The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-03-06
IRA EATON,s GUN.
How a Down East Man Was Taken in
and Done For.

How a Down East Man ~ as Taken IN
and Done For.
The other day 1 ran against Charles
Yeomans, an cid Californian, who is
keeping restaurant in Salt Lake City.
After listening to his stories of the early
days of San Francisco, said:
Mr.. Yeomans, do you ever remem-
Der of meeting a man named John K.
Hackett in San Francisco p
''John K. Racket % repeated Mr..
Yeomans. "Oh, yes, I recollect Hack
ett, and George Barnard, and George
Wilkes, and George Butler, and John
whole crowd. They were mighty lively
fellows, all of them. Lem-me-see ? (in
a muslng way). Lem-me-see why,
Hackett is a judge, or something of
that kind, in New York now. [ seen
fellow about six months ago, that told
me he made a first-rate judge-fifty per
cent. gold, forty per cent. silver, and
ten per cent. copper. Hackett was
wonderful shot-wonderful I've seen
him dive tacks in door-post at thirty
and forty feet, and never miss a tack.
All the boys took off their hats to him.
He could shoot the toes off fly. That
was a great croWd-that crowd in Cali
fornia-in those days"
Here Mr.. Yeomans showed, up his
shirt-sleeves and mixed cocktail for
Mr.. Gordon and Capt. Dinwiddie, of
Camp Douglas. After che cocktails had
disappeared, he continued
&c In those days, you see, I tried to
keep a place Just outside of San Fran
cisco, called the Ocean house. I had a
partner. His name was Barnard-not
tn Judge. It was-let me see-it must
hoxJa 1QS7 All
the boys used to ride out and see us,
and the thing, first and last, PANIED
out good deal of coin. It used to be
a great place for high-toned sports to
come out and shoot pigeon matches and
eat those big California shrimp, and
play little draw, drink wine, and such
things"
Here Mr.. Yeomans showed up his
shirt-sleeves and mixed a cocktail for
Major Wheeler and the Hon. Sam.
| Merritt, ex-de'egate to congress from
Idaho. After the cocktails had disap-
peared, he continued:
! ''Well, the Ocean house used to be q
great place of resort for the boys. They
were always playing practical jokes on
each other and having a good time gen.
orally. / remember one morning
there was Cook and Schent k, the great
marketmen, Ward Eaton and Ira Eaton
in the saloon, having high old time,
| laughing, drinking and telling stories.
Ira Eaton had one of these here fancy
double-barreled shot-guns urder his
arm, and was bragg Dg about the game
he was going to shoot before night
| when who should come In but John
Hackett and John Scranton. You
oughter have knowed Scranton, for he
was one of the best fellows that evel
scratched gravel.
Here Mr.. Yeomans showed up his
shirt-sleeves and mixed cocktails for the
Hon. Oscar G. Sawyer, Mr.. Sloan, the
fve-wiEed editor of the Salt Lake
Herald, and Major Howell, of Camp
Douglas.
Scranton had on brand-new beav
er hat. 1t was as glossy as ebony. HI
had Just given fifteen dollars for it. go
himself shaved and his clothes brushed
and looked as neat as a game rooster
The first thing knew, Ira Eaton stood
his gun up in the corner, and went on
doors, saying that he would be back il
few minutes. After he was gone
Schenck looked at the gun and said
By George, it's loaded So Hackett
and the rest of them, they got arounC
and looked at the gun, and sure enough
it was loaded. Then Ward Eaton said
Lets put up cold deck on Ira whil'
he's gone. We can draw The charge
from his gun, and then bet him baske
of wine that he can't hit John Scran
toms hat at forty yards. The joke tool
immensely. Schenck drew the charge
ont of the gun and they all ftoo'
around the bar, chuckling and waltz
for Ira to come back.
Here Mr.. Yeomans showed up hi
shirt-sleeves and mixed a cocktail 70
George A. Smith and Bishop StenhoUse
After the cocktails had disappeared, b
continued
Well, you see, in about five min
, utes Ira he came back They all be
gan talking and laughing, and Ira be
gan Dragging about the game he was &c
ing to shoot. Hackett stepped up
the corner and picked up Ira's gun. II
turned her over and sighted her two O
three ii es, and then asked Ira wha
: kind of a gun she was. Ira said tha
} she was pretty good shooter that b
, had used her a half dozen times, an
that he didn't have any fault TO find wit
her. What did you pay for herr say
Hackett, still turning her over. Well
Ira says, she cost me hundred an
seyenty-6ve dollars At this Hacke
; laughed. and began TO ridicule Ira, tel
ing him that the gun wasn't worth
: dose of tanzy and bitters, and that
man could buy a cart load of such CUR
, | IN New York for two bits. OF cours
; Ira was mighty indignant. He tol
! Hackett that he talked like an inferns
fool, and advised him to 80 TO gaI