Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-03-07
Jack Bullets Broken Heart.

hundred men were digging for gold.
and they had named the place "Joe Whites
Dream" Singular name, but they We're
singular men-brawny, rough, grizzed, and
some of them wicked. They were men from
the East, digging, delving in sort of mad
frenzy, for the golden wealth of California.
On this day all work had ceased The men
formed a circle on the grass, and in the cen
tire was Jack Bullet His hands were tied
behind him, there was an old blood stain on
his face, and from his wolfsh eyes he sent
murderous glances from one face to another
and at last called out :" | wish had knitted
some of yer None of the men replied.
Some were pale, others nervous, and none
seemed to relish the business on hand, which
was the hanging of Jack Bullet. By-and-
by a meek and humble looking man named
Elder Graves by the boys, entered the circle,
and standing with one hand on the prison
er's shoulder, he began "Jack Bullet this
is solemn morning for us all Here is the
rope--there is the limb-and we are gathered
to hang you You came to Joe Whites
Dream weeks ago, poor, hungry and ILL., We
fed and nursed you. and when you were
well enough to work full claim was staked
out for you. How have you repaid us, Jack
Bullet? You have stolen dust from the
men, brought dscord and jealousies among
us, iucited rows and riots, and last night you
We're detected when about to murder your
partner and steal his few hundred dollars.
We try to be white in this camp, and to use
all men right but we cannot turn you loose
to prey upon some other party" Let 'em
hang-l can't die but once !" sulkily replied
the prisoner Jack Bullet" said the elder,
" | am praying man, and want to pray
with you before you swing | am sorry for
you. You are strong man, and you are to
die like dog. Maybe you have mother
in the East, or you may have a wife and
children. God help them !" The elder sank
down upon his knees before the prisoner and
prayed such prayer as the rocks have never
echoed again, Before he had finished there
were tears in the eyes of half the men, and
Big Sam bent over to Curly jim and whis
pered: " Now that's what | call religion
the real old religion such as we used to git
way back in New Hampshire p When the
prayer had ended a new spirit came to the
men They scanned Jack Bullets face and
saw that it had so ftened, and asEder Graves
stepped aside the president OF the camp cut
jacks bonds and said " We don't want
your blood, though you sought ours. You
are free to go, Jack Bullet, but don't you
ever enter Joe Whites Dream again !" The
reprieved man moved away without a word,
nor did he look back as long AS he was in
view. When he had disappeared from sight
the miners returned TO their work, each one
so busy with his thoughts that but few
words were spoken. That day two weeks a
man came up from Cardboard city," and
reported that Jack Bullet had been eaten up
10y grizzly. Every man felt glad then that
his town had escaped the disgrace of a hang
ing and in the afternoon we saw Elder
Graves shoulder spade and turn down into
a little valley. 1t was a beautiful spot al
ways full OF the mellowest sunshine and the
prettest flowers. When the boys had
knocked off work for the day they all de-
scended into the place, for what reason no
one knew, but by a sort OF common CON
sent. In the centre of the valley the earth
had been heaped up like grave. AT its head
was a board-at its foot wild rose. On the
board Elder Graves had cut with his knife