Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-23
.~.sfeancmdcd from first page

around Ike top, shot for a second OF
the top OF n great surge, and shot dowi
again out of sight and under. There wa
momentary glimpse of the five men
padding wildly and half rising from thei
seats the next they were all gone.
hundred yards below, hike q whale shoot
ing out Of water to blow, came the boat
bottom up. FROM the depths, and clinglne
to her was Wang Chu. 1t was dashed
against the Black Rock and pressed undei
by the current. Wang Chu sprang on the
rock The rest were never seen. sims any
the strappler gazed like men in dream
There before them. were still the rushing,
I roar;ny stream. the sun shining, the bros
.;no;nG. all going on and through it all
q though nothing was happening or had
hsnpened. and in five seconds four human
heinos snatched from life to death.
= Rut Wang Chu must be rescued. Theirs
was the Door, half submerged creature on
the rock. the ice cold current at times
dashing clear over him, and striving, d
It were, to tear him from his hold am
between him and the shore the merciles:
stream, which could as easily sweep ava,
q thousand men as one.
There he remained until near night
Gradually the population OF Texas ba'
and Bixers Flat accumulated on the spot
All measures TO float him line by whici,
he might be hauled on shore. proved
abOrtive. :.
..I'N swim off and take line to him.,
at last said Sims.
mo. don't 60" said some one among
the crowd; Its certain death y
+ II will!" said Sims.
mo YOU won't-not if can help it,
said Jim Freemantle. you're wrong &c
try it !: and if you do we're going to stop
you. We've as good right to stop ma
from committing suicide as murder
There was murmur of assent from the
bystanders. Sims turned away and walket
toward his cabin When he emerged, i
was with ascocked six shooter in his hand
He came straight toward the group ant
spoke:
"You say you will stop me from swim
ming off to the Black Rock. ! do not 10
tend that you shall. You have succeeded
In making my life thoroughly miserable on
this Flat BY injustice, taunt and abuse, and
now that there chance ofEetting rid OF
it, you want to stop me. You see you have
made mistake. You've put me up for a
man without any. grit. Well, I'm going to
show you that courage runs in streaks and
takes different circumstances In different
men TO draw it out. I'm courageous
enougHenow to own that l have backed
down before some Of your six shooters.
But any OF you would risk your lives in a
dispute over pack Of cards, because you
have got q fighting reputation to keep up
At any cost, and you dare not live to be
called coward by some hound who would
nick your pockets had he a chance. Not
one or you dared go to Tom Wilson S
cabl6 which l nursed him through small
pcxs Not one Of you dared go prospect
ih9as 4 did on the head waters OF the
0Wen'1river and camp out for weeks alone
fffkf niles from the nearest settlement.
And I'm pot afraid of the river, savage as
il looks for the roar of its waters, as I've
listened 70 them many long night in my
cabin. has been kinder voice than any OF
yours, and If drown, want the Stanial.
aus to bury me somewhere deep down in
ii channel. where your hands at least may
never draw me out. Let me pass"
They made way for him. His lace was
white, hard, firm and desperate. He
walked with proud step, like king go.
Ing TO the scaffold. All the shrinking TIM
idity, the baffied hesitation of former
times disappeared. 1t was another man
who passed through the crowd, another
being. @
y Hes got the sand, by said D.ck
Ware.
Jim Freemanlle walked hastily little
ahead Of the rest. 'Look here Sims" sal,
he with . kindly information in his voice
ascome back. boy-if you 60 in you're only
goin'to get drowned for a chinaman-tisn'
worth Il anyhow-and-and we've made
mistake and you're grit. Here take my
hand.r
is Sims took the proffered hand. He did
{ not allow the grasp to detain him. ''lt's
100 late" said he. II don't want your
Kind xords now. | don't need them. |
stand above sou all. I'm going to prove
to you that / don't fear death. II should
turn back, you'd say in less than week
I'd been playing a game Of bluff. | al
ways knew had grit in me. 1t only want
ed something to bring it OUT
He walked few yards farther up the
si4eE hank, made one end of the light line
he carried. fast to stake, Invested HIM
self of his upper clothing and holding the
other end OF the warp, plunged in. 1t was
all over In q moment. Down with race
horse speed he was borne on the surging,
muddy pillows toward the Black Rock
down he came, borne like feather, with
one. arm uplifted, as he shot past, he held
out to the Chinalnan the life preserving
line. which he eagerly srasped. But Sims
could get no hold Of the black and polished
boulder. The Fearful current bore him in
to the mouth of the Big Cannon but mo
one ON Texas Bar after that hour ever
spoke of .Timid Sims