Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Early History of Idaho by Wm. John McConnell Pub. Caxton Printers, Caldwell Idaho - 1913 CHAPTER XIV. PLACERVILLE TRAGEDY IF THE first settlers in Idaho had intended to remain and become permanent citizens, as many of them eventually concluded to do, and had directed their energies, not only to making money, but also to public affairs, including the election of good men to fill the offices, life and property might have been as safe from the be- ginning as in the older and well-regulated states and territories. In even the most desperate and lawless communities, where crime runs riot, it is almost invariably true that the disturbers con- stitute an insignificant minority of the whole; they simply are possessed of magnetic and phys- ical force sufficient to impress others with the erroneous idea that they are really the "whole thing." Their ability to impress a community with their numerical strength is usually equal, or superior, to that of the timber, or mountain wolf, one of which can start its calliple and in a few seconds convince the novice that the woods are live with its kind. The ease and celerity with which the citizens of Boise and Payette valleys rid the country of bad men is proof of the analogy. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 255 While the citizens of the valleys, and out- lying districts in southern Idaho were solving the problems of establishing civil government in the manner related, Boise Basin, with its large and incongruous population, had also been en- gaged in making history. In the mining dis- tricts of not only Idaho, but all over the inter- mountain states, at the time to which this narra- tive relates, there were a number of men who were called "chiefs," their right to the distinction arising from being leaders in such dangerous and often sanguinary disputes as sometimes occurred in gambling houses and other disreputable re- sorts. The rank of these so-called chiefs was determined by the number of nicks or notches cut in the handle of their revolvers, the chief, or bravo, being entitled to add an additional nick for every man he killed. The following incident will give the reader a conception of the char- acter of this class of men. One afternoon during the summer of 1864, a pack-train of mules com- ing into the town of Placerville over the Center- ville road, skirted the north side of the plaza and passed on and out up Granite street. The owner of the animals, who was riding behind the train with one of his helpers, after passing the Magnolia saloon, turned his mule and rode to a public well, located in the center of the plaza. The well was equipped with a bucket and wind- lass. The packer, after alighting from his mule, drew a bucket of fresh water and after having regaled himself, proceeded to tighten the cinch --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 256 of his saddle. There were three gamblers sitting in front of the Magnolia saloon when the pack- train passed through the plaza and they had been watching the owner while drawing the water and taking a drink. One of them arose and re- marked, "Watch me and see how I'll fix that fel- low." Saying which he walked up to the well and picking up the bucket threw what remained in it after the man had satisfied his thirst, all over him. The packer reached for his holster as if with the intention of drawing his pistol; this action was anticipated by the gambler, who shot and killed his victim before the poor spluttering man with eyes, ears and nose filled with water could draw a weapon, and thus the victor of the drama was entitled to add another nick to its fellows on the butt of his revolver. The man who had thus distinquished himself immediately surrendered to the officers and on his request, a hearing was at once granted, at which his companions, to whom he had said "Watch me, and see how I fix that fellow," appeared and testified that the shooting was done in self-defense, the packer having reached for his gun first. Their testimony being considered suf- ficient, the prisoner was discharged. Among the unwritten laws of the Universe is one which pre- scribes that, sooner or later, relentless Justice shall overtake and punish the transgressor who violates the commandment "Thou shalt not kill." Judges may be corrupt, juries may be venal, but a Nemisis pursues and retribution finally over- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 257 takes the offender. The next summer after the killing of the packer the man who committed the murder accompanied a party of prospecters into the hills east and south of Boise, now known as the Neal district, and while in camp one day two Indians came in and presented an open letter showing that they were traveling on a permit from the governor of the territory, in search of a band of Bannocks whom the governor desired to come to Boise City and hold council with the purpose of preventing a threatened out- break. The Indians after a brief halt at the white men's camp took their departure, but a few of those who were there when the Indians left were of the class often met on the frontier in former days, who held that the only good Indian was a dead one, among this number