Morris tribune., 1907-09-07
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hotel that hung over the edge Of IL
rock close to Windy Point, some miles
west of Leadville.
Smokes shanty was the rendezvous
for the contractors, bosses and work
men, especially on Saturday nights
Wages were high, but hands were
scarce, and there was bad blood
among the contractors on account Of
some alleged sharp practice on the
part of those toward IIeadville, who
were accused of cutting off the men
contracted for farther up the noun
tain. This was particularly the case
with Donovan and O'Malley, who had
adjoining contracts for blasting
roadbed out of the solid rock on the
side Of old Sugar Loaf. O'Malley, who
had the upper section, accused Dono-
van Of stealing hoboes intended for
him. Donovan denied the charge and
coupled the denial with some strong
reflections on O'Malley's personal
character, antecedents and general
characteristics. The result was the
usual feud, with dire threats on the
part of each principal to exterminate
the other at the first good opportunity.
The opportunity came sooner than
either expected or wished, for they
were both towards when it came to a
sure enough fight. Both men were
peaceable enough when sober, but
there was no telling what they would
do when drunk if they should chance
to meet. That very thing happened
one Saturday night. Donovan had
come down to Russell's dive for his
usual recreation and commenced filling
his tank early in the evening, so that
by 10 o'clock he was pretty drunk
The boys got him started on O'Mal-
ley and egged him on until he was
red headed. He kept on getting mad
der and drunken, threatening his en-
envy with all kinds of sudden deaths
if it were ever his good luck to run
the coward into a corner where he
would have to stand and fight. Just at
this juncture the door opened and in
walked O'Malley, catching Donovan's
last words. The boys were pretty bad
ly frightened and tried to joke about
the matter and laugh it over, but Don
ovan was drunk and O'Malley was
mad, and there was trouble in the
camp. The latter seemed to pay no
attention to his drunken foe, but
walked up to the bar and called for his
poison. Several of the crowd joined
him, and the drinks began to go down
in a rapid and reassuring manner.
Everybody seemed satisfied but Russell,
who kept watchful eye on the crowd
and stood close to the end of the bar
by the lamp, so that he could douse
the light in case of trouble.
After bit O'Malley turned suddenly,
facing Donovan, and began in a most
offensive and aggravating manner:
"How are you, Misther Donovan"
'sBad luck to your roared the other.
"What the devil do you mean by talk
ing to me?'
"Oh-oh. That's it, is it, you low
down, lying thief of dago? Stand up
and take your mediciner'
Donovan sprang to his feet and be-
fore his friends could interfere had his
gun out and let drive for O'Malley; who
was scarce an instant behind him, for
the two shots sounded like one
Almost before the first shot sounded
Smoke Russell had put out the light
and there was a general scramble of
noncombatants to get out of the line
Of fire. The two maddened contractors
kept on firing until each had let off |
the five rounds in his gun. After a
dead silence Of about five minutes
Russell crawled out Of the bombproof |
under the counter and relit the lamp.
AS soon as Donovan had fred his |
last shot he rushed out of the shanty +!
to get his horse. He was still pretty |
drunk, but mounted with the assist
ance of the greaser stable boy and
started down the mountain for Lead,
vile. The greaser tried to tell him !
something, but Donovan was too ex-
cited to listen. He only muttered in |
broken voice:
"Holy saints Five shots in poor |
O'Malley and every last one Of 'em
through the hearth
IlC tOOh ttuS lOA5 tldAA dAouA0 &IiC
mountain and had considerable trou |
BILE in finding the temporary bridge !
across the Arkansas river, so that it
was just breaking day when he pulled |
up in front Of the sheriff's house in |
Leadville and gave himself up.
A couple of hours later O'Malley ap-
peared before the sheriff's house.
O'Malley shouted several times, I'M !
til finally an upper window was raised
and a bushy head stuck out Of it.
Hello, O'Malley" cried the sheriff,
with considerable establishment |
where did you come from?'
"I've come down from Smoke Rus !
sells to give myself up for shooting
Donovan"
''Oh, you shot Donovan, did you?
Now, that beats me all boiler. Say, |
did you hurt him much, do you
think?"
"Hurt imp exclaimed O'Malley in
dignantly. Does 1t hurt a man to
have five bullets in his heart, do you
thinkY'