Tales of the Colorado Pioneers. Alice Polk Hill

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СКАЧАТЬ log house, but soon appeared with a pair of heavy dragoon revolvers strapped around him. When in front of the building, he whipped out a pistol and fired into the sanctum, but no one was wounded, nor was there any response. He then put spurs to his horse and sped like the wind over a condemned bridge that reeled and rocked under the clattering hoofs of his horse. Gaining the opposite bank, he rose in his stirrups and turning, fired again, but the bullet passed through the building without harm.

       A signal was then given to the News men, when they opened fire upon him from their windows. His coat was completely riddled with buckshot, and he staggered in his saddle, but did not fall. He rode rapidly to a brothel where his mistress lived, informed her of his wounded condition, and then dashed away to the Highland suburbs. A man by the name of Tom Pollock followed in his wake, and shot him from his horse.

       There were flying rumors, that Byers had been killed, and in a few minutes the streets of Denver were filled with armed men. Search being instituted for Carl Wood, he was apprehended, just as he reached the door of his cabin, and compelled to throw down his arms and surrender.

      THE HANGING OF GORDON. 57

       The trial which ensued occupied three days. All business was suspended, and Judge H. P. Bennett, always a faithful and earnest advocate of the people’s cause, did great credit to himself on this occasion.

       It was decided that Carl Wood should be banished from the country on pain of death if he returned. He was provided with a fleet horse, led out on the prairie and given the word “go,” which he obeyed without any unnecessary delay.

      CHAPTER XII.

      THE HANGING OF GORDON.

       The damp morning newspaper so often brought tales of blood, that a “man for breakfast” became a common expression.

       The killing of Jacob Gantz by James Gordon in July, 1860, created the most intense excitement that ever agi¬ tated the public mind.

       Gordon was subject to periodical sprees. On this occa¬ sion it is said he was crazy drunk. He entered a saloon, and seeing Jacob Gantz seated on a keg in a corner, politely and pressingly urged him to take a drink. While standing at the bar, Gordon lifted his glass, sneeringly viewed Gantz from head to foot, threw the whisky in his face, struck him with his pistol and shot him dead. In the darkness he made his escape to Fort Lupton. The Fort was surrounded by his pursuers for twenty-four hours before he came out. At sundown the gate was thrown open and Gordon, mounted on a fleet horse, and a pistol in each hand, plunged through the crowd and disappeared in the gathering darkness.

      58 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS.

       Weeks passed before he was heard of again. He wrote a friend to sell some property and send the money to him at Kansas City. The letter fell into the hands of W. H. Middaugh, acting as the people’s sheriff, and who under¬ took the dangerous mission of capturing him.

       Taking the coach to Leavenworth, he intercepted Gor¬ don on the high prairies, within sight of the line of the Indian Territory, whilst he was lying on the grass by the side of the trail, holding his horse by the bridle and al¬ lowing it to feed. When Middaugh read the warrant for his arrest, a death-like paleness covered his face and every nerve seemed to tremble.

       He was taken to Leavenworth, where a single half-hour’s trial was held, and, in mockery of justice, he was acquitted, on the plea that the deed was committed outside the jurisdiction of that place, notwithstanding the long-asserted authority of Kansas to the contrary. A violent mob gathered around the house, however, with the avowed intention of hanging him. He placed himself under the protection of the Mayor.

       The wildest excitement prevailed. The seething, angry crowd surged to and fro, and, as night came on, bonfires were built, which threw their lurid light far out over a scene at once weird and fearful.

       Infuriated men armed with muskets, revolvers and knives, were sending up the fierce demand: “ Hang him! Hang him!”

       Mayor McDowell expostulated with the rioters, and made several speeches urging obedience to the law.

       The ruling spirits at last agreed that Gordon should be delivered to Middaugh. The scene that ensued was in¬ describable. The brave officers gathered around the pris-

      THE HANGING OF GORDON. 59

      oner. They were forced- by the frenzied crowd into a narrow, rocky glen. Several times a halter was thrown around the neck of Gordon, and as quickly cut by an officer. Darkness closed about them, and the howls and oaths of the mob made a din that was fearful.

       The prisoner begged to be hung, shot, anything to put him out of his misery.

       He was bruised and lacerated; every shred of clothing torn from him; nothing left upon his body but clanking chains. Middaugh at length carried his prisoner through the storm, and on the 28th of September they reached Denver.

       Intense feeling began to manifest itself. The crowd which met them soon adjourned to a grove to organize a court, for they intended Gordon’s trial to be in accordance with law and justice. Judge H. P. Bennett, who sat far off with his back to the crowd, was nominated as prosecutor for the people, but he declined, saying the the Judges appointed would control the jury. If they would appoint a new set of Judges, he would prosecute. The request was acceded to, and the Judge was chosen for the prosecution with a deafening yell. He arose and stated that it would require some time to collect his evidence, and requested the trial to be adjourned until the next morning at nine o’clock. He urged the people to let right be done, though the heavens fall. He said, “the trifling of one of the highest tribunals in the land with the life that is now in our hands, has turned the eyes of tens of thousands in the States towards Denver, where no law of the great American Union claims jurisdiction. Let us temper justice with mercy, and let no mob or unlawful attempt interfere with the ‘ People’s Court.’ ” Even

      60 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS.

      after this ardent address, an attempt was made during the night to rescue Gordon.

       The next morning they entered upon the trial. Gordon was allowed every advantage that could have been accorded him by the highest and best regulated court in the land. He was supported by able lawyers, who labored faithfully in his behalf. The verdict, “guilty,” was rendered by twelve of the most respectable and responsible citizens of the country, and the sentence of death passed by the court and endorsed by the assembled hundreds. He was given time to make temporal and spiritual preparation for his unhappy end. Petitions were circulated for a reprieve, but without success. If to be hanged was inevitable, he wished no delay, for there was no reprieve from his conscience.

       From the depths of his misery thoughts came thick and fast of his misspent life, of the alluring woman who placed the red wine to his lips and led him to ruin—of the life he had taken—of the horrible death before him— of the hopes, prayers and tears of his gray-haired mother. In the words of Byron’s “ Manfred,”

      “ Though thy slumbers may be deep,

      Yet thy spirit shall not sleep;

      There are shades which will not vanish,

      There are thoughts thou canst not banish;

      And to thee shall night deny

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