USA > Idaho > Vigilante days and ways : the pioneers of the Rockies, the makers and making of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, Vol. I > Part 35
USA > Montana > Vigilante days and ways : the pioneers of the Rockies, the makers and making of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, Vol. I > Part 35
USA > Oregon > Vigilante days and ways : the pioneers of the Rockies, the makers and making of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, Vol. I > Part 35
USA > Washington > Vigilante days and ways : the pioneers of the Rockies, the makers and making of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, Vol. I > Part 35
USA > Wyoming > Vigilante days and ways : the pioneers of the Rockies, the makers and making of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, Vol. I > Part 35
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White and Dorsett.
ise to overtake his party, he at once suspected him of the theft. The mule was a very fine animal, which Hunt had purchased of Dorsett in Colorado.
" If I find him," said Dorsett, as he mounted his horse to return to the mine, "I will recover and send him back to you."
The second day after this promise was made, while crossing the divide between White Tail and Boulder, Dorsett met Kelley in possession of the stolen animals. After brief conversation, Dorsett asked, -
" Where did you get that fine mule, Kelley ?"
"The man at Nevada, who promised me the horse I told you about, could not find him, and gave me the mule instead."
Not wishing to arouse Kelley's suspicion, Dorsett asked no more questions, but, with a friendly " good-by," rode on as rapidly as possible to his camp. He was informed that Kelley had been there, and had told the miners that some friend in Deer Lodge had sent him a written offer to furnish provisions and a good outfit for pros- pecting. He was going there immediately to accept it, and had bought both horse and mule for that purpose. When they were informed that the animals were stolen, White agreed to join Dorsett, and they started immediately in pursuit
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of the thief, thus furnishing another instance of the strength of that friendship which neither the freezing weather and mountain snows, nor long days of travel and long nights of exposure, could overcome. The single thought of serving a friend put to flight every consideration of personal com- fort or convenience. They did not expect to be absent longer than three days at the most.
A week passed and nothing was heard from them. Dorsett had promised Thompson and Rumsey, when he left, that he would return to Virginia City in five or six days. Ten days expired without bringing any intelligence. Rumsey's fears were aroused for the safety of his friends. Being at Nevada on business, he mentioned inci- dentally this strange disappearance, and Stephen Holmes, a bystander, observed that, four days before, while at Deer Lodge, he had met Kelley with Dorsett's horse, revolver, Henry rifle, and cantinas, and that Kelley had told him he traded · for them with a man at Boulder. With charac- teristic promptness, Rumsey replied to Holmes, -
" The men have been murdered by the scoun- drel, and he is fleeing with their property."
To think, with such men as Thompson and Rumsey, was to act. No time was to be lost. Thoroughly equipped for a long pursuit, Thomp-
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White and Dorsett.
son and a friend named Coburn started immedi- ntely upon the track of Kelley, and at the same time James Dorsett, brother of Rudolph, organ- ized a party with which he went as rapidly as possible to the Boulder, in search of the missing men. This little party passed the first night at Coppock's ranche on the Jefferson. The next day, while passing through a hollow on the Boulder range, called Basin, they found tracks diverging from the road in the direction of White Tail Deer creek. They followed that stream nearly to the forks, when suddenly they saw, some distance before them, two men emerge from the thin forest of pines. They spurred their horses into a sharp run. The men turned at the sound and raised their guns, and stood upon the defen- sive. The approaching party, rifles in hand, drew nearer, and a conflict at long range seemed inevita- ble. Fortunately, at this moment, one of the two men recognized James Dorsett, and dropped his gun, and with friendly gestures rode toward him. Offensive demonstrations were soon fol- lowed by hearty greeting's. . The two men proved to be John Heffner and a comrade, who had just been searching in the willows for a suitable camping-ground for the night.
"I have found," said he, in a mournful tone,
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" what you are searching for. Rudolph Dorsett and John White have both been murdered, and their bodies are in the willows."
"My God !" exclaimed James, "my brother murdered !" and, bursting into tears, he followed Heffner into the clump.
" I came in here," said Heffner, "to pick up some wood for a camp-fire. This heap of coals and burned sticks attracted my attention. Thinks I, there's been campers here before. I looked It around and caught a glance at the saddle. startled me, for it seemed a very good one, and I thought it strange that any one would leave it here. I examined it narrowly, and, lifting it up, I beheld the dead face of John White. You may well believe I was frightened. On turning to call my partner, I almost stumbled over the corpse of your brother, which was covered with an overcoat. We had just completed our survey of the camp, and stepped out of the bushes to look up another camping-place, when we heard your horses."
