The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-09-30
A Hot Time.

A Hot Time.
A graphic description Of the cold
blooded murder of two settlers by a
gang of desperadoes at Marble Creek,
twenty-five miles from Santa, idaho.
is given in letter written by Archie
Philips, former deputy game warden
in this vicinity, and received by Peter
McAlpin, of Duluth.
At the time of writing Mr.. Philips
says he had just received letter,
adorned with skull and crossbones
and picture of 5000 calibre cart
ride in which he was given ten days
notice to leave the state. or suffer the
same fate as one of his friends. His
shanty, barn, rOOthouse and other
property, as we'll as the homes of five
other settlers. has been dynamited by
the outlaws. Until he can get on his
feet again Mr.. Philips will be COM
PEELED to stay at Cour de Aline, where
he has secured employment with a
lumber company. In the meantime
he says: 81 am carrying a big gun
| with me in town, and if there is any
| more killing to be done you'll hear
some of the other fellows fall clear
back in Minnesota. They can't bluff
me out of here, and if they kill me,
Nell my wife,, will give them game.
Mr.. Philips. his wife and two children
| left Duluth last spring to squat on
piece OF land in Idaho. There has
been number of squatters for some
years In the vicinity, but they have
failed, it Is said, to improve their pro-
perty. The original squatters resent
the Intrusion OF others and after fail
ing to frighten them have taken re-
course to murder. The threats have
scared away some of the settlers, and
at present there is nobody but the orr
ginal squatters left in the vicinity of
| Marble Creek.
1--WE had hot time in Marble
Creek" saws Mr.. Philips in his letter.
''First they got Tyler, an estimator
who hung around our tent. We think
they went into his cabin, and at the
| point Of the gun marched him to the
woods. After they got what they
wanted they killed and buried him.
| I heard four shots near his cabin az
| 4:30 o'clock one morning, and we have
not seen him since.
"a week later Boulby and Lindsay
were on the way TO Santa, when Jney
were Waylaid about mile from my
cabin. They put four bullets through
Boulby. One struck Lindsay on Tile
arm, and he got away. We heard the
| shooting at our place. Old Griffin
| and l started On run with our Win
| chesters and met Lindsay on the trail
coming back, and lie told us what had
happened.
1--WE turned around and got the wo-
men and the kids from the cabin, and
linked right through TO Dead Horse
Canyon. The rest Of the party camp
| ed on the trail that night. While l
went through to Santa to get a mess
age to the sheriff aud coroner at Wal
lace, They came Monday, and ten OF
| US went out.
"We found BoulbY lying dead on his
back, and about so yards up the Trail
| was his dog, and little further, his
horse dead. They shot the whole out
| lit; then stole Boulby's watch and
chain, his money and cartridges,
he had in his pocket. They took his
rifle, which was strapped on his horse,
and the lunch which my wife had pre-
pared before they started. What do
you think of that for savageS?
"That night the sheriff and posse
stayed at my cabin, and we came out
the next day. When l got to Santa l
got letter with the skull and cross
bones and 5000 cartridge drawn on
top. Ten days was given me to leave
the state, or they would send me to
join my friend BOulby. Chambers got
one too.
"Well, 1 did not mind that as I am
not going to leave the state or give
up my claim. The lawyers tell me l
have cinch on now, and advise me
to stay right there. When the town
comes In can file and prove up with
out going back to line it. l am going
to have my wife file Il. & S. on Boul-
by's claim. We buried Boulby right
where we found him.
"The worst of the whole thing is
that when the sheriff and the posse
went in search of Tyler they found
that the five shantieS, root houses and
barns were blown up with dynamite.
and the grub, bed clothing and cook
ing utensils scattered in all direct
ions.
II know the man that caused Boul-
by's death, and I'll get him before /
leave here. 1t may take some time
"That dense forest reserve at La
Grande has been thrown open again,
and there was regular stampede for
the land. They got the secretary Of
the interior to open 1t up because it
was such good farming land. The
first week it was open 1900 acres were
scripped, and about the same acreage
taken as timber and stone claims. |
Not homestead was taken in the
whole unfit