The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-01-10
"Two nenf Men from TruclSee."

Recently two Italian ranchmcn from
Iruckcc Meadows met on North G.. street,
Virginia City. AS ii happened, both were
very deaf. They began IN animated con-
| vcrsation IN the Italian language-probably
| only about the rusinously low price Of hay
and the hcggarly pittanco offered for pota-
| tocs--but their voices rcsoundcd throughout
I the tlock and there seemed to be dag2ers
and pistols in every word. Pedestrians
watched and fingered by the way, expect
| ing every moment to see q knock down.
| windows went up in all directions and
heads were thrust forth and nccks crancd
drivers OF express wagons pulled up .hcir
teams, and with great appetite waited for
the fight. The two men shouted until their
| eyes popped out and they grew purple in
tho face. They gcsticulated tlcrccly, and
each seemed thirstng for the hearts blood
OF the other. A crowd began to collect, and
finally the alarm reached tho station house
hot far away-and al officer rushed forth
with war in his eye. He grabbed the col.
lars of the two ranchers and ordered them
to come along, The ranchmen braccd their
| legs and resisted.
"Como along!' cried the officer, arrest
you both for disturbing the peace"
"What you want3 What you a-do2"
cried the men
IL arrest you, you are disturbing the
peace. you are blocking up the street e.
| cried the officer, still holding the collars of
the palr.
One of the men shook himself loose and
assumed warlikc attitude
''What!" cried the policeman, ''you will
rcsist-you resist IN oitlccrS I'll SEQ that
you CO." and he blew his whistle
This action and the sight Of the whistle if
not the sound Of it far enlightened the two
men that they understood that an officer had
othold of them for something.
"lou one oiliccrl' asked ono Of the
ranchcrs
The officer answered in the affirmative.
"What for you arrcsta me2" said the
man, ''speaka loud, me no hear very
good"
The officer shouted in his car: IL ar
rest you TOR disturbing the peace"
"lIow me have disturba dc peace ~
"By quarreling and shouting here in the
strcct-dont you sec you have collected a
crowd2"
"Mc no quarrela, INC talka me my
friend"
"But you were both at it-both yelling
and cursing and damring and swearing
here 2"
every well, but you gee my friend he
hear bad all same mc--both what you call
dcaf-a. What for me and my friend no can
talk our business but we must be arrest ~
An Italian residing in the city came for
ward at this iuncture and assured the otfi-
cers-o wing to the blowing of the whistle
the stars were by this time shining on all
sldcs-that he had long known the two
ranchcrs, and knew both of them to be 80
deaf that they could hardly hear first
class thunder clap. 1'.r ".r'.
This explanation was qnitc satisfactory
and the officers departed laughing '.'
The two deaf man from 1'ruckee were
also greatly amused. They started off up
town, and the more they thought of the pre-
dicalncn! their infirmily had got thom into
the better the joke seemed. ,'...H .". .
They went TO the nearest saloon and took
drink over it. Then they told tho joke to
two or three fcllow-c -counlrymcn and all
hands took drink, Finally, they took a
parting drink and left the saloon. -.t
AS they walked up the street tho adven-
turc of their arrost scomed funnier than
over, and just above Sutton avenue thcy
stopped to talk it over. The drinks the had
taken so strengthened their voices that they
could be heard two blocks away, and a
crowd began to collect and stare, thinking
tho men were PAIR of escaped lunatics.
Suddenly an officer camo ro.nd the cor
ner, red-faced and excited, md without
waiting for word Of explanation, grabbed
both men and began marching them off to-
ward tho station house. They resitsed at
first and tried to explain, but tho officer
would hear nothing, 80 they gave up mcekly
and marched along to the lookup.
''What have you brought these men here
for 2" asked City Jailer B,rdsall, as the
flushed officer marched in the two frightcn.
ed ranchmen. u .a.v IT,, ...
'Orunk and disordcrly," said the ofllcor
--"howling in the streeta until you could
hear them mile away ~ otl .3...
"That's all right" said yJailcr Birdsall,
'let them 60, they're the two deaf men
from Truckcc," and ho then went on AM,
explained the case to tho officer, who
seemed good deal bcwildcrcd. ,..
Jailer Birtlsall thon took tho deaf men
from Truckee, one at time, and howlcd
into the car Of each: "Now you go one
way, and let your friend 80 another, and
don't you try to talk together again till you
arc safe in Trucltee Meadows, or at least
till you arc out of town and mile from
any house, d.srnl boss . ."3,.5