Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-03-07

4 ing the fight two more of the outlaws
were wounded, the three pack horses
and two saddle horses killed, and two
saddle horses captured by the officers.
leaving them only one horse with which
/ to make their escape.
Excelbee and his men then retreated
( into the brush, made a circuit and
came out on the opposite side of the
officers, from where they fired at a
lot of cowboys who happened to be In
the vicinity, killing one, Billy Cum
bingham, and wounding another by
the name Of Jack Harris, who later
died as a result Of his wound.
Sequel to the Fight
That night Excelbee, the wounded
chief, went to Sheldon's ranch, five
miles above the scene Of the combat
He was accompanied by three Of his
comrades, and begged for bread, ban
dageS and money, stating that he was
going to leave the country as it was
becoming too torrid for him. The next
day Campbell, who had become sep
arated from the others, sent to Hlmph
reg Hood, foreman OF the Hash-Knife
cattle ranch, the following pleading
note, by stage driver named Chase:
Dear Hood: was badly wounded
In the head during the fight yesterday
and my horse was killed. The boys are
all shot to pieces and scattered. For
Gods sake send me q horse by bearer
as soon as it is dark enough to get
away from the officers"
Hood, not wishing to be implicated,
sent the note to Officer Willard who
detained the bearer, Chase, until dark.
when he and Charley Conley went with
Chase to the cabin where Campbell
was hiding, five miles distant Upon
reaching the place, Chase was ordered
to take one Of the horses and faSten
him TO the gate, then go inside and
tell Campbell there was a horse for
him outside. Campbell soon came out
with a pistol in his right hand and
a rifle in his left hand and when half
way TO the gate, Willard called to him
to throw up his hands. Instead of
complying he commenced shooting in
the direction of the voice, Whereupon
Willard and Conley both fired at the
desperate man and he fell dead.
On the following Friday, Tuttle was
brought to Spearfish and placed in the
county hospital, where it was decided
that amputation was necessary. The
operation was never reformed as during
the silent hours one dark night, band
Of six masked men entered the hos
pital where the sufferer slept, gagged
him, and carried him away groaning
with pain, the inmates OF the hospital
not daring to make any outcry against
the procedure. The next morning, his
rigid body was found clad only IN a
thin cotton shirt, bandage around
his neck, and swinging like a pendu-
lum from the limb Of an oak tree, in
the cold winter wind. The body bore
every indication that he had slowly |
choked to death.
futile was born and reared in the /
lap Of luxury-a fathers pride. and a
fond mothers Joy, doubtless. He had
been educated in the best schools Of /
the country, and was then sent abroad
to complete his studies. His father
died leaving him a fortune Of $4,000 !
to $4,000. He then left New York and
came west. landing in Minnesota where |
he went into the drug business with |
a partner.
inexperienced in the ways Of the I'M
trammeled west, and susceptible, per-
hays, to evil influences, he soon squan- /
dered his heritage, and was left pen /
niless. After wandering from one point |
to another for a time he arrived at
the Black Hills and went out on the /
cattle range, joined the gang, as an
easy way to make a living, and finally
ended his once promising life as here
inbefore stated
The breaking up Of this notorious
gang had the effect Of drawing to a
final conclusion Of the wholesale &C
tivities Of horse and cattle thieves who
had operated In the Black Hills for
many years and the stockmen, after
that time were left to their pursuits
mmolested.