Vigilante Days and Ways: The pioneers of the Rockies; the makers and making of Montana and Idaho — John Shaqi
Vigilante Days and Ways: The pioneers of the Rockies; the makers and making of Montana and IdahoLangford, Nathaniel Pitt
History
Vigilante Days and Ways: The pioneers of the Rockies; the makers and making of Montana and Idaho
Langford, Nathaniel Pitt
Frontier and pioneer life -- Northwestern States; Northwestern States -- History; Vigilance committees; West (U.S.) -- History
A man of that mixed character which united the qualities of a gambler, a
skilful pugilist, and an honest, straightforward miner in his single
person, known only as “Dutch Fred,” at this time enjoyed a local
notoriety in Florence which had won for him among his comrades the
appellation of “Chief.” He was neither a rowdy nor desperado, and in
ordinary deal, honest and generous; but he gambled, drank, and when
roused, was a perfect Hercules in a fight. Helm, having been plied with
liquor, at the request of an enemy of Fred’s sought him out for the
purpose of provoking a fight. Entering the saloon where Fred was seated
at a faro table, Helm, with many oaths and epithets and flourishes of
his revolver, challenged Fred to an immediate deadly combat. Fred sprung
up, drew his knife, and was advancing to close with the drunken
braggart, when the by-standers interfered, and deprived both of their
weapons, which they entrusted to the keeping of the saloon-keeper, and
Fred returned quietly to his game.
Helm apologized, and expressed regret for his conduct, and left the
saloon. A few hours afterwards he returned. Fred was still there.
Stepping up to the saloon-keeper, Helm asked for his revolver, promising
that he would immediately depart and make no disturbance. No sooner was
it returned to him than he turned towards Fred, and uttering a
diabolical oath, fired at him while seated at the table. The ball
missed, and before the second fire, Fred, unarmed, with his arms folded
across his breast, stood before his antagonist, who, with deadlier aim,
pierced his heart. He fell dead upon the spot. Helm cocked his pistol,
and looking towards the stupefied crowd, exclaimed,
“Maybe some more of you want some of this!”
As no one deigned a reply, he walked coolly away.
If Helm was arrested for this murder, he escaped; for the next we hear
of him, he was captured on Frazer River in the Fall of 1862, as will
appear from the following extract from a British Columbia paper:
“The man, Boone Helm, to whom we referred some weeks since, has at
last been taken. He was brought into this city last night strongly
ironed. The first clue of the detectives was the report that two men
had been seen trudging up the Frazer River on foot, with their
blankets and a scanty supply of provisions on their backs. The
description of one corresponded with the description given by the
American officers of Boone Helm. Helm’s conduct on the road is
conclusive evidence that he was aware he was being pursued. He
passed around the more populous settlements, or through them in the
night time. When overtaken, he was so exhausted by fatigue and
hunger that it would have been impossible for him to continue many
hours longer. He made no resistance to the arrest,—in fact, he was
too weak to do so,—and acknowledged without equivocation or attempt
at evasion that he was Boone Helm. Upon being asked what had become
of his companion, he replied with the utmost _sang froid_:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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