The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-05-10


my help by the onlookers, and could
only be induced to follow his wife.
who had been taken away by one Of
the female passengers when the fatal
shot was fired.
"A change OF clothing AMI a little
cout-plaster soon put me in condition
again. -
I'VE arrived at Wharton late in the
afternoon, and found that the river
| would admit ofa farther Journey up
the stream. Here the body of the des-
pelado had shot was given to the
village authorities by the captain.
with statement of the manner IN
which he met his death. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY a common occurrence. No at
tempts were made to interfere with
my liberty. \ man came with mule
team and two negroes, to take the
body away. As the man looked ut
it. he said. as if speaking to himself
We'll. Bill Burton. | never thought
YOU would be doubled up by such a
I tllin fellow as that Then, turning to
I his negroes, continued: 'fote this
korps away. Come. be lively Look
ing ut me - moment. as If calculating
my proves, he went on: stranger,
how did We dot: Eli was, an ugly
cuss to g1pple. reckon his brother
Ned will be after We.
Upon my answering that was
fully capable of taking care of myself,
he remarked, With Il sly kind Of smile.
i reckon yc was playih a leSin hand
--eh?'
No" Ircplied. Il never saw him
before"
Wei, ye did putty well for a
grecny."
The negroes having removed the
body. my interrogation left me.
In the cabin. that evening. met
the husband and his wife. She was
looking pale, but otherwise well. As
they saw me enter, they both arose
and came forward to meet me, and held
out theirhands. lnttod,ictioiis follow
ed. which led to Il conversation. III
which the thanks of both were prutll>e
as to my interference in their behalf.
Their names found to he Mr.. and
Mrs. Geo. A. Peck.
During the rest of the trip. both by
river aud overland. to Austin, learned
much of their history. They were
originally from NIedway. Mus, aud
were but recently married. Mr.. Peck
had begun quite a successful career as
Il journalist in Boston. but, hy the in
ducements of his uncle, who resided in
Austin, andowne, large tracts ofland.
he had been tempted, after his mar
riage, to immigrite to that place, aud
start newspaper to advocate anncXa-
ti0n to the States. Boxed up and be-
ing conveyed as freight with us. was
the necessary material for printing
Office.
Both Mr.. Peck and his wife had
been literally educated, and their con-
versation was source Of qualification
tome. Altogether, Ialways look back
to that journey as one Of the happiest
of my life.
"After we arrived in Austin, which
was then scattered hamlet, my young
friends were taken in charge by their
relative, whom | found to he an intel
ligent, well educated, shrewd, money
making Yankee. lie is now one of
the Supreme Court Judges, anda great
friend of General Houston.
Not caring to lose time, | remained
in Austin only three days, and started,
with a Mexican half-breed rs a guide.
for the western confines ofmy division;
and for two months, nearly, was out
of the civilized world. NY mission
was a success, however; so that when
| reached Austin again, prior to exam
inins the seaboard settlements. and
wishing to stay a few days with the
new friends | had made, | forwarded
to my government most favorable
report.
"When I arrived in Austin from the
West, young Peek had just got his
office in the condition ours isin to-day.
And what may seem strange, party
of gentlemen, ! among the res, sat in
his sanctum on the evening following
my arrival. The subject under discus
sion was y motto for his paper. A
we all sat making our suggestions. Il
tall, ill-favored Texan entered the
room. lie appeared to bc known to
few present, 50 no questions were put
to him. Taking a seat, lie listened to
the various notices suggested. Draw
ing by lottery was finally agreed OH,
BY the request Of Peck's uncle. The
motto drawn was BE JUST. AND FEAR
NoT.-George A. Peck
"Fhe Texan whom | had noticed
entering the room was the first to hail
the successful motto and its writer.
Fine motto, Lucky Peek lie re-
marked In a peculiar voice.
EVERY one present turned to look
at the owner of the voice. Observing
the attention he had attracted, he con-
tinued: That is q good motto, Peck;
but | know q better one. Did you
ever hear the old Indian pfoverb,
Fast he rtlns, faster tellows:''
There was an insulting look in the
mans eyes, and menace in his tone,
which Peck noticed.
"'What do yon want here, sir?' lie
said, addressing the intruder.
"a life fora life! My name is Ned
Burton
Every one present thought the man
insal.e. |, however, knew what lie
wanted, and, on the spur of the mo.
ment, rose to confront him; but too
late. lie had struck my poor friend
Peck a heavy blow across the face, and |
then spat upon him. For the moment
all was confusion, during which the
aSsailant escaped from the room. Peck
was frantic with rage and grief at the
indignity put upon him, which we
tried to assuage, but with little sue
cess.
Next day, a characteristic note
from tho man Rrufnn was handpl IN