The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1882-03-02
ovR NEW MEXICAN LETTER.

incidents of the desperate cowboys
and others have happened since came
west Some of the parties l was per
sonally acquainted with some Of the
incidents are amusing, some are re-
markable for GOODNESS and bravery and
all GO to illustrate the character OF
Western life. wish to say the cow
boys are often misrepresented. Most
of them are whole-souled men and will
do anything in their powertO suppress
lawlessness of their own men.
The first incident | will relate hap
pened i'm the little town of Harrisburg,
n. NJ. A merchant and friend were
sitting at q hotel table, eating They
called for q bottle of wine. At the
table sat two cowboys. Because the
merchant did not ask the boys to take
| wine they amused themselves by
| shooting the bottle to pieces with their
| revolvers, which they did i'm good
shapc. The merchant and friend con-
| cluded they had eaten enough, and
quicker than can write they left the
table and room.
At the same place, at another time,
drummer called for his breaks
The land lady brought the same,
which consisted Of a plate Of beans.
The drummer inquired If that was all
they had for breakfast. She replied
yes. The drummer. Disguised. said he
did not like beans. and was about leav-
ing. 4 cowboy happened to he at the
table. lie at once drew his six-shoOter,
and pointing il at him, remarked,
Stranger. you like beans; eat them"
At once the unfortunate drummer
proceeded to eat them until all were
gone. The cowboy said, "Old wO-
man, my friend desires another plate
OF beans" They disappeared the way
of the first ami So on till the third
plate was eaten. Then the cowboy
put his revolver up, and remarked,
"Old boy, you find you like beans"
The aiage. always eat what Is set be-
fore you and ask no questions, will
apply in this case
Another case at another town where
dainty person stopped at q hotel.
The grub did not suit him. The
proprietor stood /, as long as he could,
and finally sat down the salt and mus
tard bottle before him, and said. "You
eat them!" which he did with dis
patch.
At Silver City drummer asked at a
hotel breakfast for eggs. The waiter
brought them. The drummer said,
These eggs are spoiled" The waiter
said he knew they were. and they had
to ship them 50 far bringing them from
the States that they would spoil on the
road, and the people would have eggs.
Two rOughs came into the new town
of San Marcial, one day. After visit
ing the different saloons, and at the
point of the revolver making the pro-
prietor set up the drinks. they after
awhile jumped into hack and told
the driver to take them to the old
town. About one mile away, on the
road, one of their hats blew off With
his revolver pointed at the driver he
ordered him to get down and bring it
to him or he would shoot him. At
once his partner produced his revolver
and told the driver if he got the hat
he would kill him. Thus he was be-
tween two fires. "If you do, will
kill YOU" "If you don't, I will kill
you" A pretty predicament to be In
with two drunken men. Finally they
consented to let him get the hat Ar
irving at the old town both visited the
different saloons. and made the pro-
prietors set up the drinks. Finally
they brought up i'm n certain saloon,
being about as full as they could be.
and stepping back about ten feet, with
their reyolvers drawn, commanded
the saloon keeper to dance: which he
did, and during the time one kept
shooting on one side of him, while |
the other exercised his similar skill on
the opposite side of the man. These |
two men stood there shooting into the |
wall, seeing how close they could come |
To his body and around his head with
out hitting him. They amused them |
selves awhile at this sport, and becom-
ing sleepy requested bed to be |
a tick was produced. and the two men |
laid down for nap. Soon after about
f.rty citizens of the town came in and |
requested the two to rise up, and while
sitting on the bed the two were riddled
where the balls went into the wall
around the man dancing also the bed
tick, the top of which was torn almost
to pieces with bullets.
For GOODNESS the following surpasses
i'm the West. think. At
San Marcial two men in a drunken
spree got into cutting spree. One of
them cut the other badly. A friend of
the wounded man drew a revolver and
shot the one who did the cutting.
While he was lying on the floor
the one who shot him re.
q" have a good notion to shoot
sour brains out" The wounded man
oOking up with a determined look,
aid, "Shoot. will never bat an
'ye." Just think Of it-what nerve!
At Charleston AIRY, mt church Oh
while the preacher was i'm the
middle of his sermon, several cowboys
anne into church and with their re-
divers pointing ut the minister com.
handed him to dance; which he did
o the amusement of the cowboys but
o the dismay and fright of the congre-
alton.
I have endeavored to condense these
Incidents In as few words as possible,
d rs to get them in one letter, but /
ind I can not, and as I have enough
1T for another letter will leave the
est for letter i'm the future. Allow
ne to say that most of the desperate
cts, as well as most of the murders
hat have taken place since came
Vest, were committed by persons
nder the influence of liquor. 1t
Gems to me that whisky is the main
.eapon used by the devil to lure man.
ind to he'll Many hundreds have
,llen since my arrival that now Ill q ,
Did grave who would be alive to-day /;
they had not touched whisky. Well
oes the Bible picture it in the follow
~ verses: /
Who hath woe ? who hath sorrow?1 ,
ho hath contentious who hath bah !
lings? who hath wounds without
luse? who hath redness of eyes?
They that tarry long at the wine :
ley that go to seek mixed wine.
{" At the last it biteth like a serpent !
nd stingeth like an adder
Yes, who has had woe? These par =
es that did tarry at the wine that now +
II dark grave. They not only had i,
oe here; their woe has gone with .
rem into the next world. How sad i,
he thought! a
New Mexico has several men sem q
need to be hung-sOme this month, il
me next. She has almost scores in 4
ar jails. waiting to be tried for muir !,
n, and Il don't know Of case but r
hat whisky brought on the trouble. r
he man that murdered poor Gov !,
ishop was drunk. q
A few days ago had the pleasure Of !.
aveling short distance on the same ].
ain that was Carrying Mr.. Dan Dom n
.au and family to their future home !,
the golden shores of California, =