Deadwood Free Press Vol.

3 Issue 2 April 1, 1879

Vol. 3 Issue 2 April 1, 1879

Deadwood in Ashes

Mining Town Nearly Destroyed by Fire, Estimated Loss of $2,000,000

Few Buildings Left Standing Including Newspaper and Church,
Confirming God Does Have Sense of Humor
Residents Powerless to Stop Flames, Hundreds Homeless and Destitute
A fire broke out this morning in the
Star Bakery, on Sherman Street, at 2:20
o’clock, and following that thoroughfare
swept everything before it in Lee, Main,
Gold, Wall, Patton, and William streets,
and several residences in Continental-ave-
nue. Fanned by a light breeze, and with
nothing to contend with except a very inef-
ficient Fire Department, everything was at
the mercy of the flames.
Less than a score of pronounced fire-
proof warehouses withstood the severe
test. The buildings, being mostly of wood
and poorly constructed, burned like so
much tinder.
The fire spread with such wonderful
rapidity that any attempt to save any-
thing would have been useless. All along
its course terrific explosions of gunpowder,
petroleum, liquor, etc... were of frequent
occurrence. Buildings were blown into
atoms, and among the first things de­stroyed
were the hook and ladder apparatus and
hose carriage, leaving unscathed only a
few feet of worthless hose with which to
battle against the flumes.
The new waterworks, which were tried
yesterday for the first time, were put to
their full capacity, but with little success
in subduing the flames, on account of the
scarcity of the water. The hill­sides were
almost a solid sheet of flame, and water
from the boulder ditch could not be had;
otherwise much property would probably
have been saved, as the ditch ran almost
directly over the worst spot.
Indeed, our geography came to haunt
us: Deadwood is situated in a gulch, with
a few houses scattered on the sides of the
hills. When once on fire, a draft would
be created, and no ordinary agency could
prevent the town’s total destruction.
The wind blew a gale from the south.
In a short time the general effort for the
salvation of the town was given up and
every one was making frantic efforts to
save his own movable property. In a few
momenta the flames had passed from
Sherman Street northward to the principal
hotel in the city, and the guests, about 75 in
number, had barely time to escape before
the hotel, a fine three-story frame build-
ing, was a mass of flames.
In less than 30 minutes Main Street was
reached, and a mad flight took place, with
no organized fighting of the fire. Men,
women, and children rushed up the street,
some with goods, and others only strug-
gling to get out of the way of the advanc-
ing flames. From this time on the fire
had its own way. and swept a clean path,
only stopping for want of material at the
lower end of Main Street, leaving only a
few fire-proof buildings. In the hardware
store of Jensen, Bliss & Co. a lot of powder
exploded with startling noise, hurling mis-
siles in ail directions, fortunately without
fatal effect.
The wildest excitement prevailed on
account of the fearful force of the flames,
and people thought of little besides saving
their own lives, hundreds escaping with
only their clothing. Every team within
miles of the city was called into service
to help save what could be got out. There
are probably about 2,000 people who are
homeless, and many are destitute.
About 125 buildings, besides 50 or 60
dwellings, were destroyed, and, while it
is utterly impos­sible to get any definite
figures regard­ing the loss, well-informed
business men place it at from $1,500,000 to
$2,000,000. The fire is still burning, but
all its material is exhausted, and there is no
danger of its spread­ing, unless an unfavor-
able change in the wind should come.
Several of the firms whoso fireproof
build­ings were saved, have posted notices
that they will open up for business in them
on Saturday. Lumber is being hauled rap-
idly, and building will begin as soon as
the debris can be cleared away, and in a
more substantial way than before. Most of
the merchants who have lost their wooden
stores will erect brick ones in their stead.
Labor is in great demand.
A meeting was held by prominent
citi­zens this afternoon, prompted by
nu­merous thieving operations since the
fire broke out and the many cases of
lot-jumping, at which Judge Eun presided.
It was decided to call upon Geo. Sturgis,
com­manding at Fort Meade, for a com-
pany of troops to guard the property
of the sufferers by the fire.
