Digital Bob Archive

JULY 18, 1883-There has been trouble on the Silver Bow Basin Trail, and this camp, now nearly three years old, has apparently had its first crime of violence. Details are lacking, but Richard Rennie has been found near the trail, seriously wounded and near death. Blamed for the assault are two Indian packers who were found in a stupor near Rennie. The latter is a whiskey peddler and has been suspected of selling to Indians.

Sale of liquor to Indians is illegal both under federal law and under the local code, adopted last August. There has been almost no federal enforcement since the Navy left here in the fall of 1881. Enforcement of the local code went well for a time, and even the flow of molasses-the prime ingredient in making ?hoochinoo?-virtually ceased. Dave Martin, the Main Street merchant, for example, had 15 barrels of molasses aboard the Idaho when she arrived shortly after the code was adopted. He sent it all back south on the same steamer and has imported none since. Other merchants and several saloon keepers have also observed the code under the watchful eye of Constable Levi Harrod and the members of the Executive Committee.

But last spring, Harrod decided he wanted to try prospecting on the Yukon, and he refused a second term. A new Executive Committee was also elected and enforcement has not been as strict since. As the mining season was opening in the Basin, two renegade whiskey dealers arrived from the south and set up shop not far from each other on the side of the trail, about half way between the Basin and town. One was Rennie. The other goes by the name Martin and is called ?Frenchy.? He speaks very broken English and is said to have been run out of gold camps farther south. Dick Rennie is a native of the Isle of Jersey, England, and likewise has an unsavory reputation.

One difference between the two men is that Frenchy is said to give liberal credit to his customers, while Rennie is tight-fisted and demands cash on the barrel head. Both men have been suspected of furnishing liquor to Indian packers and both have been warned by the Executive Committee.

What apparently happened late yesterday is that Rennie and Martin got drunk and changed houses. When two Indian packers went to Martin?s house and demanded whiskey on credit, Rennie refused them and was beaten over the head until he was insensible. He was found early this morning. The two assailants apparently found Martin?s stock and drank themselves into insensibility.