Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-11-21
Living on HI. own Flesh.

home on Staten Island. He was sOol
surrounded by group of relatives ant
friends, to whom he told many Startlin!
stories, of which the following is anon:
the mildest. 1t should be said tina
amid many temptations to exaggerat,
Grandfather Dick" has preserved al
untarnished reputation for veracity:
''In 1S43, while Texas was yet al
independent republic, was engaged a,
manager for herder named Frinci:
Seph. L was encamped with party o
rancheros upon the Rio Grande, nea
Laredo. Just across the river was ;
Mexican town, also called Laredo. TIL,
river at this point is nearly a mill
wide, but during the dry season is ford
able. The fall of '43 was uncommonly
dry, and every day our camp was visited
by miners and herders from the Chi
huahua mountains. They were rough
bearded fellows, who would rather fight
than eat, and thought no more of blaz
ing away with pistol than L do o.
drinking a glass of beer. One nigh
We heard the familiar plash of the mus
tangs' hOofs in the water, and soon nC
fewer than thirty greasers were loung'
ing about our big fire. In its ruddy
light their fierce, swarthy faces looked
darker and wilder than ever. Alvi,
Dederick, an escaped Prussian convict
one of my gang, after drinking pretty
freely, began to tell how Dick Tuloul
a Canadian miner, was very unlucky
never striking it rich, but always beg
gIng aid of his comrades.
'''Its lie,' replied the Canadian,
who was lounging in the long, tramp.
led prairie grass on the other side OF
the fire, 'and even ii it were not, I'd
rather beg of the boys than steal theil
dust
''What do you mean?" demanded
Dederick, jumping up with his eyes
sparkling like a tigers and his hand Oh
his knee.
You know best what l mean
thlef!'
IA moment before you could have
heard Our noise way across the river,
but now all was silent as death. We
were as still as though turned to stoDe.
In the white heat of the PruSSian S
sudden rage his face turned fairly pale
as he strobe deliberately around the
| fire to the spot where Tuloul stood erect
to receive him."
"No one offered to interfere, for 1t
was not considered in good taste at
Laredo to meddle in the personal con-
troversies of gentlemen. The men
near Tuloul moved back to make room
for the muss. Quick as lightning the
sx-cOnvict threw his brawny arms
about the miner and bit a good-sized
steak out of his ear. He then backed
deliberately to his former position,
chewing the delicious morsel. One
hoarse, terrible curse came from Tu-
louis lips as the blood poured down his
hairy neck and over his soiled flannel
shirt"
''Then, in the midst of a silence
broken only by the cracking of the fire
and the signing of the night wind in
the grass, the Kanuck in turn stepped
toward the Prusslan. The two wrest-
led for moment i'll close embrace, and
when they separated Dederick's nose
was missing and Tuloul's bearded
mouth and chin were red. Both men
drew their weapons, when old Nine
fingered Jim, who had the voice of a
Texas bull, rushed between them and
cried:
Hold OH, bOysl Eff you are so fond
of fresh meat, have enough. Well
chain you together an lower you to
the bottom of San Esteban Canon.
Thar'S light enough down thar ter fight
by. Fight till one of We passes in his
chips, an then the other must live for
five days an nights on the dish you
both seem SO fond Of
''Maddened and writhing with pain,
the two men consented and the whole
party hurried to the canon, which was
mere crevice in the earth, San Este
ban, but so deep and dark that it seemed
like the very gate of death. To tie a
score of lariats together and lower
TulOul and Dederick into the chasm
was the work of but moment. The
combatants were firmly chained to-
gether, with no weapons but their
knives. Up through the impenetrable
darkness came o us the faint clash of
steel as We leaned over the edge and
strained our eyes vainly to catch a
glimpse of the belligerents.
I'VE can not see nothin' tonight,
boys,.' said Nine-fingered Jim, i'll a
tone of disappointment, lets go back
an all promise not to come here in five
days." All hands promised, but l
think that during those days of suspense
more than one man in the camp was
tempted to break his word. Sunset on
the fifth day found us again at the
brink of the canon. L leaned over the
edge and looking down, saw the
shadowy, mOtlonleSS forms of the two
men lying on the rocks at the bottom.
"Alive, Dick?" l called.
"No answer. They are both dead
whispered the men. To make sure,
however, a burly herdsman was lowered
and We saw him examine first one
body, then another. At last he raised
a limp form III his strong arms and
gave the signal to be raised.
Never shall l forget the awful,
sickening feeling that crept over me as
we dragged the two men up. The
herdsman's broad shoulder concealed
the face of his burden, but when both
were lifted over the precipice, we
recognized the sunken, mutilated feat
ures of the Prussian. lie was uncon-
scious, and, we thought for long time,
dead. But frequent doses of Laredo
whisky, which we forced between his
| lips, revived him. With his head rest
ing against big Geronomio's knee, he
told his story, while the men crowded
close around to get within sound of the
feeble voice.
"'Soon after We got down. he said,
the circus began. Bound together as
we were, We could not see each other
and did little damage for long time.
Then l felt faint and lost my senses.
When L Came too the sunshine was
beating upon my face and Tuloul was
lying at my side. He was cold and
still. His jaw had fallen, and his eyes,
like glass balls, stared at the little belt
of sky. L tried to rise, but could get
no further than a sitting position.
Upon taking an inventory of myself l
missed large slices from my thighs and
breast. L saw them on rock at the
Kanuck's feet. Reaching for my knife
l chopped off his left hand, thereby
freeing myself from him. Then passed
two days of horror and starvation.