The request was promptly complied with,
and a company of cavalry was at once
sent here, together with 10 wagons
and 2 ambulances to transport
the destitute citizens to Fort Mead,
where they will be furnished with
camps and rations, which kind offer

1
Deadwood Free Press Vol. 3 Issue 2
Deadwood in Ashes...
was made by Gen. Sturgis.
All saloons are closed by order of
the Sheriff, and the city presents
an unusually quiet appearance. A Citizens’
Com­mittee of Safety, numbering seven,
was also appointed at today’s meeting,
which will assist the Sheriff in preserving
the peace. Evil­doers, if caught, will be
speedily dealt with.
A proposition to organize a vig-
ilance committee, 100 strong, proposed
by Mr. Streeter, was voted down. The
Post Office, which was destroyed,
lost $3,000 in postage stamps
and stamped envelopes, but no mail was
destroyed, and coaches are running regu-
larly with the daily mails.
Many kind offers of assistance have
been made by Eastern merchants, but will
hardly be accepted, as merchants bear their
losses with the best possible grace, and are
not inclined to place themselves under any
obli­gations, at the same time appreciating
the willing offers made by Eastern houses
in all branches of trade. Surviving houses
have not taken advantage of the necessity
of the hour by advancing prices on staple
goods, and, as was generally ex­p ected,
prices remain as usual.
((The preceding was from the Real Life
New York Times, with one exception, and
the rest is from other press accounts))
We note with interest how other newspa-
pers have reported our tragedy:
Bismarck, Dakota, .—The burning of
2
Deadwood this morning threw all Dakota
in­to a tremor of excitement. The town was
the richest and largest in the Territory.
No details can be received during the day.
The military telegraph line was occupied
all day with com­mercial messages order-
ing stocks of goods and preparing for the
emergency that was threaten­ing the home-
less people.
The Deadwood opera­tor took up his sta-
tion on a bluff a mile and a half from the
ruined town, and contented himself with
the head of a barrel for a desk. Gen. Stur-
gis, commanding at Fort Meade, 20 miles
; away, early responded to the cry of the
suffer­ers, and tendered them shelter at the
barracks and rations.
St. Paul, Minn.—There is much excite-
ment in St. Paul over the burning of
Deadwood, as large commercial, mining,
and transportation interests there are con-
trolled by capitalists in this city. Advices
are still too incomplete to indicate the
losses. Blakely & Carpenter, proprietors
of a stage line from Bis­marck, state that
their principal office is not destroyed, and
the loss probably is not great. The insur-
ance will certainly be in small proportion
to the loss. Deadwood has been regarded
as a precarious point, and avoided by cau-
tious companies.
Further reports of Deadwood, right
before press time, as the fire has died:
April 1, 1879
Almost every class of business is repre-
sented in Main and Sherman streets, and
all have a great rush of custom. Prices have
not advanced except in very few instances,
where the demand for some articles was
creator than the supply, and. in such
cases, the ad­vance has been slight.
All of the daily papers are being
issued on small sheets, struck off
at Lend City and Central. They con­tain
little else than news of the fire. Lumber
is being hauled in by every available
team in this vicinity, and it is
bringing $4 per 1,000 feet.
Mills are running night and day,
but not enough can be brought in
to supply the demand. Some persons had
shanties erected within five hours from
the time of the out­b reak of the fire. All
day long, telegrams have been pouring
in offering stocks of goods, money, cloth-
ing, food, etc... but as yet nothing but
mer­chandise has been accepted. No relief
committee has been organized yet, and
probably none will be organ­ized. The
people who are bankrupt and homeless do
not want to accept aid from the
outside world.
Merchants and others are very gener-
ous, being able and willing to stand
their share of the burden.
Competent judges place the loss at
fully $3,000,000, although some time
must elapse before exact figures can be
Deadwood Free Press Vol. 3 Issue 2
Editorial
We Shall Rebuild
What? You feel discouraged, pioneer?
Remember you are of America. We laugh
in the face of fire. You think a lil smolder-
ing timbers can set us back?
No! We shall rebuild.
