Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1903-07-09

of the MeXicanS Juan shrugged his
shoulders and, with "muy mala,"
stuck his heavy saber under his arm
and trudged off over the hills to his
home. After the occupation natives
were not permitted to bear arms, but
Juan hid his saber.
At dark OH the night of his appear
ance on the plaza Il red shirted man
had stopped at the ranch and de-
handed food. 1t was given him. after
which he threw himself in corner to
rest. Evidently something in the &C.
tons of the Mexican aroused his suspi-
cions. The trail showed him that
mounted party had passed that way.
and after a brief stop he went ON. He
was armed with Il pistol and a knife.
Taking his sabcr and riata the MeX-
can followed him, but cautiously.
Jim's trained ear soon told him of the
pursuit, and. cOncealing himself in the
bushes, he waited. Then he went on Il
few hundred yards quite rapidly. then
slipped into the bushes again and dou-
bled back on his trail.
But his purSucr was even better post
ed in the wiles of Indian fighting. and
Jim took the trail again without even
glimpse of him. Once he fired nervous
ly into il bush from which Il bird tut
tered. Whether his nervousness drove
him to fight or he hoped to distance his
pursuor is not known. but he ran at
top speed for 200 or 800 yards and was
slowing down when there was Il
Swish as of IL lash through the air.
aud Il RATA moose settled about his
arms.
Screaming Il horrible oath, Jim fired
from his hip. but the bullet only cut
the rim of the Mexican's sombrero. Be
fore he could fire again Il jerk of the
RATA brought him to the ground. .Ahle
TO move his arms only from the elbows
down. he managed to draw his bowie
knife. but before he could draw tie
blade across the coils he received II
cash across the left side of the head
from the heavy sahcr. Only his thick
felt hat saved him from death. When
he recovered consciousness. lie was
bound Oh the back of mule and was
being led into San Diego.
Harvey and Harris admitted that
their leader was Yankee Jim: that they
had stocked the pilot boat with pro-
visions and that night had intended
Selling the schooner and sailing wher-
ever the wind might drive them.
jim did not deny his identity. His
trial was held the next day. and he not
only admitted his leadership, but con-
fessed boldly to other crimes Some
were for hanging him forthwith, thus
saving the bother of trial, for in
those days grand larceny was a capital
olfense. However. the law was given
an opportunity to show what it could
do, and jim was sentenced to be
hanged Sept. IS.
On the morning of the execution
Padre Juan. the resident priest and the
only clergyman in that part of the
country, passed an hour with Jim in
his cell, after which the sheriff placed
Jim III Il wagon and drove under the
galloWs. from which dangled a rope.
When the sheriff adjusted the moose,
either his haste or NERVOUSNESS caused
him to place the knot under the right
ear.
'Slcw it around to the other side;
damn it, man. Didn't you ever hang a
man bcforc?' Those were the last
words of Yankee Jim. for the sheriff
gave the signal. the driver whipped up
his horses and the next instant the
body was twisting and revolving at the
III Ia nj,
man and spoke six languages but the
story of his life other than his three
years OF outlaWry was sealed beyond
human ken in the confession at the
last sacrament. Harvey and Harris
served long terms in prison.