Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-03-02

Detroit Free Preas.

A hundred men were digging for
gold, and they had named the place
'Joe Whites Dream"
Singular name, but they were sim
gular men-brawny, rough, grizzled
and some of them wicked. They
were men from the East, digging,
delving in a sort of mad frenzy, for
the golden wealth of California.
On this day all work had ceased.
The men formed in a circle on the
grass, and in the center was Jack
Bullet. His hands were tied behind
him, there was an old blood-stain on
his face, and from his wolfish eyes
he sent murderous glances from one
face to another, and at last called
out:
81 wish l had knitted some of ye!"
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 ana by, meek and hum
ble-looking man, named Elder
Graves by the boys, entered the cir
Gle, and, standing with one hand on
the prisoners shoulder, he began:
slack Bullet, this is solemn NOR
ming for us all! Here is the rope
there is the limb and we are gather
ed to hang you! You came to Joe
Whites Dream weeks ago, hungry,
poor and ill. We ted and nursed
you, and when you were well enough
to work, a full claim was staked out
for you. How have you repaid us,
Jack Bullet? You have stolen dust
from the men, brought discords and
jealousies among us, melted rows
and riots, and last night you were
detected when about to murder yo r
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 up
on some other party. The men are
going to hang .ou!"
"Let 'em hang-I can't hang but
once!' sulkily replied the doomed
man.
slack Bullet" said the Elder, 81
am a praying man, and want to
pray with you before you swing. l
am sorry for you. You are strong
man and you are to die like a dog.
Maybe you have a mother in the
East, or yon may have wife and
children. God help them"'
The Elder sank down on his knees
before the prisoner and prayed such
a prayer as the rocks have never ech-
oed again. Before he had finished,
there were tears in the eyes Of half
the men, and Big Sam bent over to
Curly Jim and whispered
"Now that's what | c; II religum
the real old bang-up religum such
as we used git way back in New
Hampshire"
When that prayer had ended q
new spirit came to the men. They
scanned Jack Bullets face aud saw
that it had sottened, and as Elder
Graves stepped aside, the President
of the camp cut Jacks bonds and
said:
ave don't want your blood though
YOU sough, ours. You are free to 90
Jack Bullet; but don't you ever enter
Joe Whites Dream again."
The reprleved man moved away
". thout 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 works were spoken. That
day two weeks man came up from
cardboard City" and reported that
Jack Bullet had been eaten by a
grizzly. Every man in camp felt
glad then that his camp had escaped
the disgrace of hanging, and in the
afternoon we saw Elder Graves take
spade and turn down into little
valley. 1t was beautiful spot, al
ways full of the mellowest sunshine
and the prettiest flowers. When the
boys had knocked off work for the
day, they all descended into the
place, for what reason no one knew,
but by sort of common consent.
In the center 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:
JACK Bull LET,
AGED FORTY.