The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-10-19
STARTING A PAPER.

Carson (Nevada) Appeal, Wien Dan DeQuile
and Mark Twain attempted to start paper
in Mendocino county, They took the type
and material OF their recently defunct news
paper establishment in San Francisco, and
loading the stuff on a big wagon, struck out
into the country to retrieve their fortune.
They packed their type just as It stood IN
the forms, tied up the articles with stout
cords by process we'll know to printers,
and packing them closely in boxes, vowed
to establish newspaper somewhere which
would be the leading exponent Of politics
and history of the Pacific coast. Had not
an unfortunate circumstance taken place it
is evident that the newspaper which they
contemplated founding would have been
alive to-day. Their journey over the noun
tains was utterly uneventful until they
reached Simpsons Station, spot well
known to old travellers on that route. Here
they met party of emigrants making for
Lower California, and the latter had with
them small mountain howitzer, which
they brought with them across the plains.
Twain took great fancy to this gun, and
offered fifty dollars for it, with two kegs of
powder. The emigrants were glad enough
to part with it, as they concluded the time
for its use had passed. Dan thought the
purchase of the artillery and military sup
plies was reckless piece of extravaganza,
and said as much; but Mark replied:
"When we start our paper we must fire
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 for
retraction we can blow him into the next
county. The howitzer goes"
This silenced argument, and the next
day the two journalists took the road with
their printing outfit and artillery.
The next night they camped in noun
tain ravine, fifteen miles from Simpsons,
and after building the usual camp fire, fell
asleep. About eleven o'clock the horses
Weakened them by prancing about, and the
two journalists were led to the conclusion
that party Of Indians were making ar
engagements for night attack. In the
clear moonlight human forms could be dis
tinguished about half mile away, at the
foot of the ravine. The idea of encounter
ing Indians had never entered the heads of
the two fortune seekers, and they had no
arms; suddenly Twain frightened up, re-
marking
"The howitzerw
"We've got nothing but POWDER" said
Dan.
"Well; powder II scare EN-; and we'll
load up.
The piece was Immediately loaded with
big charge, and the two men felt certain
that the Indians, hearing the roar Of the
gun, would beat an unconditional retreat.
The piece was hardly loaded and placed in
position when about forty Of the red skins
came charging up the ravne.
Twain seized a brand from the camp fire
and was about to lay it on the touch hole,
when Dan yelled, "hold on" as he rammed
something into the mouth Of the piece and
remarked;
Turn her loose"
The roar of the howitzer echoed through
the lonely forest, and the savages with
frantic cries OF pain, reeied down the ra.
vine in wild confusion.
what in the h-ll did you put inl asked
Mark.
"a column Of solid nonpariel and a
couple of sticks of your spring poetry"
1.-THE poetry did the business, Dan Get
one of your geographical articles ready for
the next charge, and guess it'll let the red
devils out for the present campaign
The savage again advanced. Mark at.
tended to the powder, and Dan assorted the
shot, 50 to speak.
"Jeems Pipes's song, My Mountain
Home"
"Good for three lndans--socker in"
IAN acrostic, by John b. Ridge, in Long
Primer"
still paralyze EN-"
Frank PNley, on the Constitution half
Il column Of loaded BREWER"
"1f it hits EN-, the day is won."
"Your leader on Law and Order"
"Save 1t as q last resort