wildfire through the camp, and in a short time Kanoffsky, who had been out in the woods, undoubtedly hiding his share of the plunder, was arrested on his way back to our cabin. The party arrived at our place, provided with a rope, and fully prepared to make Pike open his mouth, and tell the whole story, or "swing for it" instanter. At the sight of the rope he weakened, and related how it was all done.
The party, consisting of four persons—himself, Kanoffsky and two others who had escaped on horseback to the mountains and were never arrested—had planned the robbery some weeks before, and waited patiently for a dark night to carry it into execution. After the robbery and murder, Pike, in a spirit of recklessness or insanity—he could never give any reason for his conduct—started directly for our cabin, intending to hide the bag of gold-dust in a hollow stump, or some similar receptacle convenient to the place, until he could get it safely inside the house; but finding none in the darkness, brought it on until he reached the door, then laid it down where it was found, and went in to think the matter over and decide how he should dispose of it. Had one of our party not gone out to get the log to replenish the fire, it is probable that he might have succeeded in getting it hidden after all, and possibly escaped suspicion of being connected with the murder, as the two of his companions who escaped would naturally have been credited with the entire transaction.
A Lynch Court was organized immediately, Kanoffsky and Pike tried, found guilty, and sentenced to
