Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-03-27
Saturday, March 81, 1880.
Mark Twain and Dan DeQuillo.

Il was nearly twenty years ago when Dan
D,Onillc and. Mark Twain attempted TO start
rsper in Mcudociuo county. Thryttook
tyne aud material OF their recently Gelupct
newspapcr establishment in San Fragcisco,
aud loading the stu.l on wagon, struck. out
into the couutry 10 retrieve their foriunes.-
They packed their type just as 1t stood in tue
foru,s tied up the articles with stout cords by
a process well known to printers, and pack
mo them closely in boxes, vowed To establish
A uewsuarer somewhere vii h would be the
leading exponen; Of politics and history for
the Pacific Coast. Had not an uncomfortable
circ,instsnce taken place It IS Quite evident
that the same newspaper which they contem-
Mated founding would have been alive to-day.
Their iyurney over the mountains was Ut
terly uneyentful until they reached Simpsons
Station. a SPOT well-kuOwn TO old travellers on
that route. Here they met a party Of emf
Grants making for Lower California, aud the
latter had with them small mountain howit-
zer which they had brought with them across
the plains.
Twain took a great fancy 10 tliS gun, and
offered $50 for il with two kegs Of powder
thrown 10. The emigrants were glad CROUCH
to part with it, MS they concluded the time for
uss had passed Dan thought the purchase
Of the artillery and military supplies Was a
reckless piece of extravaganza and said az
much, but Twain replied
when we start our paper we must hre
salute. a newspaper Office with artillery has
biz bulge on The business. No wcil-regust-
ed Office in California should lie without
howilzer. II man comes IN iOr reifaction
we can blow him into the next couniy. The
how;zcr gees"
This silenced the argument, aal the next
day the two journalists took the road with
their printing outfit and artillery.
On the next night they csmped in noun
tain raviue fifteen niles from simpsons aud
after building the usual camp lire fsli asleep.
About II o'clock the horses awakened them
by prancing about, and the two urnalists
we e led 10 the conclusion that nothing less
than Marty Of Indians we're making arrange
ments for night attack. 10 the clear moon
lirbt they could lie distinguished about hall a
mile away at tie foot Of The rayine. The
ilea Of crcountefing indians had never enter
ed the heads Of tie two fortune seekers. and
tbcy had 10 arms. suddenly Twain bright
ened up rnlTklns:
"ILs howiizer."
oWe've got nothing but powder" said Dan.
Wen. powder'll scare EN-, aud we'll load
her Up
The niece was Immediately loaded with o
Good lac charge and the two men felt quite
certain that tic Indians bearing tic roar Of
the Gun would beat an unconditional retreat.
The piece was hardly loaded aud placed ~
posliun. when about fifty Of tie redskins
came charging up the ravine.
Twain seized a brand from the campfire
and was about to lay 1t on the touch-hole,
when Dan yelled "Ilold on" as he fammed
something Into the mouth Of the piece, aud
remarked.
"Turn 'er loose
The roar Of the howiizer echoed through The
lonely forests aud tie savagcs, with frantic
cries Of pain, reeled down the rayiue 10 Wild
confusion.
I" What in hi did you put in z" asked
Mark.
"A column Of solid nonpariel and couple |
Of sticks Of your spring poetry
d" The poetry did the business, Dan. Get /
one Of your geological articles ready for The /
next charge and gucss i'll let the red devils /
out the present campaign.
The savages again advanced. Marx at
tended 10 the powde, aud Dan sorted the shot,
so 70 speak.
"Jeems Pipes song, Ny Mountain Home
Good for three indians sockcr IN"
"An acFos,ic by John d. Ride IN long /
primer"
I'LL paralyzs en-"
Frank Pixley on the Constitution, half
column of loaded BREWER.
of il hits cm the day is won.
"Your leader on Law aud Order"
Save It as a last resort.
Dan pulled the type oct Of the boxes ard |
stuffed column after column IL the howiizers
mouth as the sayages came charging on
Another round from the quo and the redskins
rolled over and over each other ike bonldefs 1
swent away by the mountain cloud-burst.-
Max ia an ecstacy Of delight, pulled an !
American flag out OF his effects, nailed 1t to /
the iaiI-board Of the wagon aud was about 10 4
make q speech when the dusky figures Of the /
Zoe were once more seen moving to the attack. 4
The niece was again loaded, and this time /
with double charge. Marks leader Oh Law 4
and Order. tie puff Of az auction house by /
F,ed McCrelish f''twss a sickner," Dan said, /
Frank Gross verses On the "Eebel Yell" an
agricultural article by Sam Sebaush. showing I
the chemical proprielies Of corn juice as sn I
EDUCATIONAL lever, maiden poeiical cGor. OF 1
Olive Harper, and soG,e verses by Col. Crem- 4
env aud Frank Soule, completed the load. +
THAT poetry, reaching 'em frst, viii throw I
,ern into confusion, and my editorial coming
mon the heels Of the rest, will result in
las,ine Generalization. 1t will be like the last
cayaIry charge Of the French at the battle Of