The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-11-01
Juan's Nugget.


in 1916, He supplied the whalers and
hide-droghers with fresh beef. When
Marshall turned the world askew by un-
earthing that .talismanie nugget at
Sutter' Mill, Juan sold out. and Joined
the rush northward He was lucky at
the start, if unlucky at the end. The
first pick he sank brought up one of
the biggest specimens struck in Cali
fornia. Eight thousand dollars was
offered for it right away, but Juan
wouldn't sell. He thought he could
make more by putting ii, up at a rattle.
I Eight thousand shares at ten dollars a
share was the order. The enterprise
was, successful.
The central point of attraction was
White Mans Bar. Crowds from every
camp within tramping distance came to
look at the nugget and take shares in
the lottery. Juan was in high feather.
He was the big pin of the occasion,
and Castilian ike put on d mint Of
frills. He was tall, lank cuss,. satur-
nine in countenance, with retreating
jaw and baboonish forehead He
wore a red bandana round his head and
carried a long noyaja {knife) in his
SASH He always wore the costume of
vaquero, and judging from his looks
was tough customer; yet a more
harmless fellow never breathed. He
was fond of money, though. and would
sooner lose an ounce of blood than q
dollar any day. To guard the nugget
he employed eight of his country1nen.
Four of these were armed with pistols
and machetes. They were a sulky
looking gang, and seemed able to whip
anything of their size; but when It
came to the scratch were completely
subdued by the ''malditos Americanos.i .
The nugget was placed under glass
case on the center of a table in the
Modo Verde saloon, where a Yellow
faced girl from Sonora took the names
OF subscribers. Among those who
came to see the nugget was Jimmy
fromtown, y one of the noted despera-
does of that day, and as smart rogue
as ever went unhanged. He was at
tended by two of his principal pals
Joe Bell and Micky Free After taking
in the situation, Jimmy concluded the
plant could be raised, and so informed
his lieutenants. ''Too risky said
Joe, these greasers are well armed,
have grit, and viii make fight =
Every likely" answered Jimmy,
shut we can double-haul 'em. You'll
get the chunk if you do what say
''Go ahead, said Micky.
''Beat up all the boys you can and
get me 'broncho.' I'll teach the ami
NAL to kick, and I'll show you how to
corral the nugget. See if you can't lift
me before tomorrow night
JImmyas two gillies followed his. di-
rections. Twenty hard nuts reported
for duty within forty-eight hours. The
''broncho'' was also on hand, paid for
with the money of a colored man,
whom Micky knocked on the head.
The animal was Immediately placed in
training.
Jimmy had been q circus rider, and
was sharp in horse flesh. He soon
had the ''broncho'' ready for business.
Meantime the rattle bowled along. The
lists were nearly full, and as the hour
for drawing approached the excitement
increased. The saloon was absolutely
packed the monte-dealers could
scarcely handle their cards, while the
guard around the nugget had to use
force to keep the crowd from overturn-
ing the table. Now was the time for
Jimmy. He appeared in front of the
saloon mounted on his 'sbroncho;n his
pals were already mingling with the
crowd inside, ready to seize the nugget
at signal from their leader. Jimmy
worried the animal sufficiently to make
it restiFe. Ii began to back into the sa-
loon. The crowd shouted, cursed, and
struggled, but gave way. In spite of
all Jimmy appeared to do, the animal
kept backing, and gradually approached
the center table. Juan saw the danger
which threatened his treasure, and,
springing forward, seized the reins of
the s'broncho. Jimmy struck him
with o sand-club, which laid him sense
less. At the same time he backed the
animal against the table and shouted,
Hey Rube!n
Hey Ruben is the circus-man's bat
tle-cry, and was the signal for Jifhmy's
pals to look out for the nugget. As they
re-echoed the cry, Jimmy dug the spurs
into the stbroncho = 1t kicked. Over
went the table; smash went the glass
case, and away went the nugget twenty
feet from where it laid. AS it fell there
was wild rush for its possession. The
Mexicans, led by Juan, who had re-
covered from the blow, made desperate
exertions to retain the precious speci-
men, but were quickly overcome by
the fiercer efforts and keener activity
of the white-faced rogues. II was
Gringo against Greaser. and Gringo
won. Micky Free finally grabbed the
nugget and passed it to Jimmy, who
| dexterously placed it in leather bag
swung from his pummel. He then
urged his 'sbreneho' through the
crowd, riding over all in his way, and,
reaching the street, galloped at full
speed for rendezvous inthe mountains.
As he rode off the Mexicans gave him a
salute from their pepper-trees. one ball
grazing his shin. His pals followed.
| | was Sheriff of the county. raised a
/ posse and pursued the scoundrels. We
had brush with them in the canyon,
where Joe Bell was shot He told the
whole story of the robbery before he
died, and is my authority for this mar
rative. Jimmy rode on, however, and
never stopped till he reached cave il
the mountains, where. he was afterwart
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