New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-20
Hillstrom, Called Martyr
to Mormon Injustice,
as Woman Weeps.
81 DIE LIKE REBEL"
MESSAGE TO "GURLEY"
|. w. w. Leader Here Defends
Man Utah Shot, Declaring
Him Innocent.

the murder OF which he was accuseo NJ
my little boy"
Red-eyed from much crying and on
the point Of collapse, Elizabeth Gurley
Flynn almost savagely defended the
memory Of the |. W. W. poet who was
executed by the Utah authorities yes
terday. With the last message Of Hill
strom in her hands, she cried out
against what she considered the black
injustice of the Mormons. From time
to time, when her frenzied statements
gave way 10 retrospective accounts OF
the little things that Joe Hillstrom had
done to endear himself TO her and other
l. w. w. leaders, Miss Flynn wept.
The message in her hands read:
Composed new song last week, with
music dedicated to the Dove Of Peace.
1t is coming. And now goodby. Gurley,
dear. | have lived like a rebel and |
shall die like a rebel"
The message was sent few hours
before he faced the door with the five
holes.
"Joe didn't tell a lie," asserted Miss
Flynn. THE woman whose honor he
tried to guard with his own life is
known to me. Joe didn't care whether
he lived or died; in fact, he preferred
death, and for a reason that has not yet
been told. When he was arrested bull
let smashed the ligaments OF his right
hand-the hand with which he played
the violin. Life to him without his mu-
sic was not worth living"
Miss Flynn exhibited another tele-
gram. It was from Edward Rowan, local
/. W. W. leader in Salt Lake City. 1t
read:
"Joe Hill shot at sunrise. Died
game"
"Game-game!" sobbed Miss Flynn.
"Why, there wasn't anybody gamer
than Joe Hill-poor Joe Hill! Hes
dead, but his spirit will go marching
on. Joe realized that dying he would
be of greater service than living. His
last words were to organize, not to
mourn for him."
Last Plea Is Too Late.
The third telegram that Miss Flynn
received was from Joe Hillstrom's coun-
sci. ex-Judge o. n. Hilton. 1t notified
her that q man named Busby, of Sc
attic, had wired him that he had been
with Hillstrom from 10 to 2 o'clock on
the night that the Morrison shooting
took place. Judge Hilton asked Miss
Flynn to reach the President instantly,
through Mrs. ]. Sergeant Cram and
Secretary Tumulty, for ten-day re-
spite. But it was too late, for the tele-
gram reached New York few minutes
before s o'clock yesterday morning. The
difference in time between New York
and Utah did not permit OF an oppor-
tunity to reach ar. Wilson.
eve hoped that President Wilson's
efforts in behalf Of Joe would do some
good" said Miss Flynn. But Mr.. Will
son told us at the time we saw him that
he felt inclined to believe the Utah
authorities would not listen to him.
Joe Hillstrom had no relatives. Short
" before he died he jokingly remarked
that the line of Hillstrom would be-
come extinct with his execution. But
he had two confdants, in addition to
his lawyer and Ed Rowan, the Salt
Lake |. W. W. leader. Those two con-
fidants were Miss Flynn and her four
yearold boy, Fred buster Jones.
Song to "Our Rebel Girl"
As soon as he finished each Of his
songs he sent the words and music to
Miss Flynn. One of these, dedicated to
her, read in part:
Yes, her hands may &c hardened from labor
And her dress msyi't be very fine.
hut hear, IN her posom Is betting
Warm and true 70 her flass and 10 mine
Ard the srafter II terror are S iTem s,,!
For the only and thoroughbred lady.
Is our own. dear Pfbel Gil
The "rebel giri" referred to is Miss
Flynn. On another occasion he wrote
worker, Of the World Awaken" part
of which follows:
WORKERS of the World awaken.
Break Jour chains Demand your rishts.
Al the wealth you mako Is taken
~ exploiting .srasites.
shall ys @sei !. q, 6sS ys, ;us s1,,si
Is the height OF your 'ribition
To be good and willing slaye'f
Arise. ye prisoners Of starvst!on.
Hight for your emancipation.
Unite. ye slaves OF . cry nation
In on. Union Grand.
our little ones .or. bead ar. eYins
And millions are frIl hunger dyhs
TIE end the mesns are jus.ifying:
It's ina! stand
About a month ago Miss Flynn.
whose right name 10 Mrs. Flynn-J ones.
sent Hillstrom a picture Of Buster
on a pony. In i.turn. Buster re-
ceived letter from the doomed man.
IL was decorated with percil drawings
of cowboys. indians and rattlesnakes.
1t was set to the music OF Yankee
Doodle" and read
To Bronco Buster Flynn:
got your picture. Buster. dear.
Abiding on pO7y
Your pony "a real one. too
You wouldn't ham phoneJ
Buster Flynn. n. sure IL game.
His eyes arc full Of lustre
! think we'd better chang. his name
And call him Bronco Busts:."
When you Tov " to be nan.
Ike hHi H sisd, 'T su Ai Moose e. fs ssds
And by and BY Jeu'n ride gu, West.
Like COWBOYS hist you've read Of.
Bu; dont fall q your pong. bog.
And break your lille head Of.
To Busters" mother he wrote, in
his last letter, that when he received
the photo Of her boy he had to take
but one glance to know why you were
so homesick when you were in Salt
Lake City"
lie signed the letter:
yours for the o. B. u,
"JOE HILL"
The o. B. u, Miss Flynn explained
Yesterday, stood for zone big union"