being the hero of the Placerville tragedy. Since the Indians were riding fine horses, they concluded to follow, and after making "good Indians" out of them, appropriate the animals and their equipment. Therefore, as soon as possible, they saddled their own mounts, which were picketed near camp, and started in pursuit. After a hard ride they came within hailing distance, and the Indians failing to halt when commanded to do so, their pursuers fired upon them, and a running fight ensued, the Indians finally making their escape, but in the excitement a shot-gun loaded with buck-shot was acciden- tally discharged, the load taking effect at short range in one of the limbs of the Placerville mur- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 258 durer, shattering his thigh bone. He was car- ried to Boise City, and after many weeks of terrible suffering, was removed to San Francisco. Whether he survived the accident was known to few if any of his former associates. Among those who posed as bad men in Pla- cerville at the time the foregoing tragedy was enacted, was an ex-colonel, who, it was said, had formerly served in the Confederate army. Seek- ing for an opportunity to distinguish himself by killing some one, he selected for a victim a man named Brown, commonly known as Butcher Brown, he having a meat-market of what was generally called a butcher shop, on the north side of the plaza. Being a cow-man, or drover, and dealer in cattle, he was interested in not only the Placerville market, but owned another in Centerville, besides supplying beef cattle to other butchers. He was a jovial, manly man, over six feet in height, with the form of an athlete, and having since boyhood followed the business of driving cattle north from Texas, was as familiar with the use of a Colt's revolver as a stock whip. His leading characteristic was an unbending and determined loyalty to the Ameri- can flag and the army that at that time carried it in the field. His well known prowess had ren- dered him immune in Idaho for more than a year after his arrival, when the colonel con- cluded to rid the country of the man, who enter- tained opinions opposed to those held by his alma mater - the Confederacy. His experience in war --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 259 had led the colonel to respect the poet who wrote "He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day," so after making arrangements for a speedy departure in case of need, he walked deliberately into the market and not finding Brown in the front room, or stall, he went through to a back room which was used as an office, and here he found the object of his search, who was engaged in posting his books, using a common kitchen table for a desk, and sitting with his back turned toward the door. There being sawdust on the floor, the intruder's entrance gave no warning sounds, and as no words were spoken, the first intimation Brown had of the presence of any one in the room was the report of the colonel's revolver, instantly succeeded by two other shots fired at his back. After firing the last shot, the colonel, with the gun still smoking in his hand, turned and fled through the open door by which he entered. He ran down the street toward the livery stable where he had arranged for a horse to be saddled and in waiting. But only one of the shots fired by the assassin had taken effect, and the wound it produced to be only a flesh- wound. Though dazed by the suddenness of the attack and the smoke of the powder, it was perhaps less than a minute before the wounded man withdrew his long legs and number ten boots from under the table, and, straightening to his full height, he followed the fleeing wretch to the outer door, but before he reached the outside --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 260 the colonel had gained a distance of nearly half a block, and was sprinting down the street be- tween the Magnolia saloon and Higbee's store. Upon reaching the sidewalk, Brown, for the first time since the shooting, began drawing his weapon, and fired. Firing but a single shot at his would-be murderer, he turned into his mar- ket, where a surgeon, attracted by the firing, arrived in time to dress his wounds. The shot fired after the retreating colonel had taken effect in his neck, but while his wound bled profusely it caused but temporary annoyance, and not being disabled he soon recovered his equanimity and strutted about the saloons with the assurance of one who had won an honorable victory. A few days later the would-be assassin was arrested and taken before a magistrate, who permitted him to plead to a simple assault for which he was sentenced to serve ninety days in the county jail, the sentence being suspended a few days later. It must not be thought that such events transpired without more than temporary notice, for they made a permanent and lasting impres- sion on the minds of all the residents who were engaged in legitimate pursuits until, finally, the social fabric in Boise Basin was like a slumbering volcano - liable to erupt at any moment. The manner in which the final eruption came will be told in a succeeding chapter. ===========================================================================