Every major town has been cleared
by fire, including my own home of San
Francisco, and it only means we rebuild
stronger. You think a few smoldering ruins
can set back Deadwood? No! When the
railroad arrives in a year or two (well,
maybe three) it shall find a town made of
brick. This wood was only temporary, and
we all knew it.
You think a fire is something in our his-
tory? HA! Remember our history ....
Well there was Wild Bill getting shot
in the back, Sheriff Dazar’s corpse get-
ting dug up and hung from the balcony of
the Bella, Marrant Vita and five orphans
dying in a fire, Darren Darkstone holding
the whole town hostage while he bet up
Sheriff Dazar’s son and Jeni Trefusis hold-
ing a gun at several women like Mahalia
Bertrand and FaithMay, Cameo killing
half the town, sometimes more than once,
Miss Addison Leigh being taken hostage,
Citizens gather to discuss future of town after fire
Editor and Publisher
Neil Streeter
Reporter
Addison Leigh
Contributing Writer
D. A. Kuhr
Typesetter
S. Morigi
Miss Sal has to teach dozens of prospective
whores how to perform oral sex, Santa
Claus burning down the Phoenix, Rev.
Henry Smith killed in cold blood, Phaeton
Perra killing lots of miners, Mr. Densmith
trying to take over the Bella Union, them
Mormon women who set fire to the Gem
all the time, John Tanner menacing all
sorts of people and having a bloody hook
suspended above the butcher’s for inter-
rogating people, all sorts of snipers who
either stayed in town one day or had to
be hunted down, approximately 307 men
who pretended to be priests but turned
out to be rapists and killers, a certain edi-
tor’s wife cooking people into pies, Miss
Sal telling one irritating person who kept
trying to get laid and threatening to kill
himself that he couldn’t get laid in a whore-
house, and her parrot kept repeating that
every time the fellow came around, Mayor
Clay cutting off a half dozen heads, Miss
Jemima works 24 hours a day in the Gem
for 18 months and becomes Snow Queen,
Mrs. Dio Kuhr cutting off dozens of tes-
ticles, Miss Jeni sleeping with enough men
to populate Chicago, Mr. Shakespeare
Continued from page 2
obtained. Tho bank vaults were opened
today, and the contents were found intact.
The chronometers on the timelocks were
still running. Both banks will open
Monday. All that was saved of the county
records, etc... was one set of books from
the Treasurer’s office, The assessment rolls
were all destroyed, and at a meeting of the
County Commissioners this afternoon a
new assessment Was ordered as soon as
possible. Strong guards are on duty at the
bank vaults, the outer doors of which were
left unlocked, and no one is allowed to pass
without being recognized,
threatening everyone all over, little girls
kidnapping a boy’s bear, all sorts of mys-
terious royal visitors with one dire idea or
other, Mr. String threatening to break the
union, the union threatening to break Mr.
