Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-04-26
THE FIRST MAN.
rBret Uarte in the New York Sun. ]

Some repairs were reneeded TO the engine when
the train reached Reno, and while most OF the
passengers were taking philosophical view
of the delay, and making themselves as CON-
Portable as possible in the depot, in walked
native. He wasn't native Indian nor a ma
tive grizzly, but native Nevadian, and he
was rugged out in Imperial style. He wore
bearskin coat and cap, buckskin legggings and
moccasins, and in bis belt was big knife
and two revolvers There was lightning in
his eye, destruction in his walk, and as he
sauntered up to the red-hot stove and scatter
ed tobacco juice over it, dozen passengers
looked pale with fear. Among the travellers
was Car pointer from Jersey City, and alter
surveying the native fcs moment, he coolly
inquired: y ,
hurt yourself with those weapons :!
.W-what." gasped the native in aston
ishment.
81 suppose they sell such outfits as you've
got on at auction out here, don't they?' con-
tinued the painter.
"W-what dye mean-Who are ye:" Whls-
pered the native, as he walked around the
stove and put on terrible look.
s'My name is Logwood, was the calm re-
ply, ''and mean that if | were you Ia crawl
ont of those old duds and put on some decent
clothes"
Don't talk to me that way, or you wont
live IA mnit." exclaimed the native as he hop
ped around. "Wby, you homesick cayote,
am Grizzly Dan, the heaviest Indian hghtcr
in the world. l was the first white man to
scout for Gen. Crook! | was the first white
man in the Black Hills. was the first white
! man among the NIodocs.'
IL don't believe it, fatty replied the pain
| sl~o %I, +,.cf, r.
to the dinner table!''
The native drew his knife. put it back
AGAIN. looked around, and then softly said:
..Stranger. will We come over behind the
ridge, and shoot and slash until this thing Is
settled 2"
"You bet will!' replied the man from
Jersey, as he rose to his' feet. "Just pace
| right out and III follow YOU"
| Every man in the room jumpedto his feetln
| wild excitement The native started for the
back door, but when he found the Car painter
at his heels with six-barreled Colt in his
hand, he halted and said:
| s.Friend, come to think about it, don't
want to kill you and have your widow come
on me for damages"
s.Go right ahead-pm not married man,
replied the painter.
t.But you've got relatives, and don't want
no lawsuits to bother me just as spring is
coming"
ssTm an orphan, without relative in the
world!" shouted the Jerseyite.
swell, the law would make me bury you,
and it would be weeks work to dig grave
at this season of the year. l think I'll break
a rib or two for you, smash your nose, gouge
ont your left eye, and let you 60 at that!'
"That suits me to dot" said the painter.
ssGentlemen, please stand back; and some OF
vo shut the door to the ladies' ROOM
81 was the first man to attack grizzly bear
with the bowie knife,' remarked the native,
as he looked around. 81 was the first man
to discover silver in Nevada made the first
scout up Powder river. was the first man
to make hunting shirts out of the skin OF
Pawnce Indians. don't want to hurt this
man. as he seems kinder sad and down-heart-
ed. but he must apologize to me-
IL won't do it, cried the painter.
sGentlemen, never fight without taking
off my coat, and don't see any man here to
hang it on" said the painter.
''I'll hold it, shouted dozen voices III
chorus. -,
And another thing" softly continued the
native, Il never fight in hot room; useo
to do it years ago, but found it was running
me into consumption. always DO my hght
ing out of doors nOw."
s.Tll 90 out with you, you old raoolt
killer!" exclaimed the painter who had hls
coat off.
"That's another deadly insult, to be wipec
out in blood, and see must finish you.
never fight around depot, though. &C
out on a prairie, where there is chance tt
throw myself =,
"Where,s your prairie ?-lead the way! =
howled the crowd.
s'It wouldn't do any good" replied tn
native, as he leaned against the wall, al
ways hold $40 gold piece IN my mouth whel
fight, and haven't got one to-day-ln TACT
I'm dead broke"
Here's gold piece - called tall man
holding up the metal.
"Tm thousand times obleeged, mourn
fully replied the native shakingthis head. "
never 90 into fight without putting re.
paint on my left ear for luck and maven
any red paint by me, and there isn't OIL II
Reno"
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ?" demanded
the car painter, reaching out for the pear
\ skin cap.
"I took a solemn oath when boy neve
to fight without painting my lett ear, pro
tested the Indian killer. You wouidn
want me to 20 back on my solemn oath Woult
you - 1.' ''-'t.,1 2 -..i-'" :.
"You're cabbage, squash, a pumpkin
a dressed up in leggings!' contemptuously re
marked the car painter, as he put on his coat
eyes, he's great coward" remarked
Sc everal others as they turned away.
.Tll give $4,000 for ten drops OF re'
naint !" shrieked the native. t'0h! why ]
It that have no paint for my ear when Their
ia such chance 10 get it and kill p
big blacksmith from illinois took him b.
the neck and run him ont, and he was seel
no more for an hour. Just before the trail
! tarted, and ritter all the passengers had takel