The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-05-17
Mark Twain rs IN Indian Fighter.

VI the many stories now floating
about in regard to the past expert
nee Of Sam. Clemens, none are
droller than the following one,
which passes current in Tuolumne
county for frozen truth. We would
remark, however, that the story need
not be taken as an evidence of faint
heartedness or lack of s'sand" on the
part of Clemens, but his action is
attributed simply to his inordinate
love of humor, and an overweening
desire to shoot his little joke while
on the wing. The incident we refer
to occurred during the Innocent's
sojourn at Jackson Hill, near futile
town, at which place he was pros
pecting with Jim ellis. For some
time there had been rumors of dis
content among the Indians, a fierce
band of Wallas having gathered
near Pendola Ferry, on the Stanis-
laus River, and, after announcing
their intention of annihilating the
miners in the shortest order possible
decamped for the higher Sierras to
obtain, it was generally supposed, a
sufficient force to carry out their
bloodthirsty threats. One bright
afternoon late in autumn, Sam and
Jim were sitting in front of their
cabin on Jackass Hill, the former
engaged in rubbing mustang liniment
on a slight bruise that discolored his
left leg, sustained by a fall which he
had received that day during one of
his prospecting expeditions, the lat
ter watching the operation while
lazily smoking a corn-cob full of
killikinick. Suddenly a man rushed
in breathlcss haste up the Hill and
stammered, as he wildly gesticulatcd.
'sThey're comm" "Let 'em come,
we're ready for most anything from
fortune t o famine" answered the
imperturbable Mark, as he continued
to plaster the liniment on his injured
limb. "But they're Injuns," was
the excited remark of the messenger
san everybody's turned out. Tut
tletown's in arms, an they want Sam
to take command" "What rank"
asked SAM looking ~quizzically at
the man, ''quartermaster or %sutler,
which ?" The aid de camp waited
to hear no more, but rushed away to
alarm others, but Mark and Jim
made their way to Tuttletown, where
they found a great crowd of miners
assembled and ready to march on the
fee. Mark was appointed to the
command of a company, and in due
course of time the little army was on
the march. The Stanislaus river
having been reached just at dusk, it
was thought advisable to proceed
with more caution, as the enemy was
supposed to be encamped in thai vi
cinity. The different companies
separated, andN spreading out in a
semi-circle, marched up the river.
Marks company consisting of ten
men, were plodding along in the
gathering Siooin, Wien snotS were
heard at no great distance on the
hillside.
"Halt!!" commanded Mark. The
company halted.
"Gentlemen, this is no time for
fooling. Tuttletown expects every
nan to do his duty. The enemy is
before us. You will form into a
hollow square. To the rear, open
order /; and as the rear happens to be
open, it is in order for every man to
proceed in hal direction in as or
derby a manner as possible. AS /
am lame myself, l think | will COM
mence the retrograde movement first.
March,"
As the m of the approach of
the blood-thirsty red men was after
wards proved to be a false alarm, this
movement on the part of Marks
division was moi noticed at the time,
although freely discussed afterward
in Tuttletown, and the explanation
given that Mark was frightened by