String, considerable amounts of just awful
dancing, a whiskey riot in which a fella
was killed, Coodnank Thibedeau talking
to unseen spirits, Miss Cookie talking to
the dead, Silas Acker being .... Silas which
was bad enough, the Phoenix Hotel being
robbed, Miss Sal ruling over the Bella and
shootin up the misbehaving, our Methodist
minister shooting highwaymen down in
the street, Jeni Trefusis gunned down in
China Alley, Estwee made pie after pie
after pie after pancake after pancake and
made so many of us fat, a mystic calls forth
Wild Bill at Rod Eun’s No. 10, Blackjack
Landar and Miss Daisy gunned down in
the Gem, Mister Bu’s pigs looking awful
plump sometimes, bodies stacked three
people deep in the icehouse, Ron Xi having
to shoot down all sort of people to keep
the law, Pancho robbing people right and
left afore he was finally run out of town,
two complete morons who talked potty
talk over and over and over until they
were run out of town over and over and
over, playwright Wild Bill Finkelstein shot
dead during a performance of his play at
the Bella, Sheriff Glen is murdered, Billie
Whitman dealt faro till her fingers bled
or maybe it was just her customers’ needs,
Miss Sal’s parrot disappearing, former
Gov. Pennington perving over our women,
Badger Bagley slapping all sorts of people,
Doc Morri getting shot hourly there for
awhile, a young man trying to shoot down
the entire City Council only to be killed
first by Mr. Densmith, Cheyenne Wilder’s
body is set ablaze after his death, Mr. and
Mrs. Westland leading a march on the
Free Press and demanding Mr. Streeter be
lynched for committing comments about
Mrs. Westland’s breasts to print, the char-
ity auction held by Miss Dufaux in which
bachelors were sold off to charity for mil-
lions, Randal Carfield’s reign of bloody
terror, Marshall Hawks discovering Miss
Cyn and Mr. Cameo doing something on
a bridge that involved more than driving
a post, the enormous townwide personal
problems of Doc Keli, Miss Munster,
April 1, 1879
Miss Alex, Miss Capra, Miss Paxan, Miss
Bedlam, the suicides of Starbuck Shippe,
his being unusual only in that he did not
come back, Cameo shoots the sheriff, the
Pinkertons instill terror in union men and
innocent people, several women arrive to
meet husbands who end up dead and thus
become eligible widows, shootists trying
to kill JF and Lola Kanto a couple dozen
times, Mr. Slade is murdered, Guru having
children by the second, a librarian who
changes his name by the hour and seems
to always have blood under his finger-
nails, Alabama Jack keeps escaping from
crimes, Joe Verwood repeatedly shoots
up the town, the Dethly brothers shoot
up the town, two English redcoats from
the Revolutionary War show up to run for
town council, Carrie Anne is nearly froze
to death and loses toes, crazed killer Lars-
son finally gets his from Ron Xi, a miner
turns away a young couple, they and their
baby freeze in the snow and he is thus tried
in miners court and hung, young Deac
asks for work *a lot*, Deldrago Rieko kills
two women while holding hostages during
a bank robbery, bank teller Mr. Muggins
is pistol-whipped causing mental deteriora-
tion in his razor sharp mind, Judge Mo
is kidnapped, Dusty’s harp carpet, Jesus
Christ, Doc Morpork never performs sur-
gery sober, mortician Mackman Mauer
enjoys dressing bodies a bit too much,
Mayor Pel’s council meetings run wild and
efforts to limit gun use become wildly con-
troversial, his daughter Lucy shoots up sev-
eral towns, Chinese women openly caged
on the back streets, dead bodies follow
Miss Taj around wherever she goes, the
crazy Chinese Tong woman who insults
all white people and beats people up while
boxing, Sheriff Scara has to take down
Scarface, Adiiniah Darkstone disappears,
Roku offering to help recruit lawmen by
screwing them if they stay in town long
enough, the Furkels poisonous street carts,
Sand Rau and others desperately try to
save jail after Darenn Darkstone sets it
afire, Seth disappears from the Gem ....
To name a few problems.
If we have survived all that, can’t we
survive a small fire?
3
Deadwood Free Press Vol. 3 Issue 2
Dethly Dies for Dastardly Doings
Sheriff’s Killer Hangs High after Trial with Low Points
After a fair and impartial of trial among
people clearly impatient for his death, the
vile killer Clint Dethly was hung in penalty
for crimes both known and surely many
unknown.
The beast, known for a variety of crimes
including the murder of Sheriff Glen Devon
and the despoiling of young comely vir-
gins, died unrepentant.
The villain before trial was cool as the
proverbial cucumber, trying to banter
with his jailors. “Uh, if only one of these
uhh deputies let me out for some fresh air
before the trial...” he stated, quite unsuc-
cessfully.
The one thing the fellow did get right
before trial was representation, attorney
Rampart Vasser. Mr Vasser said he was
retained by Mr. Daniel Densmith who said
he deplored the sheriff’s death but felt any
accused man was entitled to representa-
tion.
The crowd was well aware the man would
hang after a fair trial, and there was a lot
of excitement. The poor man was unlucky,
as somehow between his holding cell at the
jail and the courthouse, he lost two teeth
and bled profusely from the mouth.
