Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1911-02-18

IOWhEQ ulu VIII Ou0 uduu Tdlsou dho
said: "Now Charley, let's have an un-
derstanding;" to which Cordeiro replied,
as he swung his rife around and brought
it to bear upon Gordon, ''all rightp As
he did this Bishop, standing at one side,
called out as he also raised bis revolver,
"don't shoot, CharleyP This, undoubt-
edly, saved Gordon's life, for Cordeiro
fred, but the glance around at Bishop
had moved his gun from in line with
Gordon's body and the shot missed
him.
At this Gordon pulled his revolver
and fred the two shots that passed over
our heads, neither one taking effect. AS
soon as Cordeiro had fired the shot from
his rifle he dropped It and grabbed his
revolver, but the scabbard was buttoned
and to give him time to unfasten 1t he
ran back wards. When in this act Bishop
ran up to him and put his revolver
against Cordeiro's head and snapped it
twice, but it failed to 60 of. Finally
Charley caught his foot and fell. Gordon
had drawn his sheath knife and with
his hand raised rushed up to plunge it
into Cordeiro. At this critical point
Cordeiro called on Lyman Lamb to save
him-and Lamb, tall Highland Scotch
man, caught Gordon's arm as he poised
the long blade in the air, and bade him
desist 1t was all over in a minute
Cordeiro got up seemingly as cool and
unconcerned as though it had all been in
fun. Turning to Bishop he said in a
pleasant, affable tone: "Mr. Bishop, l
will excuse you, for you were excited"
Cordeiro claimed that Gordon had one
hand on his revolver when he ap-
preached him and said, "now Charley,
let's have an understanding, and he
supposed Gordon meant to settle it in
that way. Gordon claims he did not
have his hand on his revolver, while eye
witnesses differ as to Gordon's attitude.
Bishop was acquainted with Cordeiro
at Wichita, Kansas, and said that if he
had succeeded in getting his revolver
out, he would have used it as long as it
contained load. From my own know
ledge of the man, acquired through an
association of more than six months
with him, am sure he had read the
man correctly. When we reached a
suitable place shortly after this, we went
into camp for the night.
Here conference was held, demand
ing explanations as to the real cause OF
this unfortunate alteration. Some pro-
posed sending Cordeiro back; others
that it would be- better to hang him
while others were for letting this drop
and making law to hang the first man
that would hereafter use or attempt to
use any dangerous weapon against an
other of our party. When Cordeiro was
called upon in his'own defense to offer
any remarks that he might give in ex-
PLANTATION of his remarkable conduct he
seemed cool, collected and quite indif.
ferent. He stated how he had under.
stood Mr.. Gordon. That he was ex,
tremely sorry that it had so happened
and if we would drop the unfortunate
affair and dismiss it from our minds as
though it had never been, he would
never allow his temper to get the better
of his judgment again. And We took
him at his word.
But then and there we passed Law
by unanimous vote to hang for using
or attempting to use, deadly weapons or
any of our party, and We never hac
occasion to regret that we acted as w
did. l believe this to be the first Law
passed in this territory-and the form o
its enactment was pure democracy.
The next day we camped on the banl
of the south fork of the White River. I
is clear, rapid stream at this point ant
about two rods wide. The surroundin,
country is very rough, the soil is ligh
clay and is generally covered with
short bunch and buffalo grass. Here
got shot at large black-tailed buck
but he was on the run and missed him
1t was the first of this species I ha'
ever seen and he looked as large as
mule.
1t was at this camp we had our frs
Indian scare. l was one of the guard
that stood until midnight. The nigh
was very dark, being cloudy and havin
no moon. Shortly before being relieve
we noticed dim light up in the break
on the opposite side of the river. 1t wa
so dim that it could not be seen all {
the time. 1t seemed to flicker up for
moment and then 60 down, until tn
breeze would brighten it up again. M
partner and saw it the same and "
pointed it out to the relief guard.
appeared the same to.them as to us an
we fully expected to see an Indian cam
there in the morning, if not to recei,
an attack. But daylight did not brir
the attack, neither could we see any sig
of camp. 1t was one of the many una
countable things we were to meet. B
tween this and the main White Riv,
is rough broken country, with no tir
ber to speak of.
| We were four days in going aero
this divide. 1t is little gravelly an
with the light snow keeping the oxen
feet wet, many of them had their hoe
. badly worn. The third day out W
cloudy and threatened snow all day.
} the afternoon was out on the left
] the train hunting when / began to crc
; Indian tracks, all going the same dire
ton and judging from their long stride
they were travelling fast and were u
. doubtedly doing as was-hunting viii
Q their train was in motion. I soon /