Smyrna times., 1876-03-08
William where is this man, McClosky,

Mississippi, 1 believe"
GOOD! he'll do for me. And Starbuck.
where does he hail from ?"
Massachusetts,"
must scratch him off: Yanl1ees WON'T
do on our juries.
myers ana his gang came and took pos,
session OF their cabin in May. 1t was but
le" hundred yards from my quarters.
Their presence brought pandemonium to
o"etts Bar, hitherto SO quiet and lovely in
the California spring. There is at that sea.
son OF the year, before the grass and flowers
become withered and dried by the intense
summer heat, balminess and freshness
which predisposes the mind to a soft walk.
ing dream; and at night, with the full
| moon over you, pouring down such a flood
OF silver light that any ordinary print NAV
De clearly read, and in the distance the sill.
YER mountains, seen quite as distinctly rs
In the day time yet entirely changed in
shade and color--it seems not to belong to
this earth, but to some ideal enchanted
region. But Myers and his three disciples
poisoned all this beauty. Until late in the
night, and every night their cabin was q
scene OF carousing, oaths, yells, fighting
and drunken revelrv.
On the second day of their arrival the
desperate called on me. He was small
man, with face which had more of the
weasel in it than any other animal. There
was no time wasted by him in compliments
or commonplace remarks.
Half the ground you claim,' said he
belongs to me; you must leave it. I give
you twenty-four hours to get your cabin.
traps and tools offitr
Myers's claim extended over the dis
covery-hole.
" But, said l, "you sold this portion of
the bank to the Cinnamon. We have come
INTO possession of their claim. How can
you, then, in justice ask this from us ?''
Sold them the gravel only" was his re-
ply; didn't sell 'em the ledge; that's
ours. You can buy it of us if you want to-
4" What is your price?
One hundred thousand dollars ~
We sat silent, facing each other, for a |
few moments. l didn't know what to do.
10 " talk up" to the man was to invite in.
slant combat. To cringe before him was
equally bad. He was watching my everv
motion, ready to draw if he saw a suspicious
one on my part-ready at any show of YER
bal defiance to apply to me some vile term
which no man could hear, according to the
sentiment Of these times, without resent.
ing. To gain time l said:
Myres, take drink, and let's talk bust.
ness afterward."
Certainly" said he, "I'n drink with
you"
And when he had poured down a tum.
bier of my best brandy, which ranked with
him no better than the vile whisky he con.
sumed by the gallon, he remarked:
We'll, what are you going to do? Trade
or travel?" )
" don't feel like travelling, Mr. Myers"
| said this mildly and quietly.
swell, l do" was the reply, "You get
oft our ground by tomorrow night, or Wen '
put you off; that's ALL"
He walked out of the door. Shortly
arose, and, going outside, saw Myers at the
further end of the claim tearing down our {
notices and putting up his own scrawls in
heir place. There was not man in nv
employ on whom I could depend to aid me.
Soon Munse, my foreman, met me. He
ooked little embarrassed and cowed
n
"The gang has knocked off work." said c
le; "Jack Myers and his crowd have been
caring around, and, under the circum. a
tances, if he says quit, we've got to quit or Fl
ight." S
"And you won't fight ?" l remarked. s.
"Well," replied Munse, digging his heel
nto the ground, "it's not exactly our fight
II our funeral, think it's an outrage. and r.
don't like to knuckle down to Myers. r.
,ut- Ie
"But you're all afraid of himYn I said. n
nishing the sentence. y
Suppose you say we're all afraid of him. W
aid Munse, with the slightest possible
inge of sarcasm in his voice. e.
l returned to the house. In an instant II
ny course became clear to me. There y
must be no hesitation. 1t was a matter of - =
fe or death between me and Jack Myers. :,
very circumstance was crowding me ON to
personal conflict with him. The law -
ould give me no protection. Its machiney !,
'as potent enough, but the despicable pub y y
C sentiment of the time, which worshipped
nd toadied to red-handed murderer. -
ould paralyze every effort it might make
! my behalf. felt no longer depressed. al
became cheerfully desperate. Before | m
ad clung to life. Now the indignation te
1T at being thus crowded to the wall by IN
lch brute, and the shame / had ex. !"
erienced during the crowding process, oi
lade life matter of little moment al
mother thought also came into the scale VI
hich made existence the lesser weight. ie
hat was the hope Of and, to be frank, the hi