The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1883-11-30

his bad health, felt that ne had made a
wise change from prospecting to ranch
ing. and entertained the hope, together
with his comrades, of making a stake
that would help them in some way to
stocking their range. He was in Chic
ride last Wednesday and left on Thurs
day in Company with Mr.. Peers for
the ranches. While here, he was feel
ing badly, but true to the courage so
characteristic of himself, he talked
very hopefully of his case. When out
abont forty miles on the road, or five
west of the old Detwilder ranch, he
was taken with a violent proxysm of
coughing. Mr.. Peers. his companion,
insisted on his returning to town and
resting up under the care of DR.. Has
kell. who had the past four months
been rendering him medical treatment.
He persisted in going forward. and 1t
was with difficulty that Mr.. Peers pre-.
vailed on him to return. Some parties
with a buck board happened at the
camping place and rendered their con-
veyance for his return. Butler had
not gone over fifty yards, when through
violent coughing he ruptured the blood
vessels of his lungs. fell from his seat
IN the buck board to the ground, and
before he could be lifted up was dead.
Neither Butler or his attendants were
conscious of his danger; neither were
prepared for so sad and sudden a ter
mutation of his life. Butler was a man
Of iron constitution. He has, in every
climate in which he has been, endured
almost untold hardships, paying the
least possible care to bis comfort. The
men in this camp will always emem-
Der his voice as husky, and at times
rising but a little above a whisper.
This was o%ccasioned, as above stated,
while working in the Cuchillo's. 1t
was during the rainy season two years
ago, he was working in shaft, where
he became wet with persplration. He
came up from the shaft into a heavy
rain, and that night slept in blankets
thoroughly wet which gave him a cold,
and he was from that time never free
from the hoarseness above spoken of
and the disease which resulted in his
untimely death. These are the meagre
facts gathered from those who best
knew him. Butler was a man of very
reticent habits. He talked but little
of his family and his early life. He
was an intense friend, and never could
do or say enough for those he liked.
For those lie disliked, he never had
any words of abuse. He carried his
dislikes without inficting the burden
of them on others. He vas generous
and courageous. He hated anything
that looked like the oppression of the
weak. His defense of a boy from a
desperate, when prudence suggested
that he bear the most provoking In
suits offered himself personally, no.
baby illustrates that fact. An armed
desperate who terroized the inmates of
a public room III Wyoming, Butler
among the number, slapped Il lad in the
face. Butler, at the peril of his life,
and with the fierCeness of a tiger,
sprang upon the man and in a terrible
conflict disarmed and soundly thrashed
the desperate. Now we commit his
remains to their everlasting rest. You
would not justify me in calling him a
great man. 1t would not be just in me
to say he was not. the Infinite alone
can measure the true merits of men.
The yard suck of the world is apt to
make its measurements on superb IL
alities. 1t is show, too often, that
passes for merit. | have often thought
that men like Butler, and you who sur
round me, have truer elements of
greatness than many who are known
to fame. The very element in the ma
ture of men. who come into TIE west
ern wilds ana brave hardships and
danger, must be the metal out of which
greatness is wrought.
If we 60 back to the older settlements
of the states, how often we find our
selves admiring the magnificent struct-
ures which have been built by the Gun.
ming skill of what we call genius.
Not one man in a thousand ever asks
of the foundation. 1t is hid away IN
der ground. Still it is the most I'M
portant factor in the superstructure.
So it is with those men, who for years
with pick and shovel, with nerves of
steel, and resolutions as strong as
the hills which they invade, delve
and labor, to achieve fortunes. They
die. Their names are not called in the
rolls of the illustrious The clods
sink down, and DO hand fills up the
sinking mound. A few years and no m
can tell their resting place. But they
are the foundation stones of a civiliza-
ton that is to come. That civilization
could never have come except these
nameless men had wrought. suffered,
endured and died. Nature makes no
mistakes; the Infinite has made no
provision for waste and losses, but in