nearly noon
Morgan was in the habit of coming to the room , and had a key , but he had not been there of late , having gambled every night till daylight . Her screams had attracted nearly the whole neighborhood , some of whom corroborated her statements , and one or two testified to having heard a shot sometime about midnight , but nothing had been thought of it , as it was supposed to be some row in the gambling rooms below . The watchman had ordered the crowd out of the room , and sent the messenger for Houston , and also a telegram to Silver City for the coroner , who was expected on the noon train . As it was nearly noon , Houston decided to step over to the depot , leaving the room in charge of the watchman . On his way , he heard various comments from groups gathered here and there . Passing a half-dozen miners , he heard one of them say : `` If he 'd ` a been a union man , we 'd ` a taken care of ` im , but he worked for the bosses , and helped 'em to make big money , and now , let the bosses take care of ` im and bury ` im . '' A bitter smile crossed Houston 's face , and stepping into the little telegraph office , he sent a message , first , in his own name , to one of the undertaking firms of Silver City , for everything that was needed to be sent up by the special freight that afternoon ; and then a brief dispatch to Mr. Blaisdell , stating what had occurred , but that the affairs of the company were all right , and there was no necessity for his coming to the camp immediately .