A Hop Yard Carousal Turns Violent
A night of drinking and robbery on the Ahtanum leads to a shooting in downtown Yakima.
Peter Quiring, a German who leases a hop yard on the Ahtanum, was in the city on Monday last, and having received very satisfactory advances on his crop thought he would spend the night in a little carousal. He picked up a couple of companions, one of whom was William Cody, and proceeded to blow himself in against beer. Along about four o'clock he made up his mind that he had enjoyment sufficient and started for his lodging house. Arriving opposite the Republic office he was attacked by two young men, whom he claims to have recognized as his companions of the night, and robbed of about $10 in silver, his assailants slighting a $20 gold piece that was in another pocket. After this episode Quiring changed his mind about going to bed and in roaming about town he met Cody in a saloon and drawing his revolver blazed away. The bullet struck the young man in the arm near the wrist, making a painful but not severe wound. Cody made complaint against Quiring, before Justice Henton, who bound him over in the sum of $3,000 which was afterwards reduced to $1,000. Quiring gave the necessary bond.
“Thought he would spend the night in a little carousal.”
This incident highlights the volatile nature of the turn-of-the-century hop industry, where seasonal labor and paydays often clashed with the rigid moral and legal structures of the growing town.
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