As he was seated in the courthouse,
the defendant’s attorney handed him a
letter that the attorney claimed was set
to Dethly by one “Sister Mary Elizabeth
Jesus Murphy.” The attorney claimed the
letter wished him well for his bad situation
and thanked him for care of oprhans he
had once provided “and the other nuns
send their love as well and thank you for
all the money you’ve sent them.”
That said, even people with good eyesight
said they never did actually see a letter.
Another attorney, Judge Tristanne Gal-
lagher, was pressed into service as pros-
ecutor.
It quickly became clear the evidence
against Dethly, other than that we all know
he did it, was threefold: he had threatened
the sheriff, he had been wounded the day
of the sheriff’s killing, and he possessed a
ring that had belonged to the deceased.
Gem owner Clay Kungler testified that
he had purchased a ring from Dethly that,
when cleaned, had the inner engraving
“G.D.”
Kungler testified that Dethly was freshly
injured on the day the sheriff tried to fight
off his attacker or attackers, commenting
as he looked at the defendant, “The very
same right leg that is still bandaged ... by
the looks of it I’d say the same bandage
even.”
4
April 1, 1879
Both the sheriff’s daughter, Joellen Buck priest? “Your law keeps killin’ my family,”
Carter-Devon and the sheriff’s former wife “Ohh wonderful miss Granny....” the Dethly replied.
testified that the ring beloged to the sher- defendant said. It got grimmer under questioning from
iff. Mr. Vasser attempted to suggest that “Did you not tell me that since you failed the judge, as it became clear that even with
rings look similar, and other people could to become a priest, you have felt ashamed death a feew threads of rope away, the
have the initials G.D, but the ladies held to tell the story which is why you did not man could not lie further.
firm that they recognized this ring. reveal this and have led a life of ill repute “O course I hated the sheriff, he casted
”Sir, this ring never left my father’s and dissolution, and that you had to take a blind eye to his deputies! … I hate you too,
person and he always wore it on his finger,” the ring from this Fred, and if released judge, but I ain’t killed you yet.”
you would make good Judge Eun then got the defendant to claim
on your promise and another man had run out on him after the
take the vow of Chris- killing. Vasser attempted to end the ques-
tian faith? And you say tioning, saying, “Wait, Mr. Dethly, he’s
all this as you whisper got you confused … Your honor, this man
Scripture to yourself in needs a rest.”
your cell and pray daily “I think he’ll be getting plenty of rest..
that you may be restored to be sure,” Eun replied.
to the ring gave you by At that point, the defendant became dif-
Granny Dethly?” ficult to control, and he was swiftly moved
“Bless her soul!’ the to a scaffold by the jail. He was then hung,
defendant shouted. his last words unrepentant.
Neither the judge nor “I hope you all fuckin’ die for letting
Gallagher would have muh brother die, he was a good man!”
anything to do with the Dethly stated.
unsubstantiated story. As his body was swinging slowly, par-
“Do you have any ents brought children by to show them
family available that can what happens to a life poorly lived. “This
testify that this ring was is an excellent example of how we conduct
previously in the posses- justice and protect our citizens,” Judge
sion of your deceased Eun stated.
stated the young miss. grandmother?” Gallagher aked.
She also testified “on the day of the
conversation that man stated he wanted
vengeance for the death of his brother …
he was blaming the death of his brother
on my father.”
The late man’s wife testified the very
particular ring was “Dear to him, given
to him by Carol Devon his late mother. It
would take death to part him from the ring
from his mother - she died in November
and he broke hard ground with his Pa to
bury her in Fargo.”
Mr Dethly, in a desperate and what
turned out to be pathetic effort to save his
life, took the stand in his own defense. He
claimed to have cheated, and then quickly
corrected himself, to say he had won fairly
the ring in a poker game. Dethly could
only identify the man as one “Fred.”
“I got word my brother Jesse was
murdered at the jail house, and ain’t no
one fuckin investigated it. The law just
wants me dead like my
brother. It’s a big cover
up. And I hope you all
Stillness
rot in hell!” he added What drew us hence to walk these rugged hills?
with no apparent pur- What force doth pull men out across the plains?
pose except to anger Does gold protect us from the bitter chills?
the crowd. It was not a Will fortune ward us from our hunger pains?
good strategy.
