The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-18

The there were days of waiting-days
that nearly drove Hans and his brave
little wife crazy.
They were alone in that wild country,
far from any human being, with muir
derer on their hands
Nelson had gone to a high point on
the beach and rugged up a distress signal
on a pole in the hope that a passing
steamer would observe it and send a
boat ashore, but none came.
For ten days they waited u.s. Mrs
Nelson tells the story of that horrible
time In these words:
The first two days Hans stayed at the
cabin with me, and we took turns watch
ing DENIM. He had recovered from the
hanmer1ng Hans gave him and was sui
len ana angry. would sit by the hour
with a rifle across my lap opposite the
bunk where he was tied, and sew or
Knit, jumping at every move he made
We would feed him after we ate-or I
would, because Hans would not touch
Minis feet were united and he was let out
with long rope around his waist for
exercise. Hans stood close to him all
the while with rife cooked ready to shoot
him If he started to run.
I'VE expected those first days that q
steamboat would put in and take him
away. and at one time schooner did see
our signal and headed into the BAY but
soon afterward they went about A
number of Siwash Indians camped a lit
tie distance from our cabin, and we tried
to get them to help US watch DENIM
They refused, and SO Hans and 1 took
turns day and night in regular watches
beside the bunk.
after the third day DENIM began to
talk to me now and then, and I gradu-
ally led him on to tell all about the muir
der. He admitted everything and said
his intention was to kill US, take the
gold We had gathered and go back to
Skaguay with q story of an Indian kill
ing. He said he was repentant and beg
ged hard for us to let him go, promis-
ing to get into the wilderness and live
his life out. used to read to him from
the Bible and tell him the stories of
Christ's life and teachings, and it did
him lots OF good. Sometimes he would
cry by the hour with his face buried In
the blankets.
THE VERDICT WAS HANGING.
cat last when we had given I'D all
hope of help from the outside Hans and
I made up our minds that we would have
to execute DENIM ourselves. It was
either that or turn him loose, and neither
one of us believed in turning such red
handed murdered out to do more dam
age.
81 told DENIM of our decision and said
that we would hang him on Friday-t1is
was Wednesday-and he should prepare
himself for death.
He took it hard at first and we watch
ed him with double care during these two
days, expecting that he would make a
try for liberty. Thursday night he gave
up all hope, and at Hans suggestion
wrote out an account of his crime in de-
tail, which I read to him. Then we IN
tied his rands and he signed it. Hans
and both placed our names on the paper
as witnesses, and Hans got two of the
Indians In, who added their names or,
rather, their marks.
1.-THE next morning early we hung him
to a tree at the back of the cabin.
"Ihe execution was a very serious mat
ter and was carried out as though it
were under the order of a court by a
deputiZed officer DENIM seemed glad
to have it all over. He had lain there
bound with rope for ten days and WAS
very badly cut and bruised. He was re-
pentant and professed to be a Christian
REMEMBERED AS A NIGHTMARE
I'm circle about the barrel sat the
SiWash Indians, silently watching the
proceedings in which they had refused
to take a hand [ read from the Bible
the story Of the prodigal son, which
seemed appropriate DENIM said Good
by to us both in a husky voice. and
Hans kicked the barrel out from under
him. turned my back and did not see
his dying struggles. We cut him down
that afternoon and buried him in grave
beside his two victims
1--WE were not able to get away from
Latuya bay for six months after that
murder, the affair had shaken up both
Hans ard myself so badly. The time
spent there seems now like a horrible
nightmare"
Mr.. and Mrs Hans Nelson are living
In a little cottage at Skaguay, and Hans
works at his trade as a, carpenter. He
is in comfortable circums tanceS and has
money In the bank.
The United States court, before whom
Mrs. Nelson and Hans laid the whole
matter Of the crime and the execution of
Michael DENIM. has decided that the
hanging of the murderer was a judicial
execution and much praise was given the
plucky little woman.
Mrs Nelson is OF English birth and