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Life On The Plains

Life On The Plains image
Parent Issue
Day
23
Month
February
Year
1877
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

George W. Via has for some time past been in charge of a band of horses beLonging to E. W. Whiteomb, Via's headqnarterx being at a ranch some twentylive miles south of thiB city, on Box Eider creek, ín Weid county, Col. A. H. Swan had a number of horses in this band also. A short time ftgo Mr. Swan diseharged a herder nnnied Granvilte Pcak, but, not liking to turn the fellow away entirely, he told Peuk to join Via, and'thus eamhis "grub" until hefound work, Via carne to Cheyenne last Friday, returning Saturday, nnd that niglit Peak inquired if Iip had bronght any money for him. Via said he had not. Peak then asked Via to loan him a revolver, sayiug he wished to go out and kill a rabbit by moonlight. Via handed him a five-shooter, and Peak stnrted out, bnt soon retnmed, saying it was too duik i and that he did not feel well. He stuck the weapon iuto liis boot-leg, and the men then took one or two drinks of whisky, when Penk proposed that they ride to Calloway's gheep ranch, six miles distant. Via eonsented, and they saddled lip and stnrted. Wlien about a mile from tlieir eabin Via asked Peuk how he wns feeling. "Pretty well," he replied, "ouly I'm BWfQl dry." Via passed a botide of whisky to him and Peak took a large ; drink. Via noticed a strange glitter in ; his eyes as he retumed the bottle, but , thought nothing of it. A moment later Peak drew his revolver, threw his arm ; aorosR the saddle and shot Via in the leg, infficting a painful wonnd in the right calf. He then wbirled his horse, sj)urred him forward, yelling like a demon, nnd j again fliing at Via. The latter drew his i revolver nnl opened a lively fusillade, I one shot striking Peak in the hip near j ! the sjiinal column, passing through his i ! body and lodging just under the skin of i the nbdomen ; another tnking effect iu the back of the neck and coming out ; through the jaw, while a third mortally i j wouuded Peak's horse, and a fourth , passed through his hat. Peak of coirse i emptied his revolver at Via, three of the ! ; ftve shots inflicting serious wounds, the j first being, as stated, in the caU of the j leg. The second struek him in thegroin and ranged iaiward, where it may have j struck i vital place, while the thii'd hall j struck him in the left wrist, shnttering i he bone, and making an intensely paiuful wotind. AMien they reached the. I cnbin Peak'a pony feil dead. After lying ■ there a sliort time Penk ni-ose, saddled anoüier horse, and rode to Calloway's sheep ranch, six miles distant, where he was cared for. Via was brought to this city, a surgeon summoned to attend him, and is as comfortable as good nursing can make him. Peak is said by Mr. AVliiteomb to be subject to periodical attwcks of lunacy, and when in such condition will ann himself, rusli about excitedly, shouting that somebody is '(after him," but nevar attacking his comrades. It is probable that he was out of his ' mind when Via reached home, and that j the whisky he drank caused murder to enter his erazed thoughts, with the terribfc result above stated.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus