The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1880-03-12
The Power Of the Press.

In NendOcino county. Ihey ttook
the type aud material OF their re-
Gently defunct establishment III San
Francisco, and loading the stuff on
a big wagon, struck out into the
csuntry to retrieve their fortune.
They packed their type just as 1t
stood in the forms, tied up the
articles with stout cords by a pro-
cess well-known to printers, aud,
packing them closely in boxes,
vowed to establish a newspaper
somewhere which would be the
leading exponent of politics and
history of the Pacific coast. Had
not ian unfortunate circumstance
taken place, it is evident that the
newspaper which they contempla-
ted founding would have been
alive to-day. Their journey over
the mountains was utterly unevent-
full until they reached Simpsons
station, a spot well-known to old
travellers on that route. Here they
met party OF emigrants making
for Lower California, aud the latter
had) with them a small mountain
howitzer, which they had brought
with them across the plains.
Twain took great fancy to this
gun, and offered fifty dollars tor 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 aud
military supplies was n reckless
piece OF extravaganza, and said as
much, but Mark replied:
"When we '',r;I our paper we
mnst fire a saillte. A newspaper
Office with artillery has big
bnlge on the business. No well
regulated Office in California should
be without a howitzer. If a man
comes in for q retraction we can
bl0w him into the next country.
The hOwitzer goes.'
This silenced argument, and the
next day the two journalists took
the road with their printing outfit
aud artillery.
The next night they camped in
mountain ravine fifteen miles from
Simpsons, and, after bnilding the
usual campfire, fell asleep. About
II O'Clock the horses awakened
them by prancing about, and the
two journalists were led to the con
clusion that party Of Indians
were making arrangements for a
night attack. In the clear moon
light human forms could be distin
gnished about half a mile away al
the foot of the ravine. The idea
of encountering Indians had never
entered the heads of the two for
tune seekers, aud they had no arms
Suddenly Twain frightened up, re
marking:
"The howitzer
"We've got nothing but powder,
said Dan.
swell, powder'll scare 'em, and
we'll load her up"
The piece was Immediately load
ed with a good big charge, and the
two men felt quite certain that the
Indians hearing the roar of the
gun, would beat an unconditional re
treat. The piece was hardly load
ed and placed in position wher
about forty redskins came charging
up the ravine.
Twain seized q brand from th,
campfire and was about to lay l
on the touch hole, when Dan yelled
"Hold on ~ as he rammed some
thing into the mouth of the piec'
and remarked:
"Turn'er loose.'
The roar of the howitzer echoed
through the lonley forest, and th'
savagcs, with frantic cries of pain
reeled down the ravine in wild con
fusion.
"What in h did you put in 7
asked Mark.
"a column of solid nonparei
and a couple of sticks of you
spring poetry"
"The poetry did the business
Dan. Get one of your geological
articles ready for the next charge
and / guess it'll let the red devil
out for present campaign"
The savages again advanced
Mark attended to the powder an
Dan assorted the shot, so to speak
"Jeems Pipes song, my Noun
tain Home.'n
"Good Tor three Indians-sock'e
in.r
"An acrostic by John B. Ridge
in long primer"
"It'll paralyze 'em."
"Frank Pixley Oh the constitu
tion-half column of loaded br'
yier.r
"If it hits 'em, the day is won
Your leader on Law and O
ler.'n
"Save it as a last resort
Dan pulled the type out of th
boxesard stuffed column after co
nnn in'the howitzer's mouth as til
savages came charffingon. Anotl
er round from the gun and the re,
skins rolled over each other lik
boulders swept away by u mountai
cloud-burst. Mark, in an eestac
of delight, pnlled an American fla
out of his effects, nailed it to Il
tail board Of the wagon, aud w