Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-05-09
Selected Misfellaug.
SWEET WILLIAM"

His general appearance was that of
one who was sad, yet sociable hcart-
broken, yet facing the stern realities of
life with sad smile and an effort at
cheerfulness. His name was not known,
and no one took the trouble to ask but
some genius dubbed him Sweet William,
and by that name he was always after
known.
He appeared at Mexican Bar, on the
Feather river, California, in 1852. He
was then about twenty-five years Of age,
and more unprepossessing specimen of
humanity could not be found in the whole
diggings. He soon located claim, built
cabin and commenced work. He seem.
ed to be in some measure successful,
and he could not well avoid it, as he
worked steadily, and gold in those days
was plenty all along the river.
His steady habits in that land of barba-
rians soon attracted my attention, aud /
went around to his cabin one night for
the purpose of extending to him the
sociability of the bar. I found his cabin
rudely furnished, as all mining shanties
we're then and will be until the end of
time, but it's general appearance of neat
ness and cleanliness struck me as being
a decided departure form the general
order ofthings on the river. I remarked
this, but he only smiled sad, sickly
smile that had something decidedly cffemi-
nate in it. I at once set him down as
being "soft"-decidedly so-but still
there was something attractive about him,
and at once determined to cultivate
Williams acquaintance.
He was small and apparently weak.
He was only about Eve feet four inches
high and would not have weighed over
one hundred and twenty pounds-rroba-
bly, not so much, but not pound more at
best. His hands were small and we'll
shaped, but tanned and blistered from
hard work in the broiling sun of Califor-
mia. His feet were encased in pair Of
heavy boots, which were evidently several
numbers too large for him while his
coarse wooden pants and shirt fitted him
equally as bad. His eyes were large,
gray and melting, with a quick, half
startled look above them that impressed
me with the idea that there was q de-
fciency of brain about them, or that the
possessor was continually under the fear
Of something-he scarcely knew what
Another thing about him struck mo as
being novel-he could blush.
As soon rs | made this discovery |
hastened down tn Dutch Pete's saloon for
the purpose Of communicating the fact 10
the small but choice band Of spirits who
congregated there nightly for the pur-
pose Of enjoying q felicitous game Of
draw-poker, and to sample the vile liquors
dispensed to thirsty souls by tho digniticd
bartender Hoogly-a man not fair TO look
upon, but who was famous for his precis-
ion with the playful pistol, and whose
friendship was in every way desirable.
Days came and went and Sweet Will
liam pursued the even tenor Of his way,
regardless of the remarks bis strange con-
duct excited.
After he had been on the bar couple
Of months. another stranger appeared.
This person was very different sort Of
character from Sweet William. He was
a dasbing man, with keen, villainous but
handsome eye; regular practitioner at
the bar Dutch Pete's), and q remarka-
bly, lucky gambler, as quite q number OF
US soon discovered 10 our cost. He had
an og-hand way Of betting bis ounces
was that decidedly refreshing and he
soon acquired an enviable reputation as
a sporting man.
One night | entered the "Wing-and-
Wing" our leading gambling hall, when.
much TO my surprise, saw Swee. VIII
liam and the black-eycd stranger seated
at n table together playing poker. felt
like demonstrating with The latter. a. !,
looked like sheer robbery for him to win