Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-08

died my horse, turned him loose,
and building shelter of blankets, at
| once began cooking for and nursing
those men. nursed them long. When
they were mending, had recovered so
that they could walk about little,
took sick. I was chilly; little waves OF
cold ran down my backbone; had
headache, had a fever; these grew
worse for few days, and then knew
nothing, until woke up to find myself
as loathsome an object as ever was seen.
The two men I nursed had nursed me.
They told me they had contracted the
disease by breaking into the. lodges of
the dead Blackfeet on the Marias and
stealing their blankets. I naturally was
angry at this, and expressed myself
freely. Frank, those two men resented
the fretting of a sick man, and let me
alone to get well the best could not
only left me, but they stole my horse.
lay around until got strong, and then
fished and hunted and slowly walked
to the mining camp on Dog Creek.
When meet those miners, if ever do,
I shall kill them. Now you know how I
got the smallpox
Amazed at the story, looked at Ed
and said:
SIN wonders name, man, what made
you stop with two utter strangers and
nurse them through the small pox? You
could not have cared for them. What
difference did it make to you whether
they lived or died?" Never will I for
get the look the grand fellow gave me
as he said: "Well, by-! what else
would doP'' 1t was a hopeless task to
beat selfisnness and inhumanity into his
handsome head; SO that conversation
dropped, with huge increase of admir-
alton on my part for my comrade. Long
after Ed thought was asleep could
hear him giving vent to snorts of aston
ishment, and in bewildered injured
undertone repeat the only profanity 1
ever knew him to be guilty of: "Well,
by Up Once saw him rise on his
elbow and look into my face as lay
on my back. The full moon shone
brightly on me. saw him look long
and earnestly at me, and then he lay
down muttering, "By -,he was only
joking!'
The next day finished my engineer
ing reconnaissance and it was necessary
for me to go to Deer Lodge. So L
parted from Ed, agreeing to meet him
at the mining camp on Elk Creek in a
week or ten days.
Arrived at the camp on Elk Creek, l
asked for Van Thusen. He had gone
fishing. The camp was in a narrow
valley. Steep hillsides rose from the
water almost. To the south the slope
was wooded. The northern slope was
bare. The stock of the camp had eaten
the bunch grass very close. The strong
winds constantly blowing had shifted
the top soil. It was gone, leaving the
delicate, wiry roots of the grass stand
ing above the soil in mosslike clumps.
There were a few stunted pine trees with
ragged limbs on this northern slope, all
leaning to the northeast. There was no
inn in this camp; so went to the low
log saloon. Putting my blankets and
rifle behind the bar, told the barkeeper
that I was a friend of Van Thusen's,
and wanted to sit around until he re-
turned from fishing. There was a stove
in this saloon, a number of stools, five
tables, and few cigar
boxes filled with poker chips. Back of
the bar, on rough shelf, stood an array
Of white bottles. Many small greenish
glasses with thick bottoms were |
On the bar. At one end of the bar stood
= pair of delicate gold scales. On hear
ing my name, the barkeeper took a
lively interest in me. and pressed me to
partake of drinks, IS Just one little cock
tail,'' but 1 begged off on the ground
that could not stop at one. In the
afternoon sudden mountain snow
storm came tearing down the valley, and
The miners, quitting work, came flock
ng into the barroom l was introduced |
70 many as ''This is the friend Van was
telling us about All were very kind
to me. A volley of profanity from the
street in front Of the saloon; the door
was opened and slammed to again; and
here, shaking the snow from him, stood
} ruf6an with two revolvers belted to
him. Spanish spurs were on his heavy
boots. The brim of his SLOUGH hat was
turned up in front, revealing mean,
face. Striding to; the bar he
called: "Drinks for the crowd!"
One or two only drank with him. He
ooastfully Dragged of his skill in playing
poker, and wanted "some gentleman to
play" He was accommodated at once.
Declining to play "freeze out" for
thinks, or to play any thing or to drink
my thing, worked my way into
corner, and went to work on my note
book. All about me 1 heard, "Kings
,p;' take the pot;" "Ace full;'
s It beats a fush;'' and I smiled as
heard the doleful voice of "bluffer
'ay, "Nine high" There was hearty
augh at this exposure of lean hand. I
,eard the voice of the strange ruffian
Who had besought "some gentleman
% play with him yelp out, ''Four kings!
That pot is NINE" The low-voiced gen.
leman he was playing with said, "Hold
IN! I have four aces, The money is
nine!" With an oath, the ruffian
pushed back his chair and walked to the
,ar. He swallowed full glass of whisky
md then fiercely glared over the room.
Filling his glass again, he stood glaring
Iround. Seeing me writing in corner,
lie put the glass on the counter
md strobe over to me. Standing in
ront of me, he was about to speak,
when rose up, looked him squarely in
he face, and asked, "What do you
vant?" Our eyes met, He looked at
ne for an instant and raid, $. Nothing,
thought knew you.' Hewalked back
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