Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-04-03

the Saoage. ..
1t was nearly twenty years ago
when Dan De guile and Mark Twain
attempted to start paper in Mendo-
cino county. They took the type and
material Of their defunct newspaper
establishment in San Francisco, and
loading the stuff on big wagon,
struck out into the country to re-
trievs their fortunes. They pack
ed their type just as it stood in the
forms, tied up the articles with stout
cords by a process well known to
printers, and packing them closely in
boxes vowed to establish newspaper
somewhere which would be the lead
ing exponent of politics and history
for the Pacific coast. Had not an un-
fortunate circumstance taken place,
it is quite evident that the same news
paper which they contemplated
founding would have been alive to-
day. Their journey over the noun
tains was utterly uneventful until
they reached Simpsons Station, a
spot well known to old travellers on
that route. Here they met party
of emigrants making for Lower Cali
fornia, and the latter had with them
small mountain howitzer which they
brought with them acros the plains.
Twain took great fancy to thi,
gun, and offered fifty dollars for il
with two kegs OF powder thrown in
The emigrants were glad enough te
part with it, as they concluded the
time for its use had passed. Dan
thought the artillery and military
supplies were a reckless piece OF ex-
travagance, and said as much but
Twain replied -.
when we start our paper We
must FIRE salute. A newspaper Of
fee with artillery has big bulge or
the business. No well-regulated of.
| fee in California should be without
a howitzer. If a man comes in for re-
traction we can blow him into the
next country. The howitzer goes"
This silenced the argument, and
the next day the two journalists tool
the road with their printing outfit
and artillery.
On the next night they camped in
a mountain ravine fifteen miles from
Simpsons, and after building the
usual camp fell asleep. About II
o'clock the horses awakened them by
prancing about, and the two journal
lists were led to the conclusion that
nothing less than party Of Indians
were making arrangements for night
attack. In the clear moonlight they
could be distinguished about half 9
mile away at the foot Of the ravine
The idea of eucountering Indians hao
never entered the heads Of the two
fortune-seekers, and they had no arms
Suddenly Twain frightened up, re-
marking
"The howitzer
"We've got nothing but powder
said Dan.
"Well, powder'll scare EN-, ano
well load her up"
The piece was Immediately loaded
with good big charge, and the two
men felt quite certain that the In
dams, hearing the roar of the gun
would beat an unconditional retreat
The piece was hardly loaded and
placed in position when about fifty O
the redskins came charging up the
ravine.
Twain seized brand from the
camp-fre, and was about tie lay it OF
the touchhole, when dan yelled
Hold on as he rammed something
into the mouth Of the piece, and re-
marked
Turner loose.
The roar Of the howitzer echoed
through the lonely forests, and the
savages, with frantic cries of pain
reeled down the ravine in wild con-
fusion.
What in hi did you put inf
asked Mark.
"a column of solid nonpareil and 9
couple of sticks Of your spring poetry
"The poetry did the business, Dan
Get one of your geological articls'