The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-03-15
TIN FIRST PIANO IN CAMP.

IN loOo-it 0llg0t nave ueeu uVe
years earlier or later, this is not his
tory for the public schools-.herc was
Q little camp about ten miles from
Phoebe, occupied by upward Of about
300 miners, every one Of whom might
have packed his prospecting imple-
ments aud lett for more inviting
fields any time before sunset. When
the day was over the men did not
rest from their lsbors. like the honest
New England agriculturist, hut sang.
danced, gambled and shot each other.
rs the mood seized them.
One evening the report spread
around the main street (which was the
only street) that three men lad been
killed at Silver Reef, and that the
bodies were coming in.
Presently numbering old convey
snce labored up the hill, drawn by
couple of horses, we'll worn out with
their pull. The cart contained good
sized box, and no sooner did its ont
lines become visible through the glim-
mer Of a stray light here and there,
than it began to affect the idlers.
Death always enforces respect and even
though no ore had caught sight of the
remains. the crowd gradually became
subdued, and when the horse came to
q standstill the cart was Immediately
surrounded. The driver. however,
vas not in the least impressed with
the solemnity of his commission.
"All there :" asked one.
Haven't examined. Guess 20"
The driver filled his pipe and lit
it, az he continued:
wish the bones and load had gone
over the grade"
A man who had been looking on
stepped up to the man at once.
81 don't know who you have in this
box, but if they happen 10 be any
friends of mine III lay you alongside.
1--WE can mighty soon see, said the
teamster, coolly. "Just buret the lid
of, and if they happen to be the men
you want, I'm hero"
The two looked at each other for q
moment, and the crowd gathered a
little closer, anticipating trouble.
Il believe that dead men are en-
titled to good treatment, and when
you talk about hoping to see corpses
20 over a bank. all have to say is
that it will be better for yen if the /,
late lamsnted amt my friends
"We'll open the box. 1 don't take
back what I've said, and If Inv
language don't suit your ways of
thinking, l guess I can stand it."
With these words the teamster
began to pry up the lid. He got the
board of, and then pulled out some
old rags. A strip of something dark, |
like rosewood, presented itself. |
Eastern cof6ns, by thunder"
said several, and the crowd looked
quite astounded.
Some more boards few up. and the
man who was ready to G-fsnd his |
friends memory shifted his weapon a
little. The cool manner OF the
teamster had 20 irritated him that he
had make up his mind to pull his
weapon at the first sight of the dead,
even If the deceased were his worst
and Oldest enemy. Presently the
whole of the box cover was of, and
the teamster, clearing away the pack.
ing, revealed to the astonished group
the top of something which. puzzled
all alike"
"Boys," said be. "this is a pianner."
A general shout of laughter Wen,
up, and the man who had been SO
anxious to enforce respect for the dead
something about feeling dry,
and the keeper Of the nearest bar was
several ounces better of by the time
the boys mad given the joke all the at
tention it called for.
Had a dozen dead men been in the
box, their presence in the camp could
not have occaeioned half the excite
ment that the arrival of that lonely
piano caused. By the next morning
it was known that the instrument was
to grace q hurdy-gurdy saloon, own.
ed by Tom Goskin, the leading
gambler in the place. 1t tex nearly
a week to get this wonder On its legs.
and the owner was the prordest in.
in the state. IL rose gradual
y from . recumbent to an upright
position, amid q confusion Of tongues
after the manner of the tower Of
Babel.
OF course everybody knew Just
how such an instrument should be put
up. One knew where the "oi hind
leg" should 60, and another was
posted on the ''front piece"
Scores of men came to this place
every day to assist.
"I'll put the bones in good order"
IF you want the wire tuned. I'm
The hoy"
''I've got music to feed it for
mouth.
Another brought q pair of blankets
'or cover, and all took the liveliest
interest in it. 1t was at last in a CON-
1ition for business.
Its been shown its teeth all the ,
week. We'd like to have it spit on,
'omething."
Alas! there wasn't a man to be !
ound who could play upon the c
instrument. Goekin began to realize q
hat he had . losing speculation on {
lis hands. He had fiddler, and q
Mexican who thrummed . guitar. A
,ianist would have made his orchestra I
omplete. e
One day q thrse-card monte player
old friend con6dentiaily that he
ould 'knock any amount of music I
ut Of piano. If he only had it alone {
few hours to get his hand in" The S
eport spread about the camp; but, c
q being questioned. he vowed that &