|
1874 - Idaho County Free Press
Hanging
Theodore Swartz, mail carrier, brings us the news of the Chinaman who was
hanged from the wire bridge at French creek. He relates the story that
August Berg was attacked by his Chinese cook. After the roundup the cook
was no longer needed and let go. There being no banks in this district,
the Chinaman knew Berg had money and he brutally attacked him from behind with a
hatchet. Berg's ill-natured dog, "Puppy", came to his
rescue. After the Chinaman ran off, Berg found his horse
"Whitey" who was grazing near the house and managed to get to the
Allison place. Word was sent out and a party was quickly formed to start
on the trail to Warrens, the Chinaman was well known to them all. He was
overtaken not far from the suspension bridge at the mouth of French creek and it
took but a short time to escort the culprit to the bridge, tie a rope around his
neck and drop him over the side.
|
|
Idaho Signal Newspaper - Sat, June 27,
1874
ATTEMPT TO MURDER AND ROB – August Berg Assaulted by a
Chinaman and Fearfully Cut With A Hatchet
From Robt. Nugent we learn the following particulars of an
assault made upon August Berg by a Chinaman, last Monday afternoon, at Berg’s
home, on Salmon River. Mr. Nugent relateds the circumstances of the affair as he
heard them from a man by the name of Barker, who was sent into Florence with the
intelligence from Allison’s, where Mr. was lyhing in a critical condition.
It seems that the unfortunate man had been a short time away from home
and had returned. He was going
toward his stable with a saddle under his arm when a Chinaman stepped up behind
him and struck him on the head with a hatchet two or three times.
A fearful encounter ensued in which Mr. Berg dealt a few blows with a
club, but the Chinaman struck at him with the hatchet and cut both thumbs off
and inflicted a severe would in his side. Berg
in some way succeeded in getting the hatchet and struck the Chinaman, who by
this time was retreating. Berg went
into his house and got a pistol, came out, mounted his horse and started in
pursuit of the would-be-murderer. He
tracked him by the blood from his wound some distance above his place, but could
not get sight of him. Arriving at
Allison’s, a distance of seven miles from his place, he became so exhausted
from the loss of blood, and the excitement having ceased, that he found himself
helpless. Mr. Allison was unable to
render him much assistance, having recently cut his foot with an ax so as to be
scarcely able to move about. In
this condition Mr. Berg was situated until Mr. Barker came along, who
immediately went into Florence and reported the affair last Wednesday afternoon.
A Chinaman having arrived in Florence the day previous, with wounds upon
his head, he was at once sought for and arrested.
In reply to questions asked him about his wounds, he said he was attacked
by an Indian on the road to Florence, with whom he had a scuffle and got hurt. Mr. Nugent, who was dispatched at once for a physician, says
when he left Florence the excitement was intense over the affair, and that
parties were in the act of tying the Chinaman to a bench.
Robbery seems to be the cause of the attack, the Chinaman having formerly
been in the employ of Mr. Berg and being well acquainted with his premises.
Upon the arrival of Mr. Nugent here Dr. Stainton was summoned and both
parties left for Allison’s Thursday afternoon.
|
|
Idaho Signal Newspaper - Sat, July 4,
1874
More about Berg –
The latest intelligence we have received concerning
August Berg, the man who was attacked by a Chinaman on Salmon River, is to the
effect that his chances for recovery are doubtful. The wound in his side penetrates the lung.
Dr. Stainton, who returned here yesterday, relates the circumstances of
the attack somewhat different from the account we published last week;
says Mr. Berg was in a stooping posture untying his shoe, when the
Chinaman, who had secured lodging fro the night at the house, struck him on the
back part of the head with an ax. The
ax glanced from the skull and penetrated the fleshy part of the neck, cutting a
gash about seven inches long. The
scuffle then ensued, during which the ax got against Mr. Berg’s side, and the
Chinaman, taking advantage of the position of the ax, pressed it into Berg’s
side. The manner in which the
unfortunate man lost his thumbs was by the Chinaman pulling the ax while Berg
had hold of the blade. Berg
endeavored to shoot the Chinaman as he ran from the house, but owing to the
bloody and mangled condition of his hands he could not cock his gun.
He locked the doors and laid down upon his bed, where he remained until
the following day, when he managed to put a saddle on his horse and ride to
Allison’s.
|
|