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Fort Smith National Historic SitePark staff and volunteers dressed as first fort soldiers prepare to fire cannon
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
April 30, 1896 Execution
noose
On April 30, 1896 three men were executed on the Fort Smith gallows.  Webber Isaacs, a Cherokee Indian, robbed Mike Cushing, a 60 year old peddler, and then beat him to death. Isaacs tried to burn the body of his victim to destroy evidence of the crime but letters found near the scene confirmed Cushing's identity. In November 1894, George and John Pierce, brothers, murdered William Vandever, their traveling companion, as they rode through the Cherokee Nation. The Pierces robbed Vandever of his horses, mules and a wagon.
reproduction of keelboat on Arkansas River with first fort soldier reenactors  

Did You Know?
Fort Smith was established on Christmas Day, 1817. Approximately 70 Rifle Regiment soldiers arrived by keelboat after a long journey on the Arkansas River.

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Last Updated: June 19, 2007 at 15:11 EST