Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-05-08

ATE Will not he aDle TO lntlmluaIe y. IL.
Dietrich.
The new Senator went west from
Aurora, Ill. He began to make his own
living when he was s years old. He
chored for farmers, snatching what
schooling he could get from the little
log schoolhouse during the winter
months. Then he became a blacksmith
and, saving $500 in 1873, he paid his
expenses to Cheyenne, Wyo. Here he
bought provisions and blankets, and,
hiring the provisions transported to
Deadwood, he tied the blankets on his
back and trudged along beside the
wagon that contained his provisions.
The journey was made in winter, and
the man who fought his way from the
farm to the Senate walked 400 miles
along a trail that led through Red Can
yon, in which, just before he went
through and just after, many white i'm
migrants were killed by Indians.
Early in 1876 Senator Dietrich helped
to build the first store of Deadwood,
1.-The Pioneer" After it was built Die
trich delivered merchandise all over
the Deadwood country, travelling at
night most. of the time. to avoid the
Indians
In 1876 Dietrich helped to lay out the
town of Spearfish. Indians came down
the gulch and stampeded the ponies Of
the town builders. Chase was given
and some Of the ponies were recovered,
and, though many shots were fired, no
one was killed on either side.
With the Vigilance Com mittee.
In the winter of 1S76-77 Dietrich
with two partners, located the Aurora
mine. There was trouble over the
claim and In one of the many fights
which took place Dietrich was shot
twice, one bullet cutting his forehead.
Finally Dietrich sold out his interest
and became a member of the vigilance
committee, which took the place Of the
conventional court of the East.
The first case the vigilance commit
tee handled impressed Dietrich greatly
with the charm under which his life is
protected. ID. Thomas Smith was the
culprit. His wife had been a moneyed
widow of Denver. Smith went to the
Black Hills to swell her roll. He began
In the fall OF 1876 his wife came on.
She said he had deserted her and their
child, and had taken all her money,
and had finally refused support when
she al last established communication
with him. The committee was called
together, and the woman told her trou-
bles. Then the acting marshal, Con
Stapleton, and Dietrich were asked by
,, the committee to find Smith and bring
him to trial.
They found Smith at Belle Union.
where Wild Bill was killed, and, call
ing him out, told him what was want
ed, Smith said he would not go. So
force had to be applied. In the strug-
gle Smith drew a knife and cut Diet
| rich between the fingers and in the alb
domen. Smith was tried by the COM
| mittee, and the verdict was that all the
property known to belong to Smith
| money he had loaned out, and property
| he had bought for woman for whom
| he had fondness-had to be turned
over to Mrs. Smith. After that was
done Smith was to leave camp before
| 10 a. m. the next day or suffer the
penalty, which was death.
II slept that night in cabin owned
by Judge Lynch Forman," Senator
Dietrich was telling not long ago.
There was only an old piece of blan-
kct nj the door. | was sitting In the
cabin, just thinking about turning In
| for the night, when the blanket at the
door was pulled aside suddenly and
| Smith stepped in. He had a Winches-
ter In his hand and he threw it to his
| shoulder"
1t seems that Smith had a quick and
powerful man to deal with, for Die
| trich tore the Winchester from Smiths
hands, and, graphing with him, soon
had him under control. Then he took
| smiths word of honor that he would
! .eave town at once and let him GO
Carly the following morning Smith
net Con Stapleton, who was talking
Ia another man, and blazed away al
Con. The bullet missed Stapleton and
killed the man Stapleton was talking
with. a professor from an Eastern col
lage. Smith was afterward killed in
california.
To show YOU how honorable West
"rn men are" Dietrich said, II must
IN you that there were many men in
nc gulches WHO had borrowed money
| nm Smith or had property belonging
him, who Were unknown to Mrs
.mith or 10 any one else save Smith
20 soon as they heard the verdict OF
hc committee they came into camT
| nd yielded up the property or paid
| "a mummy thav nxuad