The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-10

T
existing against him as a gambler, and how
strong these prejudices were in the present So
ciety, Only his regard for personal safety in
duced, nay compelled him to accuse the young
man. de had been so unfortunate as to win a
| good deal OF the young mans money and he
| had been threatened by him i'm CONSEQUENCE
the young man seeming to have suspected him
of foul play, and being very unreasonable about
it. On his going out that night, the three had
seized him, gagged him before he could give
the alarm, and dragged him down to the pier
at the foot of Clay street. When they got him
to the edge of the pier, and were preparing TO
throw him overheard, with a stone tied to his
neck, he had made last despairing effort freed
himself by throwing two Of them overheard
and then escaped, with only stab i'm the arm
which the yellow fellow had given him. Pedro
told his story well and, when he had FIN
lShed, the impatient crowd began to shout for
the rope But they were again made to keep
| silence, and the questioner asked the accused
what they had to reply. Jasper gave the true
version of the story, in few brief words, and B.
b. seconded him, stating that he had waited
outside, because he did not think Jasper in a
fit condition to take care of himself
| QUEsrIoNER.-" But what were you doing
on Clay street pier at that time Of night? ?"
| JASPER What do desperate men, who
| now iooI all tnelr money, ana thlnk lie IN
slpid cheat, usually resort to such siumping.off'
places for? Faith, / don't know but what. # Pc
dro there had waited while, / should have saved
him the trouble he has put himself to, to get
me out of the way. That was your purpose.
was it not, Pedro? Lasciate oqui sDeraaza.'
and so forth; eh, Pedro?
| QUEsTIoNER.A" Can you produce witnesses
to corroborate your story, Mr. Fleming? 2" T
| JASPER =" Some here present can testify to
the way have been making the money fy.
recently, think and if that young man were
here, he could confirm the lecture / read him
at the Bella Union. Mr. Blank, the lawyer,
will tell you how many books have not read
since | articed in his office" F
A rough-looking spectator here stepped for
ward from the crowd, and cried:
Il know that air young man. He never
tried to kill nobody. I'll tell you what he isl
And IN few graphic words he gave an account
Of ,Iaspers successful advocacy of the cause of
the Indian horse-thieves. &c tell you, Misters,"
said he, in conclusion, he fetched the water
into all our eyes, jest like we was so many
babies, and that's more'n anybody's done for
me sense the day my poor old NANNY died.
years and years ago. Jest reckon that air
gambler wanted to stick knife in his gizzard,
cause he wouldn't keep his derned tongue,
but must go foolin in things that didn't con-
sarn him. Them,S my sentiments. Why, he
wanted to whip me, cause he ketched me
hidm' one of EN- dirty Berkshire boars of
John Chinaman! He never hurt nobody.
believe he'd have fellow feeln' for Santa
Fe bed-bug, that's what do. Ivote for him
myself"
Jasper had now the sympathies of the entire
crowd but when the young man also pressed
TO the front, and not only confirmed what JAS
per had said in regard TO the occurrence, but
also mentioned Pedro's threat, which he had
overheard, the audience unanimously shouted
that the charge was false one, and, in a state
of terrible excitement, bowling, execrating,
chahng together, like a tempest dashed sea,
they rushed upon the gambler, shouting, The
window the Window hang him." at the
same time pulling him about, and tearing his
clothes on, In their eagerness to get hold of
| him. They had already dashed out a window
--4tr
hung him, when Jasper, his fine face flushed
with excitement, sprang upon the table, and
| spoke i'll electric tones that caused them To
pause involuntarily:
"Gentlemen! Friends /" shouted he, "stop
pause You have given me a hearing, You
must accord him the same privilege. You are
Americans. Let it not be said that you are
just!'
A murmur, half of approval, half of dissent,
|
ter opinion prevailed, and they led the pale and
trembling Pedro back to the table, still keeping
the halter about his neck and still menacing
him.
Frends!" continued Jasper, in the same
clear ringing tones, appear here as this
mans counsel ask his life of you"
"No, no they shouted " off with him /"
"Who is there here that is unwilling TO go
home this night with the pleasing thought,
have done noble thing have spared, have
sdred human being felow-creature life y
There he goes. | told you So" grumbled
the miner who had spoken for Jasper, He'll
get the skunk off"
"Who is here that will dare to fatter himself
he will be happier for having shed this mans
blood We have a mighty power, of this
crowd and we are terrible when we exhibit t
awful irresistible, when we give full reins to it ;
but oh, friends, let us pride ourselves upon being
able to say: never have We used this power
wrongtully; never have we done an unjust, q
cruel act, in the exercise of our mightness
What is this man charged with? He has done
nothing. stand alive and well before you.
provoked him much, wlfully, beyond endurance
| intcrfered with his business. / insulted him.
broke up his game. ! did all that could to
exasperate him. And what return has he made
me for all these insults, these ISLANDERS, these
provocations? My friends, this man has saved
my life | do assure you, solemnly that to this
man, under God, owe my life this night! /
went down to yonder waters desperate man, a
suicide, determined to live no longer. saw NJ
prospect of happiness before me, no chance of
| being useful to my fellow-men no hope of any
thing that makes life sweet. Had not this man
followed me, all that would have been known
of me would have been bloated corpse fshed
out of the harbor, and paragraph in an even
ing paper. Now again | have hopes, now
again ] see prospects IN life F, now again am
determined to conquer happiness. And all this
renewed hope, frightened prospect, blessed life
itGelf | owe to this man, whose life you demand.
Oh, my friends, can you refuse me, when beg
his life of you? He has given me back my life /
demand that you shall restore him his :
Spare him to me You rob me of half my bless
ing, if you do not give him to me. have need
of life spared to me, my friends for there have
been many lives put out for my sake. Once, in
Patagonia, / was forced by dire necessity to
plunge my knife into the heart Of brave man.
while his wife stood wailing spectator of the
deed. This Brawny Back has cleft Malay to
the chin to save me. Yonder, at the mines, an
Indian wears his brothers scalp at his belt, torn
off for my sake. AT my home, fond, loving
mother has been laid in the grave, perhaps
heart-broken because | returned not-=and one
more dearly loved than she may even now be
calling for me with her last expiring breath
dying for mel Ny God Ny Godl" aud he
burst into tears. The effect was electrical.
With one unanimous shout, they cried:
We spare him we spare him."
Some wept, some sobbed, and those nearest
Pedro loosened the rope from his neck and
shouting out, " Make lane there " warned him
"to cut and rum" and get away from San
Francisco while the mob continued in a good
humor. The gambler seized pen and paper