The Florida agriculturist., 1878-10-09
Mr.. Gibbs Of Colorado.
TIE BLUE-EYED FRONTIERSMANWH
FOUGHT BRAVELY FOR LIFE.

THBBLUE-EYED FRONTIERsMANwH
FOUGHT BRAVRLY FOR LIFE.
DENVER, Col, Sept. 4.--In 1874 l
was employed on the Rocky Moma-
yrsn Ncacs of this city, and one au-
tumn evening of that year, was de-
tailed to visit a prisoner in the local
q jail. "Mr. Gibbs here's paper man
come to see you," was the jailer's
formula of introduction as l entered
one of the cells. "Be sure an Mr..
a(nister) Gibbs" he added, in an under
tone. "He's mighty partic'lar bout
the only title an American ken have.
Whenever he goes to a hotel in the
States, he always signs himself on
the blotter, Mr. Gibbs Of Colorado
Never no initials, an, always thes Mr.
an of Colorado. He's known ev-
~erywhere only as Mr.. Gibbs, an"
The jailer stopped as Dir. Gibbs
advanced and held out his hand.
The visitor knew that within the pre-
'vious twenty-four hours the blood of
four men had reddened it. But it
was a firm, hearty grip that Mr.
4 Gibbs gave. His appearance was
not unprepossessing. Good snature
beamed from his clear blue eyes.
His rosy cheeks and round face,
tanned by exposure to a prairie Sun,
g might, but for the yellow moustache,
Il have been those of healthy baby.
} STRAY dogs. would .istinctiyely have
) sought in him a friend. ..s
Qps Rldqigbt a ightsa iah SPnSs sp lfs4 81 tbc hss
eames Of burning barn. The fig
,nre OF the barns owner was clearly
revealed as he vainly strove to put
out the fire. Crouched in dry ditch
In the outer darkness, was an assassin
with levelled rifle. He fred, and the
barns owner fell like log with a bul
let in his brain. 1t was known that
Mr.. Gibbs, who was the dead mans
neighbor, had had a dispute with him
the week fore,respecting the bound
ary line between their ranches.
z Mr.. Gibbs was arrested and tried III
Denver for murder The dispute
was proved, but there were no, Cor
roborating circumstances, and tie ju.
ry brought in q verdict OF acqnittal
Mr.. Gibbs returned to his ranch, but
the friends Of the dead man did moi
accept the jury's decision, and deter
% mined to take the law in their owr
hands. This was how they Jared il
their attempt, as Mr.. Gibbs told the
. &h<, ho,,ra,.
The previous midnight, the Gibbs
family were awakened by blows OF
the door of their log cabin, that
threatened TO burst it open. Grasp
ing his rifle, Mr. Gibbs cautiously
looked from u convenient window
and saw eleven armed men, whom ht
knew to be friends of his lately mur
dered neighbor.
~ What do you want ?" he asked
da" You" was the short answer.
"What do you want with me-"
"To put You to better use than
the Denver jury did" s
Mr.. Gibbs was always a man of few
words. Leveiling his iIfle he warned
the vigilantes away with an express
. i've "dit." ,.g rl st 94 b
4 The vigilantes now retreated
around the corner of the cabin, where
3 they were out of range. Presently
two brothers named Booth returped
with the ultimatum 4; Surrender, or
wen roast your woman and your
babies in one oven," .e t5Il9h
"And kill you by the light Of your
|wn ranch, as you did poor Drum
non," said voice from around the
= prner. au pl.,
p" They were both in line, and l
could have winged the two Booths
with one ball" here interpolated Mr..
Gibbs, while telling his story; "but