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.