The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-08
Ghe Gir0illia State cJolrnal.
WEDNESDAY EvENG. OCT. 8, 1873.
80 ~ From the New York Tribune.l
Fhe Hast of Jack Whitc-Requiesca
.t.sr.s.Ld In Pace, PIT

a.rdl.ld In Pace.
We certainly hope that he will ; for,
after lie of such protracted and practical
energy, nobody could need q good grave
yard sleep moie decidedly than the late
John White, esq, otherwise called Jack
White, whose obituary notice appears in
the Virginia City Chronicle, and who was
assisted to enter the cold and silent tomb
September II, 1878, at Truckee, aged 2S
years, by the valiant Andy Fugate. Mr..
Whites career has been short but crowded.
He was anative of Illinois, but went further
onat an early age for the purpose of en-
gsging in the invigorating pursuits of
murder and mansaughter, of shooting and
stabbing. If Mr.. White was accustomed
to give, he was willing to assume the
chance of taking. lie was once shot on
Treasure Hill by Mr.. William Bethards,
who received the honor of free and per-
manent residence in the state prison for
performing a neat but fatal operation
upon the person of gentleman named
Creek. Mr.. White did not succumb to the
pistol of Mr.. Bethards, but was SUISSE
quently stabbed in Eureka by an artist
rejoicing in the name Of 'sTex." This was
one of those accidents which will occur in
the best regulated bar-rooms. Mr.. Tex
made his lunge at one Alexander Fleming,
but missed his aim and perforated Mr..
White, as we have related. Nothing
could surpass the GOODNESS Of our hero on
this occasion, for walking to the bar, he
first called for something, and then cheer
fully remarked that ''the knife went clear
through him" adding that he believed that
MIR. Tex "gave it a turn or two before
he pulled it ont. Such is the equanimity
of the far western brave even under the
acutest circumstances. After recovering
from this wound, Mr.. White emigrated to
Virginia City.
1t is the fate Of genius that men expect
too much of its posses5or. The fine repu-
tation which Mr.. White as a man-kiiler
brought with him to his new place of
abode led his admirers to credit him with
several stage robberies which occurred
about that time. For one of these he was
indicted and tried but strict biographical
truth forces us to say that he was igno-
miniously acquitted. There is reason to
believe that in this case he was treated
with some injustice. The V. G. Chronicle
above cited says: His most intimate
friends, however, are certain he commit
ted the robbery he was charged with"
This may have been the opinion of a too
partial friendship. The question perhaps,
can never be accurately determined, but
we believe that Mr.. Whites memory is
entitled to the benefit of his great reputa-
ton. Giyena stage robbed in his vicinity,
We think the honor of the deed should
have been given to him until proved to be-
long to some other hero. He had a right
to be considered guilty until proved con-
clusively 10 be innocent.
Mr.. White, as we have seen, died young.
He fell like agallant knight. lie had been
IN the habit of calling upon Mrs. Jen-
ME Williams, whose door, on one occa-
sion. he found locked. Not wishing to
trouble anybody to answer the bell or
knocker, Mr.. White kicked in the door.
Firearms ensued. Mr.. Andy Fugate who
owned the house, Immediately engaged Mr..
White, while "a large black man with heavy
whiskers" assisted Mr.. Fugate. All was
pretty lively, saltpeterish, and reasonably
promscuous for some time, but we are
obliged to say that the gallant Jack White
got the worst Of it. lie fell and immedi-
ately began to wrestle with death. For
ten hours he refused to perform the final
rattle. Having thus shown that he was
tough one to deal with, and, no doubt,
feeling that the performance was becom-
ing little tedious, he politely withdrew to
the shades in company with his com
petitor. The short but brilliant career was
oyer-the youthful champion was no more.
Ii, in Virginia City, there was better
man in the shooting and stabbing depart
ment OF human energy, that man, we
have no doubt, could have been better
spared.