Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-11-15
A NUGGET OF GOLD.
How Brouoho Aided in Robbing a
Mexican.

IN 1916. lie supplied the whalers and
hide-droghers with fresh beef When
Marshall turned the world askew by
unearthing that talismanic nugget at
Suffers Mill. Juan sold out and Joined
the rush northward He was lucky at
the start, if unlueky ut the end. The
first pick he sank brought up one of the
biggest specimens struck in California.
Eight thousand dollars was offered for
il right away. but Juan wouldn't sell.
He thought he could make more by
putting it up at 4 rattle, Eight thou
sand shares ut $40 share was the or
der 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 bic pin of the oc-
casion, and Castilian-like put ON mint
of frills. He was q tall, lauk cuss,
saturnine in countenance, with re-
treating jaw and baboonish forehead
He wore red bandana round his head
and carried a long novaja (knife) in
his sash. He always wore the costume
of a vaquero, and judging from his
looks was a tough customer; vet a more
harmless fellow never breathed. He
was fond of money, though, and would
sooner lose an ounce of blood than n
dollar any day. To guard the nugget
he employed eight OF his eountrymen.
Four of these were armed with pistols
and machetes. They were n sul6y-
looking gang, and seemed able to whip
anything of their size; but when it
came to the scratch were completely
subdued bv the ''malditos Americanos. -
The nugget was placed under glass
case on the center Of table in the Modo
Verde saloon where yellow-faced girl
from Sonora took the names Of subscrib-
ers. Among those who came to see the
nugget was "Jimmy-from-town.h one of
the noted desperadoes of that day, and
as smart rogue as ever went I'M
hanged He was attended by two of
his principal pals-Joe Bell and Mickey
Free. After taking in the situation
Jimmy concluded the plant would be
raised, so informed his licutenants.
"Too risky" said Joe, "these greasers
are we'll armed, have grit and will
make fight. "
Very likely SAID Jimmy but we
can double haul EN-. You'll get the
chunk if you do what | say"
"Go ahead, " said Micky.
BEAT up all the boys you can, and
get me a 'broncho. I'll teach the ami
NAL to kick, and III show you how to
corral the nugget. See if you can't
lift me before tomorrow night,
HOW THE GOLD WAS REACHED.
Jmmys two gillies followed his di-
rections. Twenty hard nuts reported
for duty within forty-eight hours. The
"bronchon was also on hand, paid for
with the money of Il colored man whom
Micky knocked on the head. The ami
NAL was Immediately placed in training.
Jimmy had been circus rider and
was a 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 excite
ment increased. The saloon was absO-
lutely packed the monte-dealers could
scarcely handle their cards, while the
guard around the nugget had to use
force to keep the crowd from over
turning the table. Now was the time
for Jimmy. He appeared in front of
the saloon mounted on his ''broncho;'
his pals were already mingling with the
crowd inside, ready to seize the nugget
at q signal from their leader. Jimmy
worried the animal sufficient to make it
FESTIVE 1t 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 centre table Juan saw the danger
which threatened his treasure, and,
springing forward, seized the reins Of
the "bronrn". Jimmy strucN him with
a sand-cUu winch iad u2 -e
Atthe same time he backed the animal
against the table and shouted; Hey,
Rube!"
Hey, Rubel" is the CHEESEMAN'S
battle-cry, and was the signal for jim
my's pal to look out for the nugget
AS they re-echoed the err, Jimmy dug
the spurs into the "5roncho. 1t
kicked Over went the table; smash
went the glass case, and away went the
Nugget twenty feet from " here il laid.
As il fell there was q wild rush for It's
possession The Mexicana, led by
Juan, who had recovered from the
blow, made desperate exertions TO re-
gain tho precious specimen, but were
quickly overcome by the fiercer efforts
and keener activity Of the whitehead
rogues 1t was Gringo against Greascr,
and Gringo won. Micky Free finally
grabbed the nugget, and passed it to
Jimmy, who deXterously placed it in a
leather bag swung from his pummcL
He then urged his chronicle" through
the crowd, riding over all in his way,
and, reaching the street, galoped at
fun speed for a rendezvous in the noun
tains. AS he rode off the Mexicans
gave him a salute with their pepper
trees, one ball grazing his shin. His
pals followed. / was sheriff OF the
county, raised q posse, and pursued the
scoundrels. We had a brush with them
in the canon, where Joe Bell was shot.
He told the whole story of the robbery
before he died, and is my authority for
this narrative, Jimmy rode on, how
ever, and never stopped till he reached
a cave in the mountains. where be was