the department having
taken on some additional prejudice re-
garding the case
well, how many were there in that
posse of yourss"
Stranger, there was just "a.
"Umphl Five hundred dollars apiece.
How long were you out?''
I'VE was out exactly IL days. 8"
"Whew One thousand dollars day"
We've got to get at this thing some
way. What did you do the first day."
We'll, we rode and trailcd. "
And the socond"-
That day we surprised the horsies in
camp"
Did you fghtg"
"Well, we fit some.
"Were any CT the thieves hurtg"
Some six of them were shot up consid-
cradle"
"Killedf"
eve buried them"
"The third day."
'We rode like hi"
"The nextP"
I'VE come on to the horsios as they was
crossing ford f."
Amy thieves hurt"
1--WE buried five ofthcm afterward."
1.-THE fifth day?'
1--WE trailed and hunted horses separate.
ly.
Amy flghtingY
well, there was considerable shooting
and cutting. | believe five of them was
ready for the resurrection"
What about the sixth day."
mat day we got the drop on six OF
them in canyon and had them tied be.
fore they knew It,"
What did you do with them?"
'Woll, stranger the boys hanged them
SIX. Being an officer OF the government,
u course didn't take no hand in il, but
kept my back turned until IL was all over.
Inc next day we caught the last three.
They threw up their hands soon as we got
IN shooting range. The boys was going
10 hang them, too, but l said: Mol No,
stree The United States government
has sent you out to catch these horse
thieves; the United States government IA
paying good wages, and expenses, and III
be ID If the United States government
shant get something for it's money.
These three horse thieves goes quietly
back to jail. Besides, says they amt
no regular horse thieves, anyway: they's
only cooks and watermen. Thon we rodo
peaceful back to camp being 200 miles
therefrom
My friend was little weak by this
Tune, but he managed to continue.
Wash { anybody in your party hurt,n
oh, yes. We was all considerable shot
and cut up
Anybody killed."
Fourteen of the boys was killed ont.
right and two has died since then"
What Way your idea of disposing of the
tl2,OOO you have aSkedYn
Wen, the boys thought the survivors
Ia A..