The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-06-13
IDAHO WORLD.
From the Morning CALI
PEG-LEG SMITHS DINNER PARTY.

Die IN character, ana perhaps IN thu
dissimilarity existed the secret of thei
close intimacy. Flower was as re
markable for his formal dignity ane
courtly bearing as was Byrne distin
guished for his utter contempt of forms
and ceremony, if either stood in the way
of his enjoyment or the chance for the
perpetration of a practical joke, Flow
er came to California with the memora
BILE immigration of lS49, and reached
Green river in state of general de
moralization. He was reduced by
travel, fatigue and long privation to a
mere living skeleton, and was in q con-
dition of positive distress when he
came upon the camp of Peg-leg Smith,
the famous mountaineer, who for the
nonce was grazing cattle and horses
lately stolen in toray in Southern Cal
ifornia.
The liberal hospitality shown by
Smith to the destitute immigrants of
that disastrous year has made his name
familiar and respected by all old Cali
fornians. He was especially generous
to Flower, giving him shelter, food,
clothing, and finally equipping him
with horse and means to accomplish
his journey. Grateful for the old noun
taineer's hospitality, Flower only waited
for an opportunity to show his graft
tude.
The looked-for occasion at length
presented itself, when, in 1851, Peg-leg
visited the Bay City, the fame of which
had penetrated to his mountain solitude.
After the first candid greeting, and
when Flower had shown his guest all
the strange sights of the city, he pro-
posed to crown the entertainment byI
giving him royal dinner at Martins
Nursing this happy idea until he met
Byrne, he communicated his intention,
and requested him to take the matter
in charge, and secure the attendance of
a few genial companions for the import
ant occasion.
"a feec oongenidi friends" quoth the
complacent Byrne, who saw in the fu-
ture material for capital joke and a
good dinner.
The time being fixed upon, Peg-lcg
was duly notified, and Byrne entered in
dustriously in the business of arrang-
ing the bill of fare and preparing list
of "congenial friends" The place select
ed was Martins, then famous, and the
great caterer himself was specially en-
gagged to prepare an entertainment for
Flower and twenty guests Byrne had
so arranged the time of arrival that the
guests came separately, and at intervals
of several minutes. /
First came Flower, bis face glowing y
with generous hospitality, accompa-
MED by Peg-leg; and it was a worthy t
sight to look upon the old hunter as he S
stumped with conscious dignity into the a
spacious saloon. 5
Next came Parker French, of Whilom l
notoriety, who flourished his single arm
as if inspired with the fragrance L
OF the dinner in anticipation But as Il
some of the guests on that occasion a
still reside in this city, we shall hereaf- r
ter prudently omit mention of names. d
After brief interval French was s
followed by Col. M, then a State Sen T
ator, whose only eye glowcd the bright y
or at the convivial prospect.
These had scarcely exchanged greet s.
lngs when they were joined by Col. w. g
b, prominent politician, who jo- tt
cosely, instead of the usual shake-hands, Il
rubbed has stump against that of French. le
In amoment an ominous hump hump cI
was heard on the stairway, when Mr.. 81
Ms wooden leg put in an appearance.
AT this appartion things began to te
ook little curious, and the guests pres h
INT exchanged shy and wistfuI looks, I'll
while Byrne outshone himself in busy
leeds of hospitality.
Attention, however, was at once alb Iii
orbed by the appearance of the vener- FIR
bile and dignifed Judge T., who, with in
ourtly grace, bowed himself in, gently tn
waying his hat with his solitary hand. co
he Judge was directly followed by a
ir. P, who, in his eagerness to greet vi
he host, and having but single optic ae
. guide him, Disguised Peg-leg by br
tumbling over his timber extremity. DIR
he apology that followed necessarily ci'
r,ttf IL. n l.