The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-02-20
THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1883.
Sandy, of Roaring Fork.
st. Louis Post. Dispatch.

w. AVCIc
One of the real good men in ou
camp on Roaring Fork was j. NJ. San
ders. It was years afterwards before
any one knew that he was anything
hut plain "Sandy," hut If man has !
front name it is bound to come ou
sooner or later
II was later when it turned out that
"Ssndy". was not only Sanders, but J
NJ Sanders, and like as not some OF his
letters had SEQ" at the end Of the
name.
Well. Sandy was good man-a real
good man. He always had a remedy
for every complaint, from the chills and
fever to being so homesick that the pa.
tient would have given up his left arm
for 9 sightofsthe old red farm house in
the States Heswas also a praying man
and on Sunday, when he didn't have too
much patching and darning 10 do, he
read from the Bible, and exhorted as
that the road to heaven ledthrough trials
aud trihulaiions and over hills where 0
man sbod with the strongest faith had
TO look out for bis footing.
Which I NAV remark right here was
also the belief OF several Others in
camp, including yout humhie servant.
Sandy didn't play cards. nor drink
nor howl around with his hat on his ear
and hie teeth on edge. and for this rea-
son be was despised by some and ad
mired by. Others II be. had weak
point it was bis too torgiving spirit
Once in a while, when one Of the men
rubbed him little too hard, there was
q warpipg Of danger In his big blue eyes
but be let half drunken miner spit in
his face one day without betrayiug the
least show Of anger.
The same was talked over Ia camp
and we we're divided as TO whether il
was fear. the miners fist or pity for
his befuddled condition which prevent
ed a knock-down However, there came
day when the old man settled the long
standing qaery of whether be had agh'
in him or not. - ga tAA
Two miles above us WAS the camp Of
the "Howling Wild Cats" One day biz
Jim Stevens, standing six feet two in
his boots, and having fist as big as 9
two quart jug, got bold of some partic
ularly good whisky. and after licking the
best man in his own camp, he came
down to give q. whirl Some OF our
men, probably out OF mere deviltry, told
jam that Sandy, was our 6shting man
and the hardest hitter west of the Ne
brasks prairies.
What did big Jim do but hunt up oul
parson and give him 10 understand that
the swfuIest, blpodiest, fercest, and
most desperate struggle ever known on
the face Of this globe was about to take
plsce. tt5. 81 So aHtll TGs /.
"James Stevens, you go home," re
pliedzSandv o ste
"SandY, I'm going to lick you till yor
can't beller!' chnckled Jim.
'a.Gn.away! I've nothing against you,
wsrned the psrson
"Sandy, prepare to be driven head
first into the sile !" yelled Jim. and with
that he spit on bis hands aud turned or
iul head OF steam.
-SWe were all there, you know, but
there was sort OF understood law ol
eus,om in the smsaine camps that 6 gbi
must be fought cut without third par
~ chipeing in And hesitles, some o.
US had sneaking suspicion that Sandy
would astonish the country II cornered
aud compelled to use his muscle.
Big Jim rushed in like locomotive
going for a spring lamb, but be didn'
get there. When he came within strik
ing distrnce Sandy shot in and keelet
him over in such style that some on'
called for three cheers. Jlm got W
slowly. made another rush, and the resul
was the same He wouldn't have triet
1t again but for the jeers and launts o
the men The third round WAS beau.
tiful affsir. Jim advanced slowly. hand
up, pris- -ring fashion, and for minute
We weakened bit on our man. Foo
TO foot they eyed each other, and thel
spared for an opening Then, like
streak of creased lightning. Sandy sho
ont with bis left, and Jim went dowl
like q log and had enough.
Then who washed the blood from hi
fsce27 The parson.
Who brushed his cloiiles and brough
him drink the parson.
Who lifted him up and walked bin
away, speaking as kindly as woman
The parson.
Yes, It Was, aud Il was the same par
son who walked TO his camp with him
and on the way mp the trail so we'd sue
good seed that Big jim changed from
drunken, brawlipg, good for,nothing I
sober, industrious miner; and when b
struck "pocket," and bad the where
wiihal TO. return. home, the parson wa
the irst to congratulate him, and the Isl
to shake his hanls and bid him Goc
speed. 49, ass# s..
(which desire to explain" observe
our camp shoemaker one DAY sem
months after the fight, "some men ca
he coaxed or reasoned into being good
and some others never begin 10 men
their ways until after The third kaoc
down"
HEALTH NOTES.