Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-18
THE POET HORSE.THIEF.
Am Early Chapter I'm Joaquin REIlier's
biography.

An Early Chapter In Joaquin M1ktersS
biography.
A correspondent of the Yreka (Csl.)
Journal narrates the following in regard TO
the Poet of the Sierras:
The poets pedigree and place of birth
are not generally known. He has many
queer habits and eccentricities, and there
is enough of the noble and generous in his
composition TO compensate for his faults,
whatever they may be. l saw him at the
mines of McAdam's Creek, Californis. He
was then fresh from the wilds of Oregon,
his long, tow-colored hair reached to his
shoulders, and, taken altogether, be was
about the greenest-looking specimen about
the diggings. Literature was then as now
bis ambition, and he kept constantly scrib-
bling.
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.
He knew nothing of the laws of versifca-
ton, nor indeed Of rules of grammar, and
when told by me that be must reconstruct
his poetry, observing rhythmical arrange
menT Of words, and giving each line Ger.
tain number of feet, according to the kind
of verse, his astonishment was great; and
thinking, by my amazed appearance over
his queer lines, that | meant to disparage
his talents, he Indignantly snatched the
manuscript from the table, exclaiming,
"Oh! d-n the rith-um and measurement
There's the ideas, and know what poeti-
cal license meaps."
His many eccentricities made him butt
for all the rough jokes on the creek. When
smarting under some of these taunts |
have often seen his flushed face express the
keenest pain. Soon, however, he found q
most effectual way to check such insults.
He bought long, heavy Colts revolver,
which at full cock he would level at the
face Of the person attacking him, who,
thinking that he meant mischief, thereafter
would let him alone.
In the year 1869 joaquin worked for
Hurst & Co., on Cherry Creek. The ras-
cally Hurst would not pay him, and being
a ruftian and bully, attempted to frighten
him away. Joaquin again resorted to the
logical influence of his revolver, and with
the most satisfactory success. He also
mounted horse belonging to Hurst & Co.,
which he rode off and sold, paying himself
with the proceeds, and thereby obtaining
both substantial and poetical justice. The
law, however, did not recognize such an
irregular proceeding, but rather consider
ed it in the light of felony. Hurst
procured a warrant for his arrest, and
accompanied Sheriff Bradley, of Dead
wood, to put it in execution. Joaquin's
cabin was then on McAdam's
Creek. The poet was smoothing
his cherished tresses when he saw the
man approaching, and reluctantly dropping
his brush, he leisurely started up the noun
tain. Not needing Bradley's order to halt,
that officer fired two shots from his pistol.
joaquin replied by shooting twice at Hurst,
who was still approaching the fugitive.
joaquin now commanded Bradley to stop.
The mandate not being needed, that officer
received bullet through the thigh that just
grazed the main artery, which stopped fur
ther pursuit.
The poet, thoroughly disgusted with civil
lization, shook the dust of McAdam's Creek
from his feet, and in the pursuit of liberty
and happiness, we next hear of him among
the Indians of Pitt River Valley, where re-
port said he went extensively into the
"horse business with poor Lo, until the
Sheriff of Shasta county made him "mo:e
trouble"