The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-05-25


George" was hanged by. vigilance COM
mittee at Rock Springs, Wyo.; Lame
Johnny" suffered like fate on a creek
now known as Lame Johnny Greek, In
the Black Hills, and Gray, who was at
one time proprietor Of the old Minnesota
House at Yankton. was hanged in Arr
zona. vigilance committee having
brought an end to his career.
The killing of The masterful old lead
err removes border character for whom
there probably has not been parallel in
the United States for some years. He vas
not bloodthirsty criminal Of dime novel
variety, but an honorable man in his
way. He was true to his friends, and NOT
given to bloodshed il it could be avoided.
II allowed to prosecute his vocation Of
stealing without molestation, he would
modest no others.
The exact time when Sully came to
South Dakota is not known, but Il was
at least thirty years ago. He was tall,
raw-boned young man, who said nothing
about his past and gave a name which
is known to have been assumed.
1t was not long after he came that
he built his hut on high hill on the
Rosebud reservation. Here he was sur
rounded by crowd of loose characters
with whom he easily carried on a big
rustling business. AS the civilization of
the country drew closer about him the
mesh OF the law, more perfect defensive
organization was necessary. Sully was
equal to the demand upon him. He or
ganized secret society which last win
ter was known to have a membership of
BOG, extending all the way from Kansas
to Canada. Many of these were ranch
men and stockmen in apparently good
standing. The strength of the society
lay in the fact that no one knew VINO
were it's members. A campaign against
them could not progress far without
someone, not known to be member,
sending the warning.
Sully was a squaw man, too, and four
half-breed daughters married and lived
about him and helped him. A fine, white
frame house took the place Of the hut at
his eyrie, aud from this he could see the
approach of an enemy for four miles. The
federal officers must have approached his
home under cover of darkness, and even
at that it is remarkable that they escaped
the attention Of the many friends of Sui.
ly living about him. Numerous attempts
have been made to take him at his strong.
hold, but all were ineffective.
Only twice in the past four years has
Sully been captured. The first of these
was in the fall of 1901. The Labit Of
the rustlers was to take only part Of a
herd of cattle the first time. If no fuss
was made the owner of the herd would
not be disturbed again. But if he made
noise about the theft, the rustlers would
revisit his place and take the rest of the
cattle.
One Pete Waugh, living north of Ca
coma, suffered a loss at the hands of the
rustlers, and made big "hoiier.'' As a
consequence another visit was made and
all his stock was taken. Waugh only
made bigger racket. The rustlers were
fearful, and SuIly ard an associate named
Donnerau went to dance where Waugh
was to be. A row was started, but the
bullet struck Waugh's elbow instead of
his heart and Sully and Donnerau had to
flee. Waugh's blood was up and, with
the aid of officers, gave pursuit and cap
tured Sully. The willy old leader soon
gave bond and secured his liberty.
Sully's one weakness was his passion
for whisky, and this led to his last cap
ture. 1t was found out in some way that
Sully was to visit Niobrara, Neb., in the
interest of spree. Sully was remarka-
bly, successful in making these under
ground trips, getting into a back room in
various towns near his eyre and having
his drunk and getting away without any
one but his friends knowing OF his pres
ence.
This time he was inveiged into a game
of cards. Liquor was handed out freely
fol hi md Il h..
Gated. He aw-.ke in the Niobrara Jail.
He was taken to Mitchell. The night the
Mitchell sheriff died Sully es-
capped, and it is said this cost him $1,000.
He made his get getaway on relays of
horses. 1t was said he emigrated to
Canada, but instead went to Kansas. He
returned to his old haunts once too often,
and met his end on the very eve of the
time when the incoming of settlers would
have driven him away for all time
Additional details of the killing of Sui
ly, which have been received here, how
that he made a desperate break to es-
cape from the officers.
Ben Diamond, neighbor of Sully's, by
request of the officers, went to the Sully
house and informed Jack that his place
was surrounded by officers and requested
i'm to give himself up. He refused, say
ing:
..Goodby to all. With fair play equal
three of them"
Thrusting a 44-caliber Colts revolver
into his belt and mounting horse, he
made dash for life. He was COM
manded to halt, but did not obey. There
were thirty shots fired by the pursuing
officers, Of which FIVE took effect in the
horse. Ely this time Sully had measured
q distance of $50 yards between himself
and the officers when volley Of shots
was fired, one of which took effect in
Sully's back, causing him to reel and fall
from his horse.
When the officers approached him he
was commanded to throw ND his hands.