Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1900-03-31

The Death of James Y. Anderson st
Eureka fs Again Recalled.

nv - ~ - - -
Eureka ts Again Recalled.
A letter received by the SENTINEL This
week recalls . tragedy which was enact
ed in Eureka several years ago, and
which will be remembered by many Of
the old residents Of this place. The
letter is as follows:
CARROLL, Montana, March 20.
Editor SENTINEL:
Will you kindly answe whether it
was Penrose or G.. W. Reek that killed
Jim Anderson in Eureka, and on what
date! II your recollection serves you
please let US know il Penross was in
Eureka. and what year you think he
came there. II 10 merely . bet between
two parties. TERRY MCMAHON.
The tragedy referred to occurred on
the afternoon Of November 3, 1882.
James Z. Anderson. the victim. was the
editor Of the Eureka Leader at that
time. and prior to his connection with
that paper had been editing the Mining
News. published at Ruby Hill. He had
been for some time previous thereto .
reporter on the SENTINEL, and was well
known in this part Of the State.
The man who fred the fatal shot was
George ]. Reek, principal Of the Ruby
Hill school, and at that time the Repub-
lican candidate for Superintendent
Of Schools Of Eureka county. The
campaign had been . hot o and was
just drawing to a close when the en-
counter took place. There had been .
bitter feeling between the two men,
growing out Of political differences. and
on the day previous to the shooting Mr..
Reek had published in the SENTINEL q
signed card which reflected severely on
the character Of Mr.. Anderson.
On the fatal day Mr.. Reek had come
down to Eureka from Ruby Hill for .
physician to attend his wife. and vas
talking with Thomas Dale in front Of
Clay Simms' saloon when be saw Ander-
son coming toward him from the opposite
side of the street. There was Q conflict
Of testimony as to who fred the first
shot, Mr.. Dale, who was talking with
Reek, asserted that Anderson began
hostilities, while William Perry, who
was standing near by was equally posi-.
tive that Reek was the aggressor. A
number Of shots were fred, Reek dodg.
ing around Mr.. Dale and keeping that
gentleman in front of him as . shield.
Finally he started to run across the
street toward the Parker House, follow
ed by Anderion, pistol in hand. When
part way across the street the weapon
was seen to fall from the latter's hand
aud he sank to the ground. He was
picked up by q number Of men and car.
ried into DIR. Schneider's drugstore, where
DIR. Owen attended his injuries and ct
once pronounced the wound fatal. The
ball had entered the pit of the stomach,
aud running down ward, passed through
tuc uihuuct nuu tOWet ooWois luc
wounded man fingered until l0:45 on the
morning Of November G.. when he passed
away after having suffered terrible agony
for nearly three days.
Reek was given q preliminary exami-
nation before Justice Harmon on Nov.
10. and was released from custody. the
prepondersnce of testimony establishing
the fact that he acted in self defense,
and was justified in taking the life Of his
assailAnt. Mr.. Reek died a few years
ago, q victim Of that dreadful disease,
creeping paralysis.
W. j. Penrose, referred to above,
came to Eureka along in the late 70's
and was here at the time the tragedy
occurred. He was murdered in Montana
some years later.