Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-10-06

A San FramcfDcO Drumncr Taken
over she Hills snfping.
J. Sanders is stopping 1t the Parker
House. He has been there for perhaps
two weeks and became slightly acquainted
with some Of our bsst citizens. Where he
originally came from we do not know.
Lstterly he halls from San Francisco, and
carries about with HIM . pack filed with
lace goods for the ladies. In the hotel bar
room on Thursday night the conversation
partook largely Of hunting. and in being
informed that game Of every variety
abounded in the sagebrush and cedars in
the suburbs OF Eureka, particularly snipe,
he expressed : desire to join in an expedi-
ton to slaughter the latter. He was told
that the best time to capture the birds was
during the nighttime, but as Il was late
and many Of the leading sportsmen had
probably retired II would be advisable 10
defer the hunt until the following evening.
In the meantime the hunters would be
called together and everything prepared
for one OF the grandest expeditions against
the snipe ever gotten up in Eureka, In
honor Of the visitor. All was in readiness
last night. and twenty or more persons
assembled to introduce the stranger
into the mysteries Of midnight
sniping. Capt. Joe Mendes and
Lieut.. Grif. J. Griffith led the rang,
and John T. Baker carried the sack, made
Of red gauze and about 10 feet in length.
The party started out over the hills west of
town ut half-past 9 O'Clock, bearing . lam
tern to light them over the rocks and
through the sagebrush. They halted in .
rsvine near the Austin road and set to
work. They hsd approached very quietly,
and orders were given in . whisper BY
Capt. Mendes for the hunters to scatter in
the cedars and sagebrush and begin
driving az soon as everything was in readi-
ness. John Baker remained with the
drummer, fixed the net and instructed
him how to kill the birds a. they passed
in. The lantern was placed alongside in
the brush with an inch candle to last half
an hour. The beating and whistling Of
the hunters was gradually dying away in
the distance. Mr.. Baker. who had re-
mained with the stranger up to this
time, thought the men were not
going IN the right direction
for the snipe, and requested Mr.. Sanders
to hold ON to the sack until he could put
them on the proper course. John struck
wv ' sAO aAAAo AVA GuK0khy oUQ Ou tUc
road met some Of his companions Of the
chase. Learning OF the intended hunt,
Jake Harris and . friend endeavored to
turn the tables ON the snipers. They
struck out for the scene to bring the vic
tim in ahead Of his prosecutors. On the
ridge near the Odd Fellows cemetery they
met Paul Roux, one Of the returning hun.
tiers. Mr.. Roux directed the rescuers to
an Indian campfire in the vicinity Of the
Bullwhacker mine, about . mile from the
scene Of the hunt, and off they started on
their mission. At midnight they had not
returned. The hunters struggled into town
and waited for their victim. He put in an
appearance about IL O'Clock, . picture
Of abject fright and misery. He had
held on to the sack without captur-
ing n snipe until the candle went
out, when he began to partly realize
that he was sold. He endeavored to find
out where be was, but the surroundings
we're as black % ink. He yelled and
trembled with fear az his own voice was
echoed among the hills. Every sage.
brush doomed up as . man ready to do
him harm, and at every step he expected
to be precipitated into some shaft hun
dreds Of feet or into a prospect hole.
Slowly he ascended the hill, and in ter
ror sought to peer through the darkness.
A small campfire in the apparent dis
lance mot the one to which his rescuers
had been directed) caught his eye, and
he proceeded in a bee-line for 1t. Over
rocks, gulches and brush he dragged and
tumbled his trem bling limbs, and when
he reached the fire he was confronted by
= lusty buck. The Indian, taking him for
9 maniac or apparition, threw his arms
about his head, gave . yell that almost rent
the hillsides and fed into the darkness.
Left alone, Mr.. Sanders, now more dead
than alive, remembered that the wind had
blown in his face when he went out, and
with rare presence Of mind, after his vari-
Gus misfortupes and fear, he concluded to
walk away from it and thus try to reach
town. His legs were barely able to carry
him up the hill on which the Odd Fellows
cemetery is located. When he came within
sight OF the white fence. Rravestones and
for ghosts and specters, the fear Of . thou
sand hereafters took possession Of him,
and in his fright he started down hill at q
~breakneck pace. He did not see the barbsd
wire fence that surrounds the graveyard.
It checked his mad speed for . mo-
ment, but - 1t gave way before his
impetuous force, he rolled over and
over down the steep hill, gathering
velocity, and pains and aches in the de-
scent. Picking himself up, bruised and
bleeding. he hurried up the opposite hill,
and An Arab ia the desert never greeted
an oasis with geater Joy after . long jour-
ney, than did this unhappy snipe-hunter
the light in . dwelling q short distance OF.
Breathlessly he dragged his weary limbs
up to 1t. A knock brought . frightened
woman to the door en- deshabille, who sp-
parently thought 1t was her husband oom-
Ing homo from the lodge. She gave vent
to Z locomotive scream when she beheld the
travel-stained stranger. slammed and bolted
the door, and he was again alone. His
heart sank into his shoes. and . new terror
took possession Of him-he might be ar
rested for . criminal or be shot. Down
the hill in abjsct despair he plodded. and
finally got onto CLARK street. Here be met .
tall. stout man, whom he asked - to his
vhnraah0uts Tho atranOer threw mn hin