, 1865-03-03
slim Jim From the Hook" and "Six-Toed
PeteD


came into my room last Sunday morning, un-
announced, and seeing that l was yet asleep,
shook me violently, saying as he did so, "Wake
up Jake Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Lib
erty P Well, says l 'spose it is, it's none Of my
business? Go away, and let me sleep" "NO,
you must get up" says Pol, Il call him "Pol'
for short) elf you don get up, you re no Patri-
Ot.' What's up, says |. "Eyerybodys up but
you" says Pol, and with a tragic air, he con-
tinued: "Everything is up. Six-toed Pete and
fye-tOed Waddngham escaped from the Jail
last night, and the Vigilantes-the eternal Vigil
lantes-caught them and brought them back to
town this morning. The prisoners are now
confined in a little house across the creek, and
guarded by seven hundred armed Yigilantes,
and
''HoldP interrupted, springing out of bed.
"Seyen hundred did you say, Pol. eyes
said 700 just to get you out of bed, but l will
now maintain that there are seventh bet on
seven" 80 you be hanged says |. 81 wont
be banged " says Pol, "but Six-toed Pete and
the other fellow will be hung, right away; the
whole town is surgihg to and fro in excitement
Come let's away to the scene Of action" We
Immediately sailed forth to see the sights, and
as we were passing a small crowd on the corner
of street, some one hailed us in the following
touching and pathetic words "Are you Vigl-
lance, or Anti-VigilanceW was glad that Pol
tory He always assumes to speak for me on
important occasions as we'll as speaking more
than enough for himself besides.
osVgilance or Vigilance" repeated POI
to himself before answering. (which is the
strongest gide}@ qgeried Pol; 1It,g about six six
answer given.
"Well, then, says Pol, scratching his patriot
c head, We're Neutral.
The spokesman of the other party frowned, ad-
vanced pace or two and exclaimed with toss
of the head and contemptuous sneer
"There can be no Neutrals in this matter
He that is not for us, is against us, and is an
enemy of his country
''We're Patriots, said Pol, evidently little
confused, ''but," he continued, ''we don't want
to drag politics into this affair. We are on your
side, but we have a little business down town
just now which claims our immediate attention.
Good morning, friends, we'll see you again ''
We got out of that scrape pretty easy, said
to Pol, as we walked along. eyes, and no
thanks to YOU Jake--you never opened your
mouth to assist me" said he Well, I'll talk
for myself next time, l replied. By this time
we had arrived at she place where the prisoners
were confined, and after taking a glimpse at the
officers of the day, as they walked about on their
beat, doubled up and shiyering from the cold
wind that was blowing its hollow blast around
that locality, we left the place and mingled with
the crowds of excited men on the street cor
ners About noon, that tall thick-lipped negro,
known as "Sim Jim from the Hook, cap
tured by the Viglantes and confined along with
the two other prisoners "Slim Jim" fessed to
having assisted the prisoners in their escape the
night prevous-furnishing them with the ne
cessary implements to break Jail.
Some spirited discussions took place between
those in favor of "Vigilance" and those opposed
to it; but will not trouble you by giving de-
tailed account of all that was said on the Occa-
sion by the excited many and the cool delibera-
ting few Some good things were said as well
as many ludicrously absurd things. Some were
for hanging the prisoners and some thought the
Sheriff should take them in his charge and put
them in Jail, and that the majesty OF the law
should be sustained at all hazards Some ar
gued that it was useless to put the prisoners in
the Jail building, as they would get out again
whenever they chose to do So Others replied
by insisting that the County Jail shouldbe made
secure, that the guilty would never be punished
according to the requirements of law until this
be done. Others, again, recommended that the
City authorities establish q "Chain Gang" sys-
tem-that an Ordinance be passed to this eff
feet, and that those convicted of crime be made
to pay the penalty of their offenses in part, by
working on and grading the Streets of Walla
Walla; that they should be furnished with wheel
barrows and shovels, and thus pave our way, if
not theirs to honor and fame.
Now, Messrs. Editors, we cannot, and ought
not hang every one that escapes from Jail, and
it seems to me that the best thing we can do in
the premises is to expend some more money on
our costly Jail; line two small cells, if necessa-
ry to make them secure, with Boiler iron, and
build high fence or wall around the building;
and Thought advisable, let chain-gang sys-
tenn oe established for the benefit of the health
of cuprits, and particularly, for the good of our
streets. Let this or some such line of policy be
carried out and there will be no use for Vigi-
lance Committees, nor no disposition on the part
of our people to form them; mob law will be ban
ished and legitimate law will assume its natu-
raj functions, and justice will not be thwarted
nor the good order of society outraged by slip
shod manner of conducting county affair.
In conclusion, it is necessary for me to say
that the Sheriff took the prisoners IN charge
and re-lodged them in Jail, the Vigilantes, so far
as know, making no objections thereto Quiet
again reigns in Warsaw, and the community
are talking of the capture of Charleston, OF
Gen Sherman now being "the big dog with the
brass collar" and of war matters generally
My friend Pol has suddenly become very patriotic
and he is talking of enlisting, while must re-
main, Yours, as Ever, JAKE.
THE Boise Stage Company intend to start
their stages over the new Wallula road next