The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-08-09
Miscellaneous.
A BOYS DEFENCE.

iho oCcuo was III DdCldluolCO Stlcetj
in front of a well-known hotel. 1t was
twenty-five years ago, and San Fran
cisco was in her infancy.
Quite crowd had gathered on the
street, and the centre of attraction was
a big fellow, who stood with newspa.
per in his hand raving and cursing.
"What'5 the matter, Wolff" asked a
newcomer, who was evidently familiar
with the irate man.
"Matter?" 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 an published somethin'
bout me. o, Tllfx 'em! They'd better
go an kill themselves after ten minutes;
it'll be an easier death for 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 gang of loafers and gamblers that
were nearly aways to be found lounging
in the vicinity alluded to, and disturb
ing the peace of the whole neighbor.
hood daily with riotous conduct. If
there was any law in those days it was
seldom executed against such charac-
ters, and in the full consciousness that
they were feared they did pretty much
as they pleased.
The newspaper which had given dead
ly offence to Wolfe was little weekly
journal, and its Office was in the second
story Of a building on the same street
with the hotel I have mentioned, and
only few rods distant. 1t was publish
ed by two young men-or, L might say,
boys, for they were only eighteen and
twenty years old, respectively-named
Darrell and Haynes. The paper and its
youthful proprietOrs We're already well
known in the city of San Francisco.
The article that had excited the wrath
of the ruffian Wolf was bold denun-
citation of himself and his crowd for
their lawless conduct, and it particu-
larly mentioned him by name, charac-
terizing him as "blustering bully" 1t
was the work of young Darrell, fear
less boy hailing from Ohio. Before leav-
ing his home he had acquired fair
education, so that he could at least edit
newspaper in those early days; and
he possessed, besides, that courage and
daring, which may be natural in the
| first place, which are more thoroughly
developed by exposure to dangers and
hardships. Young Haynes was quite a
different 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
paper to atoms and started for the pub
lication office. He was followed by a
curious rabble, most of whom were
elated with the prospect of a murder,
though there were some present who
would have demonstrated with the evil
hearted man, had they dared.
"Jest you watch" said Wolf, as he
reached the door, "if ye want to see
Their bloody carcasses tumble out o. the
winder! 1t won't belong. don't spend
much time on sich feAers." 1t was the
intention of the cruel hearted man
actually to cut the throats of the two
boyish journalists and throw their bod
les out of the window, for the gratiflca-
tion of the crowdand the further exalta-
tion of his already fearful name. So, the
mob on the street awaited the issue
with feverish expectation, as Wolf,
fiourishing his knife and revolver, en-
tered the rude frame building and rush
ed up stairs.
| All unconscious of their danger, the
two young editors were bualy pursu,
ing their usual work in their primitive
Office. If they had heard the noise with.
out they had paid no attention to it,
supposing it was merely street row
such as they were accustomed to hear,
ing every day. Darrell was sitting at a
rude table writing, and Haynes was al
the counter arranging some papers for
the mail.
They heard the clatter Of heavy boots
on the stairs, but supposed ii was some
rough miner coming up to subscribe fol-