The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-03

he hzs.ence 20 cabin. fifty yards distant,
and armed himself with revolver.
The four men In the tsnt were suddenly
interrupted by voice from WITHOUT ara
turning they saw Tanner standing ia the
entrance A revolver CLEANED N us nand.
II have heard yos," said Tanner, anzrllys
"and am here to settle this business
We are ready 20 do business with you
at any time" replied Lee
With not another word Tanner fred q,
Cali. who was near the door. and Killed
him instantly. Ills next shst pierced sns
beast OF Lee. with equally fatal eneet-
With the conclusion the candle went out
and third shot, directed a. Hatnes. SPED
TO It's mark Ia the dark The bullet passed
through tne teut wall. Immediately behind
where Hainas had been sitting. lie had
fortunately thrown himself on the hoor.
thus esc4pns the bullet Intended for him
Pierce had. meanwhile. jumped behind
some boxes. ranged on the other side ol
tie tent.
The desperate cowboy. believing he had
killed Hainss. IS well as Call and Lee.
walked calmly TO q tree about ten PAGES
distant and waited for a chance AT Pierce.
Some tw.gs on the branch where his re-
voiver rested disturbed his aim and he
trimmed them carefully away vita his
jack knife.
While the murderer stood watching war
iiy, Ha!nss succeeded IL snsaking away
by the back OF the tent and reused the
main camp Of miners at Port Ealdes.
There was nas;y pariey. One OF the men
approached the tree behind which Tanner
had taken hts position and said
Doe. the boys think you'd better CUR
render your gun"
.sAll right" was the reply, IF the boys
think 20. Iii do ~"
Quickly he unbgckled his pistol holster
and belt and passed them over and without
q word joined the crowd. Several men now
entered the tent The body Of Call was
lying face downward Lee was just breath
ine his last. Pierce Was still In hiding be-
hind the boxes.
Sfxilantes Act Promptly.
Tanner was securely bound hand ard
foot. II WAS quickly decided to rouse al
the prospecfors who could b. reached that
night and call a general meeting to decide
on the fate Of the murderer The summons
was answered by thsrty-eight men. In the
still watches OF an almost Arctic winter
night the crime OF Tanner was weighed.
The majority advocated immediate retri-
busioE minority held out for sending the
prisoner TO S!tka 10 be dealt gith b. the
regularly constituted authorities. II was
no ungsasoning mob. no crowd OF lawiess
border rusfians thirstsng for the blood OF
their fellow man. but a calm. determined
gathering OF such as al home rank among
the most respected and abiding clti-
gems. There were professional men. mer-
chants. Office men. artisans and iaborers
The prisoner was the coolest OF them all
He even dozed during the proceedings. He
urged that he he sent to Stka. where he
thought he would be able to clear himself
As excuse for his deed he pleaded self
defense. His companions had Planned TO
abandon him. he said and in such n coun-
try that meant death.
vote was taken. Twenty-Five were
Tor immediate execution. nine for convey
Ing him 10 Sitka The decision seemed
TO have no effect on Tanner. When. hy
tho same vote. he was doomed to perish
by the rope instead OF by a shot. his only
comment was:
Gentlemen. | guess you are doing wha,
10 right
strung From "a Limb.
II was O'Clock I'm the morning when
the deliberations OF the imprompsu cour,
came to an end Snow had been failing
steadily since the day before. and at day-
Hight Monday morning, January 3. the
vigtiantes broke trail through the coy.
ering of white and led Tanner To n tree
Over sturdy limb which hung out from,
ths twisted trunk. a rope was thrown
The prisoner watched the preparations
calmly.
What is this going 20 he2" he asked
Are you going to haul me up and down
few times. or VIII l SO up and STAY
there
"fon'H go up and stay he was as
sured
All right Remember. gentlemen YOU
are stringing up the best man with a six.
shooter that ever came to Alaska or ans
other country"
According TO Liable. the eye witness
who returned on the Alliance. the moose
was put about Tanners neck by Dr. Ed
wards. "A dentist OF Oakland. Cal. and
twsnts-four men pulled on the rope
When life was extinct three graves wer,
dug. The remains OF the two victims wer,
Inferred with solemn ceremony The bod,
or the murderer was hastily consigned
face downward. to "A shallow grave n
thu foot OF the tree which had borne hi,
lifeless remains.
William n. Lee was sc years OF age. III,
leaves a young widow IN Lowell ana I
little dark-hairea daughter. " A. Call
as years Of age. had a wife In Worthing
ton. MINI.