Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-01-11
TenneSSee's Partner.
B1 BREI HAKrE.

| do not think that we ever knew hi.
real name. Our ignorance of it certainly
never gave US any social Inconvenience,
for at Sandy Bar in 1854 most men were
christened anew. Sometimes these appel
latives were derived from some distinctive
ness of dress, as in the case Of 'Dungaree
Jack .; or from some peculiarity Of habit,
as shown in Saleratus Bill so called from
an undue proportion Of that chemical in
his daily bread or from some unluck y
slip, as exhibited in The Iron Pirate a
mild. inoffensive man, who earned that
baleful title by his unfortunate mispro-
nunciation Of the term iron pyrites.
Perhaps this may have been the beginning
of rude heraldry; but l am constrained
to think that it was because 4 mans real
name in that day rested solely upon his
own unsupported statement. Call your
self Clifford, do you? said Boston, ad-
dressing timid newcomer with infinite
scorn; hell is full Of such Clifords " He
then introduced the unfortunate man, whose
name happened to be really Clifford, as
sJay-bird Charley,-an unhallowed inspi-
ration of the moment that cluDg to him
ever after.
But to return to Tennessees Partner,
whom we never knew by any other than
this relative title that he had ever existed
as a separate and distinct individuality we
only learned later. 1t seems that in 1888
he left Poker Flat to 90 to San Francisco,
Ostensibly to procure wife. lie never
got any further than Stockton. At that
place he was attracted by young person
who waited upon the table at the hotel
where he took his meals. One morning he
said something to her which ca used her TO
smile not unkindly, to somewhat cOquet-
tishly break plate of toast over his up
turned, serious. simple face, and to retreat
to the kitchen. He followed her, and
emerged few moments later, covered with
more toast and victory. That day week
they were married by Justice Of the
Peace, and returned to Poker Flat. | am
aware that something more might be made
Of this episode, but | prefer to tell it as it
was current at Sandy Barn the gIlches
and bar-rOoms,- where all sentiment was
modified by a strong sense Of humor.
OF their married felicity but little is
known, perhaps for the reason that Ten
nessee, then living with his partner, one
day took occasion to say something to the
bride on his own account, al which, it Is
said, she smiled not unkindy and chastely
retreated,-t time as far as Marysvllle,
where Tennessee followed her, and where
they went to housekeeping without the
aid Of Justice Of the Peace. Tennessec's
Partner took the loss of his wife simply
and seriously, a. was his fashion But TO
everybody's surprise when Tennessee one
day returned from Marysville, without his
partners wife.-she having smiled and re
treated with somebody else,-TenneSsee' 's
Partner was the first man to shake his
hand and greet him With affection. The
boys who had gathered in the canon to
see the shooting were naturally indignant
Their Indignation might have found vent
in sarcasm but for a certain look in Ten
nessee's Partners eye that indicated .
lack of humorous appreciation. In fact,
he was a grave man, with steady ap-
plication to practical detail which was
unpleasant in a difficulty.
Meanwhile q popular feeling against
Tennessee had grown up on the Bar. He
was known to be a gambler; he was sus-
pected TO be a thief In these suspicious
Tennessee's Partner was equally compro-
missed his continued intimacy with Ten
nessec after the affair above quoted could
only lie accounted for on the hypothesis
Of a copartnership OF crime At last
Tennessee's guilt became fragrant. One
day he overlook Z stranger on his way
to Red Dog. The stranger aiterward re-
lated that Tennessee beguiled the time
with interesting anecdote and reminisceHce,
but illogicalIy concluded the interview in
the following words And now. Young
man, LII trouble you for your knife, your
pistols, and your money. You see your
weppings might get you into trouble at
Red Dog, and your moneys a temptation
to the evilly disposed. | think you said
your address was San Francisco. [ shall
endeavor to call 1t may be stated here
that Tennessee had fine flow Of humor,
which no business preoccupation could
wholly subdue.
This exploit was his last Red Dog
and Sandy Bar made common cause against
the highwayman. Tennessee was hunted
in very much the same fashion as his pro-
totype, the grizzly. As the tolls closed
around him, he made d desperate dash
through the Bar, omptying his revolver at
the crowd before the Arcade Saloon, and
20 on up Grizzly Canon but at its farther
extremity he was stopped by a small man
on gray horse The men looked at each
other moment in silence Both were
fearless, both types Of civilization that
IN the seventeeth century would have been
called heroic, but, in the nineteenth, sim
ply reckless What have you got
there Il CALL said Tennessee, quietly.
Two bowers and an ace,' said the stranger
as quietly, showing two revolvers and a
bowle-kniie. That takes ne, returned
Tennessee and with the gamblers epigram
ne threw away his useless pistol, and rode
back with his captor.
1t was a warm night. The cool breeze
which usually sprang up with the going
down OF the sun behind the ch1pparral-
crested mountain was that evening with
held from Sandy Bar. The little canon
was sitting with heated resinous odors.
and the decaying drift-wood on the Bar
sent forth faint, sickening exhalations.
The teverishness Of day, and its fierce pas
sions, still filled the camp. Lights moved
restlessly along the bank of the river.
striking no answering reflection from its
taWny current. Against the blackness Of
the pines the windows of the old lott above
the express office stood out staringly bright,
and through their curtainless panes the
loungers below could see the forms of those
who We're even then deciding the fate Of
tennessee And above all this. etched on
the dark hrmament, rose the Sierra, remote
anu passlonless, crowned with remoter pas-
slonless stars.
The trial Of Tennessee was conducted as
fairly Xva- q,