Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-08-17
The poet Horse Thief.

Tho Poet Horse Thief.
A correspondent of the YrckH (Cal.)
Journal nsrrales the following IN regard
to the poet Of the Sierras;
The poets pedigree aud place ol h nth
are not generally known. lie hus many
queer habits and ecccniricitWs. hut th,ir
is enough Of the noble and gsncrUus u Il
composition to compensate for his faults,
whatever they may be. first saw him
at the mines on McAdAm's Greek. Cllifnr.
MIA. He was then fresh from the Wilds OF
Oregon. His long, tow colurrd hair
reached to his shoulders, aud, tab, II alto.
gelher, he was about the grrenest looking
specimen around the aiggings. Litcrdtnr,
vas then as nov his ambition, and he
kept constantly sciibb ing.
was several, times favored with q
sight of his manuscript, some Of which /
thought had peculiar merit but most Of
his writings neither gods nor men could
understand. lie knew nothing Of the
laws of versihcdlic''. nor indeed of rules OF
grammar, and when odd by me that lie
must reconstruct hls poetry, observing a
rhyhmicnl arrangement Of words, d Civ
Ing each line 4 certain number Of feet, nc.
eording to tho kind OF verse, his astOnish-
inent wac great; add thinking, hy my
amazed appearance over his queer lines,
that ] meant tn disparagc his talcnts, he
Indignantly snatchcd the manuscript from
the table, eKclaiming son, d-n the
rith-um and measurement there's the
ideas, and | know what puctical license
means"
His many eccentricities made him a butt
for all the rough ikcs on the creek. When
smaring urdcr come Of those taunts /
have often seen his flushed face express
the keene-t Iuin. soon, however, h.,
found a most eff etua way To check such
insults lie bought long. heavy Cots
revolver, which, Al full cUck. he wuuid
level at tho face Of the person attacking
him, who, thinking ths' be meant mis-
chief thereafter would let him alone.
In the year 1859 joaquin worked for
Hurst & Co, on Cherry Greek. The ras.
ellis Hurst would not pay him, and, being
a rutfan snd bully, attempted To frightrn
| him away. Jo'qu'n again rsOrted To he
logical Influence Of his revolver, and with
the most satisfactory success He also
mounted a horse belonging 10 HURT ~
Co., which he rode If and sold, paying
himself with the proceeds, and thereby
| obtaining boih substantial and pOetical
JasIlcs. Tho lar, however, did moi recOg-
nlIo such an irregular proceeding, but
rather considered Ii 10 the light OF d
/ felony. Hurst procured warran' for his
arrest, and acc mp ,nicd sheriff Bradley,
NJ DcadwOoi, to put il in execution.
JOaqu n's cabin wac then on MrAdam &
Creek. Tn" poet was smoothing ms
cherished tresses when he Jaw the mau
approaching, and, reluetcutly dropping
h's brush, he leisuiely started mp the
mountain. Not hrtding Bfadley's order
TO halt, that officer fred two shots from
his pistol joaquin replied by shooting
twice At llurs', who was still approaching
the fugitive. joaquin now commanded
Bradley To op. The mandate not being
! hreded hit officer received bullet
through the N Oh that just grazed the
main artery, whi;n stopped further pur-
suit.
The pot, thoroughly disgustrd with
'iviliza m. shook the dust Of McAdam'e
creek from his f. ct, and in the pursuit Of
liberty aud happ ess ne next hear of him
among the l. dla, 81 the PHI river valley,
hero 'e,Hr raid he CT eNlpn ,i,rly into
the "horse busin r. with poor L0. until
the Sheriff Of Shasta county made him
more trouble"