On a close examination of the spot, appearances indicated that White and Dorsett, with Kelley as a prisoner, had arrived there either at a late hour, or without any provisions, as there was no evidence of cooking. They had tied their pris- oner with twisted strips of blanket, pieces of
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White and Dorsett.
which were found near, and, as they doubtless supposed, secured him for the night. A few fagots had been heaped up for a morning fire ; and the theory of the murder advanced by the searching party was that, while White was on his knees kindling the fire, Kelley freed himself from his bonds, picked up White's revolver, and shot him twice in the back of the neck; then seizing his rifle, turned and shot Dorsett, who was gather- ing wood a little distance away, through the heart. An armful of wood lay scattered where he had fallen. His skull was beaten in pieces, a boulder lying near, bespattered with blood and brains, bearing gloomy testimony to the manner in which it was done. After this his body had been dragged some twenty steps from the spot where he fell, and stripped of its clothing, which the murderer had taken away with him, and wore the day that Holmes met him at Deer Lodge. White's body had also been removed, and the saddle placed over the face. The bodies were taken to Coppock's ranche, and thence to Virginia City for burial.
This was one of the earliest and most brutal tragedies in the newly discovered gold regions ; and, happening when they were populated mostly by Eastern people, and before Plummer and his
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White and Dorsett.
band of ruffians had been arrested in their grand scheme of wholesale slaughter, it produced a pro- found sensation throughout the country. The desire to capture and make a public example of the ruffian who had committed the shocking crime was universal. All eyes were turned to the pur- suit of Kelley by Thompson and Coburn, and all ears open to catch the first tidings of its success. These men were beyond the reach of information of the discovery of the bodies at the time it was made, but they had found evidence by the way, which convinced them that their friends had been assassinated. At Deer Lodge a pistol which Kelley had sold was identified by Thompson as the property of Dorsett, and his initials, R. R. D., were graven on the handle. They pushed the pursuit to Hell Gate, procuring two relays in Deer Lodge valley. Finding that the deep snows rendered the Cœur D'Alene mountains impassable, they turned back to take the route into Oregon, by Jocko and Pend d'Oreille lakes. Between Frenchtown and Hell Gate they met an Indian with Dorsett's saddle, which Thompson took from him. Forty miles below Jocko, they reclaimed the horse from a little band of Indians who had traded for it with Kelley. Proceeding on towards the Pacific, they met a company of miners, who had
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White and Dorsett.
met Kelley fifteen days before, on his way to Lewiston.
The men pursued their journey, following the devious windings of Clarke's fork to its junction with the Snake river, and thence on to Lewiston, -a tract of country at that time more disastrous for winter travel than perhaps any other equal por- tion of the continent. There were no roads, and the solitary Indian trail leading over the mountains, through canons, and aeross large rivers, for much of the distance was obscured by snow, and in many places difficult and dangerous of passage. Had their object been anything less than to avenge the death of their friend, they would have turned back, and consoled themselves with the reflection that it was not worth the risk and exposure need- ful to win it; but, with that in view, they wel- comed privation and danger while a single hope remained of its accomplishment.
At Lewiston, Coburn remained on the lookout, while Thompson continued the pursuit farther west. At the hotel in Walla Walla, Thompson found Kelley's name upon the register. He learned, on inquiring of the clerk, that he had told him he came from the Beaverhead mines. The barber who shaved him, remembered him, because he paid him an extra price for the service. Kelley
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White and Dorsett. .
had purchased a new suit of clothes, of which Thompson procured a sample. With these clews Thompson hastened to Portland, and ascertained that Kelley had spent nine days there, and left by steamer for San Francisco. In fact, on the day that Thompson arrived at Portland, Kelley entered the harbor of San Francisco. Thompson tele- graphed the chief of police to arrest and detain him until he arrived. He had taken the precau- tion to obtain requisitions from the Governor of Idaho on the Governors of Oregon, California, and Washington, and a commission as special deputy United States marshal.
Chief Burke, on receipt of the telegram, called at the hotel where Kelley had taken quarters, and, not finding him, gave no further attention to the matter. Learning on his return that he had been inquired after, Kelley, suspicious of the object, left the city at once, taking with him an overcoat and pistol belonging to a fellow boarder. Thomp- son found, on his arrival at San Francisco, that the bird had flown, but in what direction he was unable to ascertain. After spending some time in fruitless inquiry, he returned home with nothing better than his labor for his pains. It was a sore disappointment, but none the less demonstrative as an illustration of personal devo- tion and attachment.
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White and Dorsett.
