The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-05
From the Carson Apneal.

FROM the carson Appeal
it was nearly 20 years ago when Da
De Quiile and Mark Twain attempted {
start paper In Meudociuo county. rhe
took the type and material of their recent
ly defunct newspaper establishment Il
San Francisco, and loading the stuff o.
big wagon, struck out into the countr
TO retrieve their fortunes. They packe,
their type just AS IL stood in the forms
tied up the articles with stout cords b,
a process we'll known to printers, and
packing them closely in boxes, vowed te
establish newspaper somewhere which
would be the leading exponent of politics
aud history for the Pacific Coast Hae
not an unfortunate circumstance taket
place, it is quite evident that the same
Newspaper which they contemplated fourd
lug would have been alive to-day. Theil
| journey over the mountains was utterly
| uneventful until they reached Simpson.
sCation, a spot well known to old travellers
on that route. Here they met a party of
emigrants making for Lower California, and
the latter had with them a small noun
tain howitzer which they had brought with
them across the plains.
Twain took great fancy to this gun,
and offered $50 for it with two kegs of
powder thrown in. The emigrants were
glad enough to part with it, as they con-
cluded the time for it's use had passed.
Dan thought the purchase of the artillery
and military supplies was a reckless piece
of extravaganza and said as much, but
Twain replied
"Wh we start our paper we must fire
a salute. A newspaper Office with artillery
has big bulge on the business. No well
regulated Office in California should be
without howitzer. If man comes in for
retraction we can blow him into the next
county. The howItzer goes"
This sienced the argument, and the next
day the two journalists took the road with
their artillery.
On the next night they camped in the ra-
vine ID miles from SIMPSONS, and after
building the usual camp fire fell asleep.
About II O'Clock the horses awakened
them by prancing about. and the two jour
nalsts were led to the conclusion that moth
ing less than party of Indiana were max
arrangements for night attack. In the
clear moonlight they could be distinguish
Ell about half mile away at the foot of
the ravine. The idea of encountering In
dlans had never entered the heads of the
two fortune seekers, and they had no arms.
"o'"ouiy MAIN i"aih oIisuSucu up, re-
marking
"The howitzer ~
We've got nothing but powder" said
Dan.
Well, powder'll scare 'em, aud well
load her up"
The piece was Immediately loaded with
a good big charge and the two men felt
quite certain that the Indians, hearing the
tional retreat. The piece was hardly load.
ed and placed in position when about fifty
OF the redskins came charging up the ra-
vine.
Twain seized brand from the campfire
and was about TO Law it on the touch. hole.
when Dan yelled Hold On" as he ram
med something into the mouth Of the piece
and remarked:
" Turner loose"
The roar Of the howitzer echoed through
The lonely forests and the savages. with |
frantic cries OF pain ,reeled down the ravine |
N wild confusion.
What In h--ii did you put in ?'' asked |
Mark.
"a column OF solid nonpareil and couple |
IF sticks Of your spring poetry"
"Fhe poetry did the business. Dan. Get |
'ne OF your geological articles ready for the |
'ext charge and guess It'll let the red dev- |
is out for the present campaign"
The savages again advanced. Mark at |
ended TO the powder and Dan sorted the |
bot.
:" Jeems Pipes song, my Mountain
3ome.'"
That's good for three Indians; sock'er
n."
IAN acrostic by John r. Ride in long
,rimer."
"it'll paralyze 'em."
Frank Pixley on the Constitution, half
column of loaded BREWER"
'.lf it hits 'em the day IS won."
"Your leader on law and order"
''Save it az a last resort"
Dan pulled the type out of the boxes and |
tuffed column after column in the howit-
er's mouth and the savages came charging
IN. Another round from the gun and the
edskins rolled over and over each other
Ike boulders swept away by mountain
loud burst. Mark, in an ecstacy Of de-
ght pulled an American flag out of his
fleets, nailed it to the tail-board of the
1agon and was about to make speech,
'hep the dusky figures OF the foe we're
nee more seen moving TO the attack.
The piece was again loaded, and this
ime with double charge. Marks leader
a :. Law and Order" the puff of an auc-
ION house by Fred McCTelish G. as a sick
ner," Dan said), Frank Gross verses on
The Rebel Yell" an agricultural article
y Sam Sebaugh, showing the chemical
OF corn juice as an educational
'ver, q maiden poetical effort of Olive
Iarper, and some verses by Colonel Crem-
ny and Frank Soule completed the load.
THAT poetry, reaching 'em first. will
irow 'em into confusion, and my editorial,
,ming on the heels OF the rest, will result
] q lasting decentralization. 1t will be like
le last cavalry charge of the French ar
,e battle Of Austerlitz''
For the third and last time the faithful
owitzer belched forth les typographical
Dmplimcnts to the advancing foe. The
avoc was terrible. There was wild yell
ON score Of savage throats and the low
roans Of the dying foated up the rayine
q the gentle wind. The two men walked
YER the field Of slaughter aud counted
fty-six aboriginais lying in heaps. The
Ddies were horribly mutlated with nonpa
el, long primer, two-line plea, bourgeois,
caps" misere dashes, and unassorted
pi.n
81 My leader cooked that mans goose"
nd Mark, pointing to savage with his
,wels hanging over the limb of a cedar.
My geological article did the business
r him." rsjeined Dan, nodding carelessly
an Indian whose head was lying twenty ,
lrds away.
"The pen il mfghter than tho sword.D
/" You bet Hurrah for Faust and Gut
nberg."
"Is there any type left ?"
Not pound"
Two days later the two journalistic
amps reached Virginia City, weary dis
uraged and footsore, and secured place /
che Enterprise.
TWAIN REMEMBERS THE DEAD. II
A few days ago Dan received the follow q
Z from bis former partner: a
HARTFORD, Conn, January 1, $780, !;
DEAR DAN: ] send you the congratula-
,ns Of the New Year. Do you remem.
r the time we exterminated the tribe Of {
lettered (?) savages in Mendocino county? q
you can spare the time wish you would ,
AXE pilgrimage 10 that historic spot,
ther the gbostly relics together and plant
.ablet (not too expensive and at your own
pense) TO the memory of the departed. =
ave a shootiDg-stick laying across . long
W, with our monogram, and coat Of arms
twined. and some appropriate epitaph
rved in the stone; an extract from Carl |
hurx' Piece Policy" might do. In {
.oaa u a Snil.~ aud q half far vo.r saei-