The Shasta courier., 1864-09-17
[Frcm the s. z. Spirit of the Times.]
Wheeler--Rediyiv


/ DIED.-In Austin, on the Esd inst, Red Wheeler
Esq, in the 55th year of his age.
Verify in the midst of live we are in
death -
His illness, or disease, which terminated
his earthly career, and cut him down in the
bloom of his young manhood, was, as dag
nosed by the medical fraternity, known, To-
Gated and recorded as the " excessive assess
ment," and very virulent type ofthat dread
disorder. 1t has been raging in this vicinity
for me time, and has become SO fearful in
its ravages as to assume the malignity of an
epidemic. Our friend was one of the last to
pass in his 'chips," and held out firm to
the last. He was perfectly sane up to the
last moment; and when the pangs and pains
to circumference, he begged his weeping
friends who stood en- masse around his lonely
cot, not to pine on his account. that they all
had to come to it if they remained in Reese
River for any length of time. Rather land
his voice grew weak and husky take warn
ing from his untimely fate; and if they still
had coin sufficient, to take time by the fore
lock and purchase fathom or two of rope
and hang themselves Immediately.
| 1t is no less our duty as it is our pleasure,
who have known him so long and so we'll, to
pay more than passing tribute to the many
virtues possessed in SO remarkable degree
by the young defunct.
Not that the young man did not have his
faults Who ''does not?" Let the proud
Pharisee, who thanked God that he was not
like other men, answer He had them, and
their name was Legion. But-and he al
ways remarked it with feeling of pride
| that when he settled up, and rendered an
account of his stewardship on earth, that he
would not be charged with singing bass or
playing the guitar, which he always contend
ed and insisted was for long haired counter
jumpers and bread and butter school girls.
If playing ''keerds" was fault then
Reddy" was g on to it, for he played 'em
and played 'em high; he set his = soap" up
to the centre Of the table, like the Watsons.
and, as general thing, took it down with
big interest. To play "keerds. ~ and play
them well, is virtue possessed but by few,
and amongst those few | nominate the eds
eased." His iavorite game and in fact the
only one he hazarded his food on, was
" old sledge'' or ''seven up" and :" draw
poker" or, as he facetiously termed it,
= drift" Draft was his forte but the
skill and science which lie displayed in play
ing the 'top stock" and taking them from
toe 50 South" was at once the wonder and
admiration of small but select circle Of
friends His favorite hand at "drift' was
' two pair and the unfortunate he that fell
against them, was mighty apt to rise from the
tul ia i not m tp
er their size the more ''kale seed" was
spouted on their ultimate success, and gen
orally speaking he pouched" the g seed.
A very favorite and usually successful
dodge was to stand pat on an ace head
err" and then shoot it to them high for
luck" his great insight and knowledge of
men rendered this usually hazardous play
almost certainty with him. For proof am
kindly permitted to refer TO George L., Tim
H., H. R. c., Frank s., Geo. N, &C., &C..
ct ais, all of whom unite in awarding to him
a just need of praise.
Asa billiard player, he ranked deservedy
high he invariable hit lis ''cue ball' upon
its side, which gives it that peculiarly Eng
lish" motion, which is so much in vogue
amongst A | players. Amongst pool
sharps' he was considered eminently sound,
and he . went after the Chinaman" with a
skill and abandon that was perfectly appall
ing to the novice, as we'll as to the profession
al t" shootist." We have yet to find the first
man that considered our friend g shakv''
upon the GOOSE" he always stood upon his
vested rights as an American citizen. and
went in strongly for the . Constitution as it
was, is and will be;'' and the glorious old
Union right or wrong His strong devotion
to his country was exempli6ed by the man
ner and style with which he borrowed his
friends money. ostensibly to enlist in defense
of loved Republic, whose hearth-stones and
altars were being ruthlessly assailed by an
intestine foe from without, and armed mer-
ceneries from Within but really to gamble
once more under the roof-tree of his fathers.
He was received by his long expectant trans
montane friends in old Chautaque with all of
the hospitality, cheeriness. amiability and
good fellowship which are the Distinguishing
traits Of all New Workers, when they have
strong reasons to suppose that their visitors
have returned well "heeled" Routs, balls,
hops. soirees &C., &C., followed each other in
rapid succession, till pleasure began to pail
upon his senses, and he longed to again re-
turn TO the land of his adoption, on the wes-
tern slope of the vast Sierras. His history
since then is matter OF notoriety, and is as
familiar as household words to the citizens of
the Golden State and contiguous Territories.
Well, he is gone. and the public mourn
their heavy loss. .. He is not dead, but only
sieepeth." His memory is still green in the
hearts of grateful people, who will sing
paeons to his greatness and patriotism, till
tyrants will tremble on their thrones. Like
all truly great men he had his last words.
which will be nourished and cherished by an
appreciatiye future, to the end of time, and
they are worthy of the man :-s' Bows, "a and
a gieam of intelligence shot, meteor-like.
athwart his noble visage, this has been a
rough deal. the brackies' have run every
other way but smooth-they have chopped
badly. and unless we can call the turn
we're Dig losers, follow me and give the fell
and all leaned eagerly forward. KNOWING we'll
| that the : reaper was even then waiting to
| take him home. He spoke. "s7o,+s -