A new twist was Such questions have I asked myself at length
added when the defense And pondered thusly well into the night
lawyer, Mr. Vasser, The quiet hours give one time to think
claimed that Dethly And seek the answers hidden in the light
had told him a different
story before trial: “Mr But therein doth the truth begin to out
Dethly, I am moved to The answer lies within the question asked
reveal what you told me Removed from the city’s noisome shout
in confidence in the cell. The mind finds peace to focus on the task
I am sorry. But I must
tell people the story of So drawn are we to find, beyond our fear,
that ring. Did you not The peace to question what has drawn us here
tell me that the initials
on the ring stand for Titus Shackleton
“Granny Devon?” The woman who raised
you as a small boy? And that this man
Fred had previously won it from you? MISSING RING, REWARD
“Uuhh yes,” Dethly responded.
“Did you not tell me that Granny Devon A Mr. Grover Daniels says he has lost a gold ring and wishes it back. For a reward of
gave you that ring and made you promise $50, enquire at the offices of the Deadwood Free Press. The ring is gold and engraved
upon her death that you would become a inside with his initials, G. D.
Deadwood Free Press Vol. 3 Issue 2
The Perilous Journeys of
Mary Sue Sweetlyness
A Husband Gained, A Brother Gained, Death Everywhere
Mary Sue Sweetliness stared
vacantly as she passed through the
trackless sea of waving grass that
reached out gently, swiping her legs
and arms with arid fingertips. If
the prairie held any eyes that fol-
lowed her slow and swaying gate,
it kept this secret.
Along the trail, her once smooth
foot cast mindlessly along a faint
indentation in the grass that might
have been the receding tracks of
a preceding wagon or completely
imaginary in her scattered recogni-
tion. For Mary Sue trod her path
seemingly without benefit of ratio-
nal thought. Her clothing tattered
nearly to indecency, her hair scat-
tered on the wind like the dirty cast
away feathers of a plucked swan.
She walked along the whisp of a
trail shod only with what God pro-
vides all humanity upon the dark
side of our tread. To those hidden
eyes of the prairie, or any other
sentient man or beast that hap-
pened upon her, her round indigo
eyes revealed nothing but the list-
less focus of one doomed by cruel
recompense to live out their days in
a tortuous mindless bliss where no
joy or sorrow lit a fire in the brain.
A light once taken in, by all appear-
ances reflected out again without
response or comprehension.
But as nature may shelter a tiny
string of green at the center of each
frozen tendril, and as winter may
keep free one icy current under the
frozen table of its lakes and streams,
a slow trace of images, beautiful
and horrific, passed through her
mind undetected to any outside
gaze.
Images more than thoughts
paraded in her bruised mind:
The faraway church yard where
lay the last remains or her dear
dead beloved passed through her
mind’s eye.
The smoke filled town of thieves
and vermin who harried her and
her sisters away from retrieving
much needed medicine and the
corruption of her youngest sister
to their ranks.
Continued from previous issues
By Miss Adele Leeland
The vapid mewling prostitute who
begged to be beaten, and the man
that lured away her older sister to
his arms.
The sight of Jesus and his wagon
rolling away in the waves.
The filthy men who recued her
from death in the captive creek
bottom and the last memories,
almost too much to bear.
Personal tragedy slaked its thirst
at her well. It stalked poor Mary
Sue, opening her wounds and cut-
ting her a new with every breath.
Already doomed to a life of staid
remembering at the loss of her first
love. Not three days ago the uni-
verse seemed ready to right itself,
and reward one such as she – the
possessor of incomparable mind,
body, and soul with all she was
do.
Finding herself hopelessly embed-
ded in creek mud, but rescued for
ill purpose by a clutch of sneering
rampant louts not five days before,
God himself performed a miracle.
