, 1883-12-22
In the Hands of the Mob.

American, he will be found on the
western plains, where men develop
into something which certainly has
not its likeness IN the heavens above,
the earth beneath, or the waters un-
der the earth. In his most peaceful
aspect he is uniqne. AS ga rough"
he is unapprOachable. Nothing in
history has ever equaled western
desperate. Bold, cruel, capriciOus,
hardened, sentimental, skilled in the
use Of arms, and accomplished in
hOrsemanship, there Is about him
terrible power which lacks the ele-
ments of facination. Mark Twain,
in his "ROughing It," has drawn
admirable portraits Of men notorious
in the early days Of western settle
ments. 1t was my fortune as Il
child, to have certain knowledge
of this class, and to encounter them,
once at least, in their EARNED
wrath"
My father was a sea-captain, who
took his family with him on his long
voyages. The trade with California,
it is well-known was Il golden one
for many years, and whoever could
take a share in it readily braved the
months Of sailing and the dangers Of
Cape Horn. To those who hurry
across the continent in weeks
time, this length Of voyage doubt
less appears an endless forture of
suspended action. To us, it was
simply a calm elysium. The slow
days and nights dropped silently be-
hind us into the beautiful fathOmless
sea, while we set our faces steadily
forward in happy unconcern and
bright anticipation.
was but child, with one con-
slant companion in my little sister,
and an occasional gala day of play
%with Johnny Carter, the cabin-boy.
5Ohnny Carter belongs to this story.
He was a pretty, fair little fellow
of about - years. Just before the
ship sailed, very nice looking wO-
man had come on board and asked
to see my father. She brought with
her this boy, and she represented
him as anything rather than
A creature all too bright and good
For human natures daily food.
In short, Johnny was so utterly a
bad boy, she begged my father to
take him to sea, in the hope of break
ing off his ruinouS associations and
changing the currents Of his fancies
from an eager search after the worst
evils Of his home city. My father
hesitated, Of course, but the mother
was importunate, and the boy did
not look formidable. In the end, he
consented, and Johnny was duly in
stalled as cabin-boy and general do
nothing.
! do not remember ever seeing
him at work. lie proved to be, as
far as we saw, mild, pleasant, easy
going little chap, very unlike his
mothers portrayal Of him, and was
soon a universal favOrite. He was
so young and so small it seemed folly
to expect anything thoroughly use
ful Of him. He wandered about the
ship gathering up whatever knowl-
edge came in his way, waiting on
the officers, helping the cook, taking
care Of the goats-a friend had sent
US two as playmates and with an
eye to milk for my mothers coffee
and sometimes for a whole day play
ing with US at anything we fancied.
He could dress a doll and set out toy
dishes he could make tiny kites
and frail bows and arrows he could
arrange a scrap-bOOk or set up fish
ing tackle, and seemed equally happy
and content in cabin or fOrecastle.
Yet when we reached San Francisco
he almost instantly and miraculous
ly disappeared, and left no trace.
My father was much annoyed.
The mothers tears and entreaties,
her anxiety, her confidence in the
good effects Of the voyage, and her
trust in my father, were constantly
present to him. His best energies
were expended in the search for the
lost boy, but in vain. Had Johnny
taken to JOnah's whale as a craft, he
could not have been more profound
ly swallowed up. At last my father
accepted the situation as best as he
might, and, after waiting home full
accounts Of all that had been done,
seemed to dismiss the matter from
his mind, as one in which he had
performed his duty, spite Of failure.
San Francisco at that time was a
city in the rough. It is impossible
to convey to any thoroughly eastern
and untraveled mind any conception
Of it. Such curious combinations Of 4
shingle and muslin, paper and Stats |!
Such motely, picturesque, fright
.ful, ridiculous crowd, forever coming
and going! Every nation had its
representatives, every style of cos
tune, every possible bearing and
gesture. Gentlemen Of polish and
Outcasts of society, the broadcloth Of
Paris and the Indian blanket, the
jovial Irishman, pipe in mouth, and
the stately Spaniard, the indolent
South American, the bewildered
Chinaman, the wide-awake Yankee,
continually jostled and hustled each
other on the planks Of the quay,
skirting the lonely bay, and on the
narrow stretch of Long Wharf, ex-
tending an almost incredible distance
intO ifs Wotara TJodias tbara xvara