Kelley returned to Portland, and soon disap- peared from public view. Thompson was con- stantly on the lookout for him, and in 1864 heard of him as a participant in a robbery committed in Port Neuf canon. It was ascertained that after the robbery Kelley went to Denver, where he was known by the name of Childs. He remained there several months. Thompson heard of his being there, and sent a man to identify him. Kelley took the alarm, and left immediately by the Ore- gon route for Mexico. Thompson wrote to a friend in Prescott to arrest him en route, but the letter arrived too late, as the rascal had passed through the town several days before. If living, he is still at large; but there is no corner of the globe where Thompson would not follow him, were he certain that the journey would effect his arrest.
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Langford Peel.
CHAPTER XVIII.
LANGFORD PEEL.
SUFFERING IN KANSAS IN THE WINTER OF 1856 - PEEL'S KINDNESS TO CONLEY AND RUCKER - THEIR INGRATITUDE - PEEL'S DESTITUTION - ROBINSON'S GENEROSITY -DEATH OF RUCKER - PEEL WOUNDED - THREATENED WITH DEATH - ESCAPES TO CALI- FORNIA - DOWNWARD CAREER - ARRIVES AT CAR- SON CITY - PRIZE FIGHT AND DEATH OF MUCHACHO - PEEL FIGHTS DICK PADDOCK - KILLS EL DORADO JOHNNY IN A FIGHT - PRINCIPLES OF THE ROUGHIS -PEEL SUFFERS LANNAN TO ARREST HIM -CHAR- ACTER OF NEVADA ROUGHS - FIGHT BETWEEN BARNHARDT AND PEASLEY - BOTH KILLED - CHAR- ACTER OF PEASLEY - PEEL LEAVES NEVADA - GOES TO SALT LAKE, AND THENCE TO HELENA - QUARREL WITH JOHN BULL -IS KILLED BY HIM - INSCRIP- TION ON HIS TOMBSTONE.
PEOPLE who were living in the West in 1856, well remember the terrible winter of that year, and the suffering it occasioned among the poorer classes. Severity of weather, scarcity of provis- ions, and the high price of fuel, following hard upon a season of uncommon distress and disaster
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Langford Peel.
in all kinds of business, necessarily brought starvation and suffering to a large floating popu- lation, which had gathered into the little towns and settlements along the Missouri border. This was especially the case in the settlements of Kansas, which, by their supposed opportunities for profitable investment and occupation, had attracted a large emigration from other parts of the Union. Langford Peel was at this time a pros- perous citizen of Leavenworth. Moved to com- passion by the sufferings of those around him, he contributed generously to their relief. Among others who shared liberally of his bounty were Messrs: Conley and Rucker, two men whom he found in a state of complete destitution, and invited to his house, where they were comfortably provided for until spring, and then aided with means to return to their friends.
Of Peel's antecedents, previous to this time, I know nothing. He was regarded as one of those strange compounds who unite in their character the extremes of recklessness and kind- ness. In his general conduct there was more to approve than condemn, though his fearless man- ner, his habits of life, and his occupation as a gambler, gave him a doubtful reputation. Among people of his own class he was specially attractive,
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Langford Peel.
because of his great physical strength, manly pro- portions, undoubted bravery, and overflowing kindness. To these qualities he added a repose of manner that gave him unbounded influence in his sphere. No man was more prompt to make the cause of a friend his own, to resent an injury, or punish an insult. His dexterity with the revolver was as marvellous as the ready use he made of it when provoked. His qualifications as a rough and ready borderer bespoke a fore- ground in his life, of much exposure and practice.
The year 1858 found him in Salt Lake City, in reduced circumstances. As if to mark this reverse with peculiar emphasis, Conley and Rucker, the sharers of his bounty two years before, were also there engaged in prosperous business. They had seemingly forgotten their old benefactor, and treated him with coldness and neglect. Peel was an entire stranger to all save them, and felt bitterly their ingratitude.
A citizen by the name of Robinson, who had been attracted by the manly figure of Peel, observed him, a few days after his arrival, seated upon a log in the rear of the Salt Lake House, apparently in deep study. Calling his partner to the door, he inquired if he knew him.
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Langford Peel.
" His name is Peel, I have been told," was the reply.
" He is in trouble."
" Yes, he's got no money, and is a stranger."
" Do you know him ? "
" No, I never spoke to him. I only know he's in distress, destitute, and has no friends. He's the man who took care of a lot of boys that were dead broke, that hard winter at Leavenworth."
" He is ? If I didn't think he'd take it as an insult, I'd go out and offer him some money."
