Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-01-30
BEN HOLLADAY'S NOSE,
Ben's Ride Across the Plains.---His
Nose Itches and Kind Stranger
Scratches.


Nose Itches and a Kind Stranger
Scratches.
While travelling in Washington
train, recently, with a number of ac,
quaintances, old Ben Holiday became
unusually communicative. He climbed
the Rocky Mountains, waded through
Great Salt Lake, jumped across the
Black Canon of the Colorado, danced in
the Death Valley, cooked grizzlies in
the Yellowstone Geysers, scudded down
the Shoshone Falls, and told score Of
stories so thrilling that the hair of his
hearers arose in protest. One of his
yarns was both startling and amusing.
cone night" said he, "long before
the Pacific railroad was built, i was
bouncing over the plains in one of Ivy
overland coaches. My wife was with
me. She was sick, and lay asleep on the
bottom of the stage on bed of buffalo
skins. The night was fearfully dark,
and drizzling rain was falling. Mrs.
Holiday and myself were the only pas
sengers. Several stages had been robbed
within two months, and the driver was
ripping along as though gang of prairie
horses were thrown on their launches,
and the stage stopped. l was heaved
forward, but quickly recovered, and
found myself gazing at the muzzles Of a
double -barreled shotgun. By the dim
light of the stage lamps the barrels
looked as big as mail bags. Throw up
your hands and don't STIR shouted the
owner in a gruff voice. Up went my
hands, and ] began to commune with
myself. The fellow damned my soul,
and then coolly asked for my money. l
saw he did not know who | was, and I
was afraid that my sick wife might
awake and call my name. My coat was
buttoned over my bosom, but hardly
high enough to hide magnificent en-
erald that cost me over $4,000 few
weeks before in San Francisco. hardly
breathed through fear that the light
might strike the stone, and the sparkling
brilliancy attract the attention of the
robber. / had about $40, 900 in money
belt close to the skin, and several hun
dred dollars in my pocket.
Suddenly my friend shouted, Come,
she'll out, quick, or Pll send the
devil free lunch
al passed out the few hundreds loose
in my pockets, and handed him by gold
watch and chain. They were hefty. !
think the chain alone would weigh five
pounds at least.
"There," said /, "there's every cent
I've got. Take it and let me move on.
NY wife is very sick, and l don't know
what would happen to her if she knew
what was going on"
"Keep your hands up" was the reply,
while a second robber received the watch
and money. Then search was uade for
the express company's box, but the
double -barrelled shot gun did not move.
Its muzzles were within a foot of my
nose. For my life did not dare to stir.
My nose began to itch. The stiff hairs
of my moustache got up, one after an
other, and tickled it until the sensation
was intolerable. | could stand it no
longer
g. Stranger cried, Il must scratch
my nose. 1t itches 80 that am almost
crazy"
"Move your hands, he shouted, and
I'll blow hole through your head big
enough for rabbit to jump through
appealed once more We'll, he answer
ed, keep your hands still and I'll scratch
it for you. hate to see a partner suf-
fer"
"Did he scratch it," said one Of Ben's
interested listeners.
"Sure," said Mr.. Holiday.
"How?' asked the breathless listener.
"With the muzzle of cooked gum, "
said the great overlander. He rubbed
the muzzle around my moustache, ard
raked it over the end of my nose until
| thanked him and said it itched nc
longer"
The robbers soon atterward took theil
leave, with many apologies, and Ben con.
tinued his journey to the Missouri with
the big emerald and $4,000.