The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-05-21

Farmer Peel" gambler, dead shot.
killer and bad man, was shot DEAD IN
Helena at Hardy and Chase's' saloon by
another desperate and killer, one John
Bull, 70 years ago, and now L. r.
Jorud, Of the Jorud Photo shop. Is
making photograph s Of the ov wood len
grave, erected by an affectionate
friend. walter Curtin, son Of the late
John Curtin, resident of California, a
former Helena man, has requested the
picture.
Peel, whose Christian name was
Iangford, was buried in the old ceme-
terry on Warren street where the old
high school building now stands. That
was in 1867. In 1876 his body and the
bodies of the occupants OF the ceme-
tery were removed to the Benton
avenue cemetery Whether the wooden
| headboard was discarded at that time
or later is not known.
At all events it was left on the
ground and neglected, and another son
Of a pioneer, Wilbur Sanders Jr., res
cued it, and it finally came into the
possession of the state historical L.
brary, where it is included among the
relics of early days. It is gray with age,
discolored by rains and snow, and the
black lettering is somewhat dim and
| defaced, However, the inscription Is
readable, and follows:
Sacred to the memory Of Langford
Peel. Born in Liverpool. Died July 70,
1867. Aged sc years.
In life beloved by his friends and
respected by his enemies. Vengeance is
mine sayeth the Lord. Erected by a
friend"
A brief account of Farmer Peel's
career in Utah and Montana IS to be
found in "Vigilante Days and Ways y
by N. P. Langford, an author who lived
Peel claShed over a card game IN a
gambling house, and parted IN bad
blood.
When Peel came walking into the
saloon where Bull awaited him, Bull
shot him down while fusilade of pistol
shots without gave him time to draw
his pistol He was shot in the head,
neck and left breast, and died i'm
mediately. The vengeance the Lord
killed in Denver Is years later, in 1882.
But the most dramatic episode of
Farmer Peel's life took place before he
ever came to Montana, on the narrow
main street of the once great mining
metropolis, Virginia City, New, and an
account of the affair can be found in
Bancroft's History of Nevada.
AL virginia C1Cy III Ll1e early SlAtleS
the mines were discovered in So
there was another desperate named
Eldorado Johnny. He had some notches
already on his gun, and naturally
enough, he and Farmer Peel did not
find each other socially congenial. So
they agreed to shoot it out. According
to the habit Of the great camp where
Mark Twain was a newspaper reporter
and accustomed to report such matters,
one Of them gave the other notice
next time to come heeled."
That meant that they were to arm,
and on their next meeting fight it out.
Eldorado Johnny was something of a
dandy in dress, and apparently he per-
ceived the extremes to which the pos
sibilities of the occasion might extend
Hence he bought himself the finest
suit Of clothes in town-and that was
g rich city, place where one could
find the most elegant apparel-and
hat, shoes, underwear and everything
that went with it. Then he hied him
self to q barber shop and secured q
haircut. shave and other beauty parlol
services, and with a silk handkerchief
protruding from his breast pocket anc
q boutonniere in his coat lapel, hi
sailed forth to meet Farmer Peel II
deadly battle.