The Duluth rip-saw., 1920-02-07

FEBRUARY I, 1920.
not expected any trouble, believing
that the government would fix its
price and assign the timber rights to
| him.
1t so happened, however, that Adney
| coveted that particular bunch Of gov
ernment pine; and those knowing him
best believe that he really planned to
| steal it, float it down the river and
then let Uncle Sam whistle if the loss
ever was called to federal attention,
which was not at all likely, at least
for long time.
When Adney found that Clark had
beat him to the coveted pine, he made
complaint to the U. s. authorities and
Clark was arrested for stealing the
timber.
Clark's case came up in May, 1898,
at Duluth, and he was cleared, prov
ing his good intentions and having set
tied for the stumpage Adney and
other witnesses were present at the
trial. After the case was over, all
concerned started back to Aitkin by
train.
Adney had made black threats to
the effect that it would not be well
for Clark to cross his trail and that
he would "get him" if he did. They
rode in separate coaches on the way
back and kept apart after they got to
Aitkin.
| Clark's friends were worried and
earnestly advised him to carry a gun
for emergency use. As a result, he
asked friend in Aitkin, a bartender,
if information is correct, for q gun and
a revolver was handed him that, as
later events showed, either had been
loaded and unusued for a very long
time, or else was very defective
weapon.
Clark was at the bar in the old Fo-
ley hotel, talking with friends and pre-
| pairing to take a drink. Just as he
lifted his glass, an inside door opened
and, in the mirror behind the bar,
Clark saw the reflection of Adney
| standing in the doorway and looking
earnestly around the room, which was
well filled with lumberjacks and 9TH
ers, engaged in pouring out copious H.
bations and visiting with one another.
Clark and Adney saw one another at
| about the same time. Adney momen-
tanly hesitated, then entered he room,
| reaching for his pocket as he did so.
Clark set down his glass, wheeled,
and pulled his gun.
The two men then kept advancing,
firing steadily as they did so.
Adney fired three times, two of his
shots hitting Clark. For some reason,
the revolver Of the latter missed fire
every time he pulled the trigger.
The men soon came together. Clark
then dropped his useless weapon,
grabbed Adney's right hand and twist.
| ed his revolver from it.
Shot to his death, Clark staggered
backward but, just as he did so, he
fired at Adney with that desperate
mans own revolver. Clark, as one
narrator tells it, fell dead to the floor
and Adney dropped with a mortal
| wound.
Sheriff Boekenoogen, of Aitkin, who
had personal knowledge of the affair,
states that Adney died almost instant
ly and that Clark lived until the next
day, May IA.
The Rip-saw's original informant
states that Adney fell across the
Threshold of the door that he so re-
Gently had entered. He was picked up
] and taken to the Willard hotel and a
doctor summoned. He remained un-
conscious until the next morning,
when he regained his senses. Trying
to raise himself on his elbow, he
| asked:
elbows Clarki"
"Oh, Clark's all right,' was the
reply.
Adney dropped back onto his pillow
and expired.
The Rip-saw's informant, of course,
tells the story from memory, after a
lapse Of % years. Sheriff Boekenoo-
gen not only was in Aitkin at the
time, but he has advantage of written
| records at he couny seat.
1t further is stated that friends of
the men saw to it that one man was
buried in Aitkin and the other in
| Brainerd. 1t was not wished to risk
their peace in death by burying both
in the same town or the same GENE
terry.
Adney is represented as having been
rough, desperate and very wicked
man. It is stated that, when driving
logs on the Mississippi river one time,
the wanigan stuck on a sandbar and
could not be budged. Adney worked
long and hard, but there the old wani-
gan remained, hard and fast.
In frenzy of anger, Adney finally
jumped up onto the bow and began to
curse the Almighty. He shook his fist
| at the heavens and invited God to come
down there and fight it out viii him.
The cook and cookee stood by, par
| alyzed with wonder and terror.
"Come down here, God, you--
and III cut your CUTS
out!" howled Adney in maniacal an
ger.
Other words just as shocking and
sacriligious followed. The cook and