Later in the day, Peel entered Robinson's room, and approaching Conley, who was seated in the " lookout seat," near a table where a game of faro was progressing, said to him, -
" Dave, I wish you'd lend me twenty-five dollars ? "
" I'll not do it," replied Conley.
" Why ?"
" I've no money to loan."
" I don't consider it a loan," said Peel, looking steadfastly at Conley. Then, as if influenced by a recollection of his own kindness to the man who refused him, he exclaimed, " Great God ! is it pos- sible that there is not a man in the country who will lend me twenty-five dollars ?"
Robinson, who was seated by the table drawer,
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Langford Peel.
now drew it out, and, grasping a handful of coin, threw it eagerly upon the table.
" Here," said he, "Mr. Peel, I'll loan you twenty-five dollars, or as much more as you want. You're entirely welcome to it."
Peel turned, and fixing upon Robinson a look of mingled surprise and gratitude, responded, " Sir, you're a stranger to me. We never spoke together before, but I will gratefully accept your kindness, and thank you. All I want is twenty- five dollars, and I'll pay you as soon as I can." He then picked up five half-eagles, and placed them in the palm of his hand.
"Take more, Peel," said Robinson. " Take a hundred, or whatever you want."
" No, this is all I want ; " then, fixing his gaze upon Conley, whose face was red and swollen with anger, he seized the " case keeper " used for mark- ing the game, and hurled it violently at his head. Conley dodged, and the only effect of the act was a deep indentation in the adobe wall. Conley sprung from his seat and ran out of the building. Peel drew his revolver with the intention of pur- suing, but Robinson, seizing his arm, said, -
"Stay your hand, Peel. For God's sake, don't make any disturbance."
Peel sheathed his pistol at the moment, and,
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Langford Peel.
taking Robinson by the hand, replied, "No; you must excuse me. I beg a thousand pardons, but I was very angry. You're the only friend I have in this country. Conley has treated me like a dog. All of 'em have. I have fed them for weeks in my own house, when they had nothing to eat. My wife has cooked, and washed and ironed their clothes for them, and this is the return I get for it."
He then started to leave, but, as if suddenly reminded that he had neglected to say something, he returned ; and while the tears, which he vainly tried to suppress, were streaming down his cheeks, he said, -
I certainly repay this money. I
would rather die than wrong you out of it."
He had been gone about twenty minutes when shots were heard.
"I reckon," said Robinson, starting for the door, "that Peel has killed Conley."
All followed, but they found that the exchange of shots was between Peel and Rucker, the latter the proprietor of a faro bank on Commercial Street, where Peel had gone and staked his money on the turn of a card.
Rucker, perceiving it, pushed the money away, remarking, in a contemptuous tone, -
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Langford Peel.
" I don't want your game."
Smarting under the insult conveyed in these words, Peel raised a chair to hit Rucker on the head. Rucker fled through the rear door of the building, and entered Miller's store adjoining, the back stairs of which he hurriedly ascended, draw- ing his revolver by the way. Peel soon after went into the store by the front door, and inquired for Miller, who was absent. Sauntering to the rear of the apartment, which was but dimly lighted, he came suddenly upon Rucker, who had just descended the stairs, and, with revolver in hand, was waiting his approach.
" What do you want of me ?" inquired Rucker, thrusting his pistol against Peel's side.
" Great God !" was Peel's instant exclamation, drawing and cocking his pistol with lightning rapidity. Their simultaneous fire gave but a single report, and both fell, emptying their pistols after they were down. Peel was wounded in the thigh, through the cheek, and in the shoulder. Rucker, hit every time, was mortally wounded, and died in a few moments. Peel was conveyed to the Salt Lake House, where his wounds received care.
Miller was clamorous for Peel's arrest, and the city police favored his execution, but the sym-
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Langford Peel.
pathies of the people were with him. He had many friends, who assured him of protection from violence, and kept his enemies in ignorance of his condition until such time as he could be removed to a place of concealment. This project was in- trusted to a Mormon dignitary of high standing in the church, who was paid forty-five dollars for the service. He conveyed Peel to a sequestered hut twelve miles distant from the city, on the Jor- dan road, and with undue haste provided him with female apparel and a fast horse, to facilitate his escape from the country. His wounds were too severe, and he was obliged to return to the shelter of the hut, near which Miller discovered him a few days afterwards, while walking for exercise. Mil- ler disclosed his discovery to the police, boasting, meantime, of what he had done in so public a man- ner, that the friends of Peel, hearing it, speedily provided for his protection. Close upon the heels of the policemen who had gone to arrest Peel they sent the wily Mormon, with instructions to convey him to a place of safety. The night was dark, and the rain froze into sleet as it fell. The police- men stopped at a wayside inn to warm and refresh themselves, and were passed by the Mormon, who, dreading the vengeance which would visit him in case of failure, urged his horse into a run, and
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Langford Peel.
arrived in time to conduct Peel to Johnson's ranche, where he was secreted for several weeks. As soon as he was able, he made the journey on horseback to California, by the southern route, passing through San Bernardino and Los Angeles. Large rewards were offered for his arrest, but his friends, believing him to be the victim of ingrati- tude, would not betray him.
