In the meantime Reeder had been taken into the office of Dr.Owens, where his wounds were properly dressed.One of his wounds was considered quite dangerous, and it was thought by many that it would prove fatal.But being considerably under the influence of liquor, Reeder did not feel his wounds as he otherwise would, and he got up and went into the street.He went to the meat market and renewed his quarrel with Gumbert, threatening his life.Friends tried to interfere to put a stop to the quarrel and get the parties away from each other.In the Fashion Saloon Reeder made threats against the life of Gumbert, saying he would kill him, and it is said that he requested the officers not to arrest Gumbert, as he intended to kill him.After these threats Gumbert went off and procured a double-barreled shot gun, loaded with buck-shot or revolver balls, and went after Reeder.Two or three persons were assisting him along the street, trying to get him home, and had him just in front of the store of Klopstock & Harris, when Gumbert came across toward him from the opposite side of the street with his gun.He came up within about ten or fifteen feet of Reeder, and called out to those with him to "look out! get out of the way!" and they had only time to heed the warning, when he fired.Reeder was at the time attempting to screen himself behind a large cask, which stood against the awning post of Klopstock & Harris's store, but some of the balls took effect in the lower part of his breast, and he reeled around forward and fell in front of the cask.Gumbert then raised his gun and fired the second barrel, which missed Reeder and entered the ground.At the time that this occurred, there were a great many persons on the street in the vicinity, and a number of them called out to Gumbert, when they saw him raise his gun, to "hold on," and "don't shoot!" The cutting took place about ten o'clock and the shooting about twelve.After the shooting the street was instantly crowded with the inhabitants of that part of the town, some appearing much excited and laughing--declaring that it looked like the "good old times of '60." Marshal Perry and officer Birdsall were near when the shooting occurred, and Gumbert was immediately arrested and his gun taken from him, when he was marched off to jail.Many persons who were attracted to the spot where this bloody work had just taken place, looked bewildered and seemed to be asking themselves what was to happen next, appearing in doubt as to whether the killing mania had reached its climax, or whether we were to turn in and have a grand killing spell, shooting whoever might have given us offence.It was whispered around that it was not all over yet--five or six more were to be killed before night.Reeder was taken to the Virginia City Hotel, and doctors called in to examine his wounds.They found that two or three balls had entered his right side; one of them appeared to have passed through the substance of the lungs, while another passed into the liver.Two balls were also found to have struck one of his legs.As some of the balls struck the cask, the wounds in Reeder's leg were probably from these, glancing downwards, though they might have been caused by the second shot fired.After being shot, Reeder said when he got on his feet--smiling as he spoke--"It will take better shooting than that to kill me." The doctors consider it almost impossible for him to recover, but as he has an excellent constitution he may survive, notwithstanding the number and dangerous character of the wounds he has received.The town appears to be perfectly quiet at present, as though the late stormy times had cleared our moral atmosphere; but who can tell in what quarter clouds are lowering or plots ripening?
Reeder--or at least what was left of him--survived his wounds two days!
Nothing was ever done with Gumbert.
Trial by jury is the palladium of our liberties.I do not know what a palladium is, having never seen a palladium, but it is a good thing no doubt at any rate.Not less than a hundred men have been murdered in Nevada--perhaps I would be within bounds if I said three hundred--and as far as I can learn, only two persons have suffered the death penalty there.However, four or five who had no money and no political influence have been punished by imprisonment--one languished in prison as much as eight months, I think.However, I do not desire to be extravagant--it may have been less.
However, one prophecy was verified, at any rate.It was asserted by the desperadoes that one of their brethren (Joe McGee, a special policeman)was known to be the conspirator chosen by lot to assassinate Williams;and they also asserted that doom had been pronounced against McGee, and that he would be assassinated in exactly the same manner that had been adopted for the destruction of Williams--a prophecy which came true a year later.After twelve months of distress (for McGee saw a fancied assassin in every man that approached him), he made the last of many efforts to get out of the country unwatched.He went to Carson and sat down in a saloon to wait for the stage--it would leave at four in the morning.But as the night waned and the crowd thinned, he grew uneasy, and told the bar-keeper that assassins were on his track.The bar-keeper told him to stay in the middle of the room, then, and not go near the door, or the window by the stove.But a fatal fascination seduced him to the neighborhood of the stove every now and then, and repeatedly the bar-keeper brought him back to the middle of the room and warned him to remain there.But he could not.At three in the morning he again returned to the stove and sat down by a stranger.Before the bar-keeper could get to him with another warning whisper, some one outside fired through the window and riddled McGee's breast with slugs, killing him almost instantly.By the same discharge the stranger at McGee's side also received attentions which proved fatal in the course of two or three days.