Taking up one of the surly barrel
shaped man who menaced her with
shame beyond considering. He
turned the massive man to look
upon the virtuous angel touched
continence and truly see her. He
stretched the man’s mind and heart
into a good man and converted him
to worthiness at the very sight of
her. In turn the man beat his broth-
ers away, sent for a preacher, took
Mary into his arms and made her
his bride and his for all time and
eternity. In this, Mary Sue saw
the hand of God and embraced his
gift. Given her depth of understand-
ing, led by spiritual awareness and
superior morality few woman ever
experienced she bound together
fully with him in blissful a state
completion of herself, obedient to
God and to the virtuously tall and
well formed man who was now her
husband.
Were not true love and the fulfill-
ment of her existence enough. For-
tune smiled with the dawn. As they
walked next morning, an accidental
trip on God’s Dewey ground landed
her in a bed of daisies. The over-
turned stone stunned them with the
revelation of golden promise.
But alas, God’s demons are
nothing if not jealous of those
that wander the earth in superior
look and bearing. Mary knelt on
the ground to thank God for his
bounty. Her husband, rewarded in
ways he never dreamed declared
their property the “the Sweetliness
Gold mine” and prostrated himself
on the ground beside her.
At the height of their bliss, a
shadow crossed over the sun.
The husband’s brother possessed
by a devil unseen appeared over
the hill. In but a moment all life
was changed. The brother’s face
contorted in anger upon sight of
the gleaming bride and the shaft.
Without forethought, he drew his
knife above his brother and buried
it so deep, fratricide was accom-
plished before the victim had time
to scarcely turn his head before
light faced from his eyes.
The next moment, regret. In
anguish the wayward brother fell
upon his knees. “What have I done”
screamed he, his face a massive con-
tortion of pain and desperation. “I
repent of my evil deed, dear Lord
forgive me”
Mary stood watching the man
sob in grief and desperation and
shock. Surely she thought to her-
self, “though his deed be evil, it is
the work of the devil and a reminder
that all may fall into such grief as
the evil one seeks to take our human
hands and guide them to the path
of evil,” even though it had never
happened to her personally.
So overcome with compassion,
Mary fell to her knees with the man,
taking his head to her bosom, rock-
ing him too and fro over the fallen
body of his lost brother. Soon there
were others who joined the tableau
as cries of wonderment and concern
fell through the trees as a crowed of
rake- and shovel-bearing townsfolk
sped to defend the innocent from
danger.
Mary looked upon the good
To be continued...
(( and you’ll have to be there for the restart of Deadwood to
see it when this serial somehow, magically, reappears ))
April 1, 1879
people and down upon the dis-
traught brother with no words of
recrimination passing her rosy lips
for no anger did she bear. Only the
light of divine acceptance and peace
traveled from her eyes. Suddenly
God’s light let her know the course.
Among the crowd stood a small
round man in vestments. She bid
the preacher step forward and bind
them at once. All was competed and
in a manner of moments, the erring
brother, now her husband redeemed
in her eyes and those about them.
Smiling he stepped back to look
at her, hardly sensible of his good
fortune and, eager to examine
his acquisition in a golden ray of
light.
It is a truth of living that even
the most saintly among us have
days when that God we adorn with
worship, who we dedicate our lives,
minds and hearts, acts in ways the
most learned cannot comprehend.
For as the brother, now husband,
stepped back, a small but decisive
crack of a small but important
branch resounded in the clearing.
His wife reached out, but too late.
His body froze hanging in the air
as if angles allowed him bid adieu:
Hanging on the pendulum of eter-
nity.
For one moment, their eyes met
and breathed one last breath with
each other. In the next, all was lost.
His body plunged madly into the
mine shaft, their suspense relieved
brutally as his mass slammed
against rocks deep inside the crevice
and dashed out his brains.
Stunned inconsolable by the loss
of her husband, whom she loved as
deeply as any love every experi-
enced by any man or woman upon
the earth, and fresh out of siblings
for a replacement, Mary left the
town. Walking past the crowed of
stunned onlookers who raised rude
crosses in protection as she passed.
Mary Sue took mindlessly to that
same road where we and her fate
now find her.