The death of Rucker lay heavy on the conscience of Peel, and from the moment of his arrival on the Pacific coast, his downward career was very rapid. He associated only with gamblers and roughs, among whom the height of his ambition was to be an acknowledged chief. He was a bold man who dared to dispute the claim to this title with him, for usually he did not escape without disput- ing on the spot his higher title to life. Expert in pistol practice, desperate in character, Peel was never more at home than in an affray. His wan- derings at length took him to Carson City, in Nevada, where his shooting exploits, and their bloody character, form a chapter in the early his- tory of the place. It is told of him by his asso- ciates, as a mark of singular magnanimity, that he scorned all advantage of an adversary, and, under the bitterest provocation, would not attack him until satisfied that he was armed. His loy-
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alty to this principle, as we shall see hereafter, cost him his life.
From many incidents related of the reckless life led by Peel while in Nevada, I select one, as especially illustrative. A prize fight between Tom Daly, a noted pugilist, and Billy Maguire, better known as the " Dry Dock Chicken," was planned by the roughs of Virginia City. It was intended to be a " put-up job." By the delivery of a foul blow, Maguire was to be the loser. The referee and umpire were privy to the arrangement, and were to decide accordingly. A great number of sports were in attendance. At the stage of progress in the fight agreed upon, Maguire struck his antagonist the exceptionable blow. The ex- pected decision was given ; but Izzy Lazarus, and other men familiar with the rules of the ring, said that it was not foul. One of the initiated, named Muchacho, disputed the question with Lazarus, who gave him the lie. Drawing his pistol, he brought it to an aim, so as to clear the inner ring, and shouting, " Look out !" fired and hit Lazarus in the breast. Lazarus refrained from firing lest he should hit others, but approached Muchacho, who fired again, wounding his pistol hand. Quick as thought, Lazarus seized his pistol in the left hand, and fired, killing Muchacho in his tracks.
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Langford Peel.
The row now became general, and pistol shots were fired in all parts of the crowd. No others were killed, but many were severely wounded, and such was the confusion during the mêlée that the fatal shot of Lazarus escaped observation. Many were the conjectures on the subject, but suspicion seemed to fasten upon Lazarus. Dick Paddock, a friend of his, being in Robinson's saloon a few day's after the affray, boldly avowed that he fired it. Peel overheard him, and, after informing him that Muchacho was his friend, challenged him to a fight on the spot. Both men stepped outside the saloon, took their positions, and commenced firing. Peel wounded Paddock three times, es- caping unharmed himself, and the combat closed without any fatal consequences. "El Dorado Johnny " renewed the quarrel, for the double purpose of avenging Paddock and establishing a claim as chief. The next day, while walking up street, he addressed the following inquiry to Pat Lannan, who was standing in the door of his saloon, -
" Pat, what sort of a corpse do you think I'd make ? "
"You don't look much like a corpse now, Johnny," replied Lannan, laughing.
" Well, I'm bound to be a corpse or a gentle-
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Langford Peel.
man in less than five minutes," replied Johnny, passing on.
Carefully scrutinizing the inmates of each saloon as he came to it, Johnny soon saw the object of his search pass out of Pat Robinson's, a few rods ahead of him. Walking rapidly back, he turned and faced him, and, half drawing his pistol, said, - " Peel, I'm chief."
" You're a liar," rejoined Peel, drawing his pistol, and killing Johnny instantly. The words here recorded were all that passed at the encoun- ter. Johnny had his pistol half drawn, but Peel's superior dexterity overcame the advantage. Peel was tried and acquitted.
As no member of the company of roughs was braver than Peel, so none was more observant of the rules and principles by which they were gov- erned. In all their relations to each other, whether friendly or hostile, any violation of a frank and manly course was severely censured, and often punished. A person guilty of any meanness, great or small, lost caste at once. If by any undue ad- vantage, life or property was taken, the guilty per- son was visited with prompt retribution. Often, in the young communities which sprung up in the mining regions, prominent roughs were elected to positions in the court service. It was deemed a
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