Adventure Magazine Cover — page 95: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BOONE HELM—BAD-MAN by E. A. Brininstool OONE HELM, undoubtedly the lowest, most depraved specimen fs of humanity that ever cum- . bered the old frontier, was a native of Kentucky. His family later moved to Missouri, where the boy lived amid surroundings well calculated to steep one of his naturally depraved instincts to the lowest depths. Here he gained a reputation for all- around badness which was of the very worst sort, gaining notoriety as a murderer and bully, being ugly and considered a very dangerous man. When Helm finally pulled stakes for the Western gold-diggings, the community in which he had resided drew a breath of relief at getting rid of him. First in the California gold-fields Helm met birds of his own feather, being quick with his gun and ever ready for a scrap where the bullets flew thick. Here it is said he killed several men, and his reputation was so bad that he eventually had to flee the coast. He turned up at The Dalles, in Oregon, about 1853, where with some com- panions he started for Fort Hall, Idaho. Hostile Indians attacked the party on the Bannack River, from which after great pri- vations they managed to reach Soda Springs, but in bad condition, their horses having played out and their grub as well. Helm and a companion named Burton alone survived the rest of the march. These two pushed on to an old cabin, where, so Helm claimed, Burton committed suicide, although he probably was mur- dered by Helm. Here the cannibal nature of Helm asserted itself, and he lay over several days feasting on the dead body of his companion, eventually wrapping up one of the legs of the corpse and eating it along the trail. He finally reached the Mormon settlements around Salt Lake, where he boasted of his crime. Later Helm returned to the Montana gold-fields, joining the Plummer Gang and becoming the most brutal fiend in all the band. How many men he killed during his lifetime never will be known, but the figure is large. He shot and killed one ‘Dutch Fred” while the latter stood unarmed facing him. Helm fled into British Colum- bia, where it is asserted he murdered and 37 ate another lone companion who was trav- eling with him. Turning up later at Virginia City, Helm’s reputation for badness became such that the vigilantes determined that a necktie party was the only thing for Boone Helm. He was arrested by strategy in front of the Virginia Hotel by three of the vigilantes. ° When he was marched into the presence of the judges and told why he was wanted he exclaimed with an oath— ‘You would have had a great time taking me if I’d known what you wanted me for.” When charged with being a member of the Plummer Gang and declared guilty of highway robbery and murder this arch- fiend exclaimed: ‘Why, gentlemen, I am as innocent as a new-born babe. I never murdered any one and will swear to it on the Bible.” A Bible was handed Helm, and the per- verted scoundrel actually kissed the Holy Book and solemnly protested his innocence of any man’s blood. However, he was told that this protestation would avail him nothing, unmistakable proof of his guilt being ample, and Helm was ordered to prepare for death. Later in the day, in private, he confessed to numerous murders to one of the vigilantes, although he would give no information concerning the other members of the Plummer Gang. With Helm to the gallows went. Jack Gallagher, “‘Clubfoot George,’’ Hayes Lyon and Frank Parish. “Say, old fellow,” said Gallagher to a friend, “I’m going to heaven. I'll be there in time to open the gate for you.” After the nooses were adjusted he added— ‘“‘How do I look, boys, with a halter around my neck?” Then finally— “T hope I will meet every one of you in the lowest pit of i Then Gallagher was swung up. Boone Helm’s turn came next, and as he surveyed Gallagher he exclaimed— “Kick away, old fellow; there goes one to ——, and I'll be with you, Gallagher, in a minute.” Then he shouted in a loud voice: “Every man for his principles! Hurrah for Jeff Davis! Let her rip!’ And his body fell with a jerk. GO 1INOO S (©