The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-06-18
Tanning a Ruflian.
An Editors Experience.

HNHE scene was in Sacramento street, in
front of well-known hotel. 1t was
twenty-five years ago, and San Francisco
was in her infancy e..ff l.t-.s..
Quite crowd had gathered on the street,
and the centre Of attraction was a big fell
low, who stood with a newspaper in his
hand, raving and cursing.
"What's the matter, Wolf?" asked a
newcomer, who was evidently familiar
with the irate man.
"Matter p" returned Wolf, for that was
his name, "matter enough, an rough
enough it'll be for some folks. Them
young whelps that prints this paper has
gone and published something about me.
O, I'll fix 'em They'd better never ha'
been born They'd better go and kill them
selves after ten minutes; it'll be an easier
death fur 'em." ...
Wolf was noted desperate, who, it
was said, had killed more than twenty men,
and but few knew him who did not fear him.
He was at that time chief of a gang of loaf
ers and gamblers that were nearly always
to be found lounging in the vicinity alluded
to, and disturbing the peace of the whole
peighborhood daily with riotous conduct.
If there was any law in those days it was
seldom executed against such characters,
and in the full consciousness that they
were feared they did pretty much as they
pleased. .rss.u
The newspaper which had given deadly
offeuse to Wolf was little weekly journal
and its Office was in the second story of a
building on the same street with the hotel
l have mentioned, and only few rods dis
tant. 1t was published by two young men
or, might say, boys, for they were only
eighteen and twenty years old, respectively
named Darrell and Haynes. The paper
and its youthful proprietors were already
we'll known in the city of San Francisco.
The article which had excited the wrath
of the ruffian Wolf was bold denunciation
of himself and his crowd for their lawless
conduct, and it particularly mentioned him
by name, characterizing him as "bluster-
ing bully" 1t was the work of young
Darrell, a fearless boy hailing from Ohio.
Before leaving his home he had acquired a
fair education, so that he could at least
edit a newspaper in those early days; and
he possessed, besides, that courage and
daring which may be natural in the first
place, and which are more thoroughly
developed by exposure to dangers and hard
ships. Young Haynes was quite differ
ent kind Of person in point of courage,
being of an unusually timorous nature.
To return to the scene on Sacramento
street. Working himself up into his very
worst mood--and his best was bad enough,
heaven knows--Wolf tore the papers to at.
oms and started for the publication Office
He was followed by curious rabble, most
| of whom were elated with the prospect Of
murder, though there were some present
who would have demonstrated with the
evil-hearted man, had they dared.
"Jest you watch,p said Wolf, as he
reached the door, "if ye want to see theil
bloody carcasses tumble out of the winder
1t won't be long. don't spend much tim'
! on sich fellers." 1t was the intention o
the cruel-hearted man actually to cut thu
: the throats of the two boyish journal ist
and throw their bodies out at th'
window, for the qualification of the GROVE
and the further exaltation Of his alread.
fearful name. SO, the mob on the stree
awaited the issue with feverish expectation
as Wolf, fiourishing his knife and revolver
entered the rude frame building and rushed
: up stairs. no.
All unconscious of their danger, the tw
young editors were busily pursuing thei
!. usual work in their primitive Office. If the.
5 had heard the noise without, they had pai
no attention to it, supposing it was merel
a street row such as they were accustome
to hearing every day. Darrell was sittin
Q at rude table writing, and Haynes was q
] the counter arranging some papers for tn
mail. ..
! They heard the clatter of heavy boots o.
: the stairs, but supposed it was some roug
. miner comingupto to subscribe for the paper
! or, perhaps, TO see lawyer who occupie
s a couple of rooms on the same floor ..for th
u building was only two-story one, and til
second floor was occupied exclusively b
: them and an attorney-their rooms bein
separated from his by narrow hall-wa
that was reached by the fight Of stairs a
> luded to.
"Ah-ha I've got ye, my young imps |!
exclaimed the desperate, bursting in.
Haynes recognized him and turned pail
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