The Savannah morning news., 1900-11-11
FELT THE EBBING OF LIFE.
SENSATIONS on A MAN WHO WAS
HANGED ny a MOB.
From the Denver Post.


Smith. and old-tlme miner OF Ptkin. who
is spending a few days In Denver. relates
a thrilling incident IN which he played the
leading role In an improptu "necktie
party" which u much more interesting
from the standpoint OF listener thaa mar
rator
Every old resident OF Colorado remem-
bers the famous Cold Cup mine located
about three miles from the mining camp
OF Tm Cup. which IN the late '7o's and
carly SOS was one OF the richest silver
mines IN The state. although a never paid
a dividend-but that Is another part OF
the story
The Gold Cup was discovered In 1876 and
from the very hrst produced high grade
OF silver ore which assayed from 800 to
800 ounces. AL the officers OF the COM
plny except A. u. Rob nson o. this city
resided ia New York aud A. Mr. Robin
sons time was taken up with personal en-
terprlses tho entire management Of the
property devolved upon Capt. Hall. the
companys superintendent.
For eight years the stockholders sub
mittcd 10 frequent assessments. until IN
1885, when the directors requested Mr.
Robinson 20 investigate the property and
report upon the advisabilHy OF contin-
uing the work This was accordingly
done ana Mr. Robinson soon discovered
that the nine was being and had for years
been systematically robbed OF is best ore
at the dump No suspicion ever attached
10 Capt Hall. but through some careless
ness the miners had been allowed 10 sub
sutute hundreds OF tons 81 cheap ore for
that taken from the mine.
Made Many Enemies.
Mr Robinson therefore moved 20 Tin
Cup and assumed the active management
OF the mine The hrst thins he did was
90 discharge all OF the old force. rcplac-
ing chem with mincrs from Pttkin and
elsewhere. including AIR. Smith. man
BY the name OF Charles Robinson and an
other by the name OF Rouse. The dis
charged miners were. OF course. very an
cry and made oil manner Of threats
against the new men. which IN itself
tended to convince Mir. Robinson that the
hrst move had been a wise one. Under
the new order OF things che mine began
az once 10 pay and in less than twenty
months showed a net earning OF Sy7ooo
Smith. Charles Robinson and Rouse oc-
dupicd a cabin together. the two former
being assigned 60 the night shift Before
long they began 60 miss various little ar
ucles from among their personal effects
and Rouse was suspected Accordingly,
one day while the latter was a. work. they
made a thorough search % the cabin. and
besides finding their own property they
also discovered several hundred dollars
worth Of orc stored away among Rouse's
effects
They kept the matter 70 themselves as
they did nos consider IA their duty to in
form their employer OF the dishonesty OF
their fellow workman. But FOR some res-
son or other Rouse became suspicious. 80
early one morning he called SIR Robinson
out OF bed seEing him he was going 10
quit. and dcnla nded his pay. Although
Il was about clock IN the morning the
superintendent got out Of bed and paid the
miner what was due him. but the fel-
low s unsesmly haste aroused his suspi-
cIon.
AZ SION az Rouse was gone he went 60
the cabin where Smith and Charles Robin
son were sleeping and proceeded 10 ques-
ton them a. 90 whether they knew any
thing about Rouse's honesty. stating that
he suspected the departed miner OF hav-
ing stolen ore from che dump. Mr. Smith
refused 70 either deny or affirm the sus-
plcion but Robinson was not so reticenl.
and gave the whole thing away. The SUI
porinfendent Therefore went at once TO
Tin Cup. where he swore Que warrant
for ROuse's nrres, and placed IL in the
hands Of an oficer. who started out in
search q him
In the meantime Mr. Smith. a. the re-
quest OF Mrs. Robinson. went 10 Tin Cup
with q note for her husband In which she
warned him TO look out for trouble. as shs
feared that the discharged miners an1
their friends meant him harm. Mr..
Smith failed TO md his employer. but tho
object OF his mission soon became known
to the gang" and they accordingly I'M
mcdiatcly credited him with having had
hand In the discovery and discharge ~
Rouse
Late that afternoon NJ. Robinson
brought Smith a note in which h. was
warned to Immediately leave the camp un-
der penalty Of death lie also stated that
he had received like warning, and want
cd to know IL Smith attached any impor-
tanoe 20 the threat Not for q moment
supposinx that anything more than per
haps a severe beating was meant. SIN IN
laughed or the idea. and without say nR
anything 10 Charles Robinson, went down
the shaft at the usual hour.
The more interesting part u the story
is told by Mr.. Smith. as follows:
1T was a beautiful night clear a. a
bell. the pale Hight OF a full moon magni-
flying every object and giving a weird un-
canny appearance 70 every hing. l was
not exactly nervous but l somehow fe {
uneasy.
I'VE had worked until about ; O'Clock.
when for some reason which / do not now
recall. We came out the mine together. I
noticed how deep the shadows We e. ana
for a moment felt suspicious. Not bailg
armed and bcsng Obliged 10 leave the
shaft-house. I picked NJ. as ] went
short tamplng bar. but threw Il down aga
almost Immediately. feeling ashamed OF
my nervousness.
In the IIends of Lynchers.
Crossing a patch Of light about nifty
feet vide / entered the shadow Of the
shafthouse. followed by Robinson. when
I vas startled BY the command 10 throw
up my hands OF course l did as direct
ed. although IN the darkness / could not
at FIRST tell whether my assaNants we're
few or many Gradually becomiag ac-
customed to The darkness soon discover
ed that / was looking into ~ least twenty
revolvers. behind which stood the tough
est looking gang OF cutthroats ! had ever
seen. they were all masked % course,
and in addition each had turned his hat
and coat wrong side out. but thought
/ recognized a great many familiar forms.
without another word two OF ne men
slipped n rope about my neck ard was
led about 90 feet down the hill, with
man on each eide holding a revolver In
my face.
II was too mad. after tho FIRST shock
OF surprise, to realize the real danger
was Ia. and by the time We reached the
nrst convenient Tree had arrived az that
dangerous mental condition when man