Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-02-01
A Marrow Escape.

A Marrow Escape.
Come, Joe, tell us what made you turn
pale awhile ago when Jack told US that be
had seen a grave, ana asked whose it was. y
Bah, boys ! turn pale. did [? There
are circumstances in the lives Of most men
who live on the frontier, which to have
them recalled. will make them turn pale
And mentioning that grave and asking
whose it was. recalls fearful event in my
experience But as the nights vet young,
l will tell you about it, and perhaps it will
be a warning TO You never to trust too
much to stranger, or throw temptation in
his way.
Thus spoke your humble servant some
months ago, to party of prospectors, of
whom ne was one, The following is the
story to which | alluded above:
Several years ago, l was out with par
ty prospecting for silver, high up in the
ella river. We had been some time with
out meeting any success, and were return
ing to Fort Yu ma, disgusted with the coun-
try. We had left the Pimos valley day S
Journey behind US, when we fell in with a
man travelling the same way that we were.
He was without grub or blankets, and said
he was going to California. As we had
some spare mules we told him that if he
could ride q pack saddle he could 90 with
Us as far as Fort Yuma. None of US liked
the looks Of the fellow He had such a
thorou hly villinous expression. But as
he seemed so badly used up we took pity
on him, and made him the offer that we
did lie accepted without any hesitation.
We found him taciturn, never speaking un-
less he was spoken to. When we camped,
be would take the saddle off bis mule and
60 off by himself, never helping TO get the
grub ready (; and when it was ready he
would come and pitch in with the rest
However, though we did not like him or
his actions, we said nothing, thinking he
might have some secret sorrow that We
had no right to pry into. We had trav-
eled two days when what | am about to
tell you occurred. We had camped at
noon. and as the weather was very warm,
some one proposed that we should take a
bath. All had felt that it would be de-
llciously cool amusement, bathing in the
shade of the cottonwood trees which hung
over the banks of the river. We stripped
iustanter, ard were soon enjoying ourselves
gloriously. I had a belt around me with
several twenties IN it, and took it off to
give me free play in the water laid il
down on my clothes carelessly, never
thinking of hiding it from any of the com
pany, as they all knew that | had the mo-
ney. and | had no idea that the stranger
would be tempted to take it. As l came
out of the water | noticed the stranger
looking very longingly at my beld, bu
thought no more about IT, That night
from some cause, | could not sleep well
and when | would fall into state of un
consciousness, | was troubled with sucf
wild like dreams that | would rather | haC
remained broad awake. At last, abou
midnight, l went to sleep soundly; how
long l Law I do not know, but awakened
suddenly to fad some one kneeling Owe
me and very carefully cutting my shir
open. Now | have always had the powe
/ (call it presence of mind, or anything else
/ of comprehending in an instant all that j
going on around me, no matter from hoy
sound sleep l may be walked. It is any
thing but pleasant to wake and find one
self in the power of desperate who wi
have no hesitation in plunging knife int
your heart.
felt myself in anything but an envia
bic situation. knowing that the slightes
indication on my part of being awak
would cause the william to give me, b,
tween the ribs, the length Of his bowie. G
the contents Of his pistol For though