Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-04-02
Rocky Mountain Jim,

A very pretty mare, hobbled, was
feeding; collie dog barked at us, and
among the scrub, not far from the
track. there was rude, backlog cabin,
as rough as it could be to be shelter
at all, with smoke coming out of the
roof and window. We diverged toward
it; it mattered not that was the home,
or rather den, of notorious "rufian"
and desperado." One of my compan-
ions had disappeared hours before, the
remaining one was town-bred youth.
l longed to speak to some one who
loved the mountains. l called the hut
q dent looked like den of q wild
beast. The big dog lay outside it in
threatening attitude, and growled.
The mud roof was covered with lynx,
beaver paws were pinned cut on the
logs, part of the carcass of a deer
hung at one end of the cabin, skinned
beaver lay in front of heap of peltry
Just within the door, and antlers OF
deer, old horse shoes and offal of many
animals lay about the den. Reused by
the growing of the dog, his owner came
out, broad, thick set man, about the
middle height. with an old cap on his
head, and wearing gray hunting-suit
much the worse for wear almost falling
to pieces, in fact), digger's scarf knot
ted round his waist, knife in his belt,
and " bosom FRIEND" a revolver, stick
ing out of the breast. pocket of his
coat; his feet, which we're very small,
we're bare, except for some dilapidated
moccasins, made of horse-hide. The
marvel was how his clothes hung to.
gether and on him. The scarf round
his waist must have had something to
do with it. His face was remarkable.
He is man about forty five, and must
have been strikingly handsome. He
has large gray-blue eyes, deeply set.
with well-marked eyebrows, u hand
some aquiline nose, and very hand
some mouth. His face was smoothly
shaven, except for a dense mustache
and imperial. Tawny hair, In thin, I'M
csred-for curls, fell from under his
hunters cap and over bis collar. One
eye was entirely gone, and the loss
of it made one side of the face repul.
sive, while the other might have been
modelled in marble. Desperate" was
written in large letters all over him. I
| almost repented of having sought his
acquaintance. His first impulse was to
swear at the dog, but, on seeing lady
he contented himself with kicking him,
and coming up to me he raised his cap,
showing as he did SO a magnifcently
formed brow and head, and in a cul-
tured tone of voice asked If there was
anything he could DO for me- I asked
for some water, and ne brought some
in q hoffopo1 tin lie, onn1nvsut
for not having anything more present
able. We entered into conversation,
and as he spoke forgot both his repu-
tation and appearance, for his manner
was that of chivalrous gentleman, his
accent refined, and his language easy
and elegant. inquired about some
beavers paws which were drying, and
in moment they hung on the horn of
my saddle. Apropos of the wild AMI
mails of the region, he told me that the
loss of his eye was owing to recent
encounter with grizzly bear, which,
after giving him death hug, tearing
him all over, breaking his arm and
scratching out his eye, had left him for
dead. AS We rode away, for the sun
was sinking, he said courteously, You
are not an American. I know from
your voice that you are countryman
of mine. hope you will allow me the
pleasure of calling on YOU" This man,
known through the territories and be-
yond them as " Rocky Mountain Jim,"
or more briefly, as Mountain JIM is
one of the famous scouts of the plains,
and is the original of some daring por-
traits in fiction concerning Indian from
tier warfare. So far as have at pres
ent heard, he is man for whom there
is now no room, for the time for blows
and blood in this part of Colorado is
past, and the fame, of many daring ex-
PLOTS is sullied by crimes which are
not easily forgiven here. He now has
a "squatter's claim" but makes his
living as a trarper, and is complete
child of the mountain. OF his genius
and chivalry to women there does not
appear to be any doubt, but he is des-
perate character and is subject to "ugly
fits," when people think it best to avoid
him. It is regarded as an evil that he
has located himself at the mouth of the
only entrance to the park, for he is
dangerous with his pistols, and it would
be safer if he were not here. His be.
setting sin is indicated in the verdict
pronounced on him by my host:
"When he's sober Jim's perfect gen
! tleman; but when he's had liquor he's
the most awful ruffian in Colorado
MISS BIRDS Lady's Life in the Rocky
Mountains"
Mr.. Lincoln, in September, 1859,
,,odo a pO1itica1 sDaach in Gincin natl