Another Week of Bloodshed.
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    Some weeks since a negro, known as 'Prof. Stark,' was shot at Cibola Hall by Charley Harrison, a "sporting man" in Denver, and on the 12th inst., died from the four or five balls which he received in the affray. The Rocky Mountain News in its issue of the 25th, denounced the homicide as a wanton murder. This, of course, gave umbrage to Harrison and his friends, and a few days after, a handbill was circulated through the city, signed by Judge Waggoner, giving an entirely different version of the transaction. Appended to it was the following note:

    "In justice to Mr. Harrison, we will say that the statement above, made by Judge Waggoner, presents quite another complexion to the unfortunate transaction on the 12th inst. We await the result of the investigation instituted to-day, hoping Mr. H. will be acquitted of all blame, and shall in our next give a report of the same.--EDITOR NEWS.

    This frank and reasonable explanation on the part of the Editor of the News seems to have satisfied Harrison but some of his friends, who apparently believed that the gamblers were entitled to rule in this community, still continued very angry, and made the most violent threats against the News office and its proprietors.

    On Tuesday forenoon, as Mr. Byers was sitting in his office in conversation with Mr. Creighton, two gamblers, named Carl Wood and George Steele, entered the room and seizing him by the collar, and presenting a cocked revolver, told him he was needed at Jumps' Saloon, on Larimer street, and proceeded to drag him to the spot designated. They told him they wanted an arrangement about the affair of Harrison and Byers of last week. Harrison was at the saloon when they arrived. It seems he had endeavored to persuade them not to do anything about the matter. Mr. Byers declined to make any retraction until the truth of his publication should be disproved; but tendered them the use of his columns for any explanations which justice might require. After some words had passed, Jumps managed to get Wood and his comrade aside, when Harrison immediately took Byers from the building and accompanied him home.

    Wood, Steele, and two other desperadoes named James Eanis and John Rucker, immediately followed toward the office; and while Wood with two of his companions waited near the door, armed with a double-barreled shot-gun, and swearing he would shoot any man who came out of the News Building, Steele rode twice past the office, and at the second passing, fired two shots, one entering the front of the Editorial room near the floor, and the other passing through a window at the Auraria end.

    A return shot fired from the office, wounded Steele slightly in the shoulder. By this time quite a crowd had collected, and the gamblers, (who were mounted and prepared to leave the country the moment their design should be accomplished) fled in tumultuous haste. Steele was pursued through West Denver, and back to the East Division. As he came toward Bradford's corner, he was met by Thomas Pollock, Esq., Marshal of the Vigilance committee. He cocked his revolver, but before he had time to fire, Mr. Pollock discharged a gun at him, the shot entering his head near the right eye. He fell heavily and helplessly from his horse; was taken to the City Hospital, and at half-past two the same afternoon breathed his last. Steele was from Salt Lake, and was known as one of the most reckless desperadoes in this region.

    Rucker was captured and placed under a guard. He is notorious as the party who killed Jack O'Neil a few months ago. Wood, (who is from St. Louis, and well-known as a desperate ruffian,) attempted to escape, but was surrounded near F street, in the upper part of the city. At first, he showed fight; but upon seeing several guns and revolvers pointed at him, surrendered. As he was being taken down to Bradford's corner, loud shouts of 'Hang him!' 'Hang him now!' came up from the crowd. Intense feeling prevailed, and a guard of one hundred men, under the charge of Capt. Saider, was chosen to stand watch over the prisoners during the night. Their trial was set for 9 o'clock Wednesday morning.

    Nearly two thousand people assembled in mass meeting in the evening, in front of the new Post-office. Mr. Byers gave a statement of the facts, and speeches were made by Judges Purkins and Waggoner, Capt. John Smith and Jack Henderson. The addresses were confined mainly to detailing the events of the day, and recommending prompt action, watchfulness, and determination. The assembly was silent as the grave during all of them, except Henderson's, which was interrupted. The excitement seemed more deep than in the Gordon case.
    Judge Purkins waxed warm and eloquent, and was heartily cheered by the crowd. A resolution was passed sustaining Pollock, which was passed unanimously. 'Three cheers for Tom Pollock,' were then called for, and given with a will by nearly every voice.

    A young man named Charley Eads, of Lexington, Ky., has lately shown symptoms of insanity. On Saturday afternoon he was about the street, and caused considerable excitement by the strangeness of his actions. He struck several persons whom he met; entered a tent on Blake street, where he amused himself by mixing together flour, sugar and dirt, breaking crockery, running an awl through the wrist of the tent proprietor, and performing other feats, of which only an insane man is capable. Toward night he entered a tin-shop on G street, opposite Clark, Gruber & Co's banking house, and attempted to drive out the inmates of the room. William Murk was sitting near the door in the rear of the building, reading a newspaper, and Eads, while passing him, struck him a blow which threw him from his seat and almost out of the room. Recovering himself, Murk seized his revolver and fired from a side window, the ball taking effect in the forehead of Eads, who was about thirty feet distant.
    Murk is from Leavenworth, and worked in the shop where he was assailed. He is a quiet, inoffensive man, and had no thought that the one who struck him was insane. Eads is the only son of his parents, who will be deeply afflicted at his loss.
    Eads died on Monday, from the effect of his wound.

Source:

Unknown, "Another Week of Bloodshed," Western Mountaineer, Golden, Jefferson County, Colorado, Thursday, 2 August, 1860, pages 6-7.

    Although not mentioned specifically in this article, George and Charles Shippen Wynkoop worked at the Rocky Mountain News at the time of this assault. You can read more about it in the article entitled: An Armed Neutrality.

    Chris.