, 1884-12-25
.CARTWRTGHTs CLAIM.


that the drift or tunnel which tapped the
mineral extended ovor the line and tho de
posit, and therefore, belonged to him, every
body. in Leadville predicted trouble.
During q brief residence in camp Mr..
Cartwright had freely expressed his con
tempt and loathing for any and all courts,
and illustrated these views In a number Of
little episodes that marked his cratic ca
reer. In a difference Of opinion in a four
handed game OF poker at the Miners Rest
saloon ho had thrown one OF the players
out Of the window, knocked another
downstairs, and compromised with the third
by appropriating the entire stakes TO his own
uses. On another occasion Jean Duprez, n
big French froighter, disputed one Of his
statements, and in tho discussion that fol
lowed Mr.. Cartwright stamped him barbar-
ously, and carried away an ear as a trophy.
The fact that Nine. Duprez screamed con-
tinuously during the engagement did not
soften his heart nor stay his hand.
Thee incidents and numerous others of the
same general -enor gave the citizens Of Lead
VILE II ~hesitancy about arguing any matter
with him. Big-boned, heavy featured. coarse
OF speech, brutal when aroused and morose
whom at rest, OF bulldog courage, Of pas
sionate nature and unforgiving memory, the
better people OF the camp tolerated him by
simply letting him alone. In view OF thess
AA~tA' 'AAA ? 1A NAAH nIIAAN|"A NJ I'D
suicidal tenncity, and urged him 10 with
draw his demands. That gentlemcnt replied
tersely that he was right and would not be
bullied.
Cartwright laughed contemptuously when
he heard OF Fishers clnims, and kept on
work Ia the Josie" Next day Fisher quietly
en1oined him, In the despised county court,
from taking out any more mineral, and a
shorif's posso enforced the order. Cart
wright came to town full OF rage and akind
Of incredulous a~mnzement, and, shortly
a~fterward, with whisky. In this condition
he made several CORY threats, and was
promptly placed under bonds by Fisher TO
keep the peace. After these were given with
great difficulty. for everybody beloved that
he would Instantly commit Some deed Of VIC
lence, he made no moro threats, but sat for n
long time in gloomy silence. For the first
time he had realized the strong arm of the
law: then n, surprised his admirers by 70
marking, with m oath, that he guessed he'd
try the courts awhile himself. Out OF this
sprang IA litigation which became somewhat
famous.
TIE disputed claim lay about midway down
the side OF one Of those spires the continental
divide throws out like thorns upon IA branch.
Above it into the clouds, and below it into
the vnlley, the mountain stretched away, its
vast incline so strangely smooth and unbroken
by rock, or gulch, or pine, that from certain
points Il had an extraordinarily artificial
look, as though its descent had been ffxei by
line and %plummet aud some colossal piece OF
engineering Two cabins, that on tho Black
Bessp tho larger and more habitable, indi
Gated the claims, and a common trail zig-
Jagged away from them up the slope until IL
finally struck n stnee road a mile aud a
half away. This, in turn, wound upwards
and ever upwards above timber line into
the ancient snow aud never-meliing misis,
now n crooked streak, now a line, and now a
tiny thread In the distance, until IL crcpt
over the giddy pinnacle OF the Rockies at
Mosquito pass and dropped by degrees into
the valley Of Loadville on the other side.
John Fisher had moved his wife and five
children into tho larger cabin, and had that
which Is nine points of the law-posscssion.
The case got into tho circuit court and on
the November docket. Cartwright, who had
realized some money from tho sale Of orc be-
fore the trouble, had staid in town since and
divided his attention between faro and
brooding over his wrongs. When pinned
down on the witness-stand no admitted
hat his drift extended over tho line,
but swore savagely that Fisher had
changed the boundary stakes in tho
dend of night so as to take In the discovery.
Truth compels me TO state that this story Of
Mr.. ~Cartwright's bore some of the armarks
of being the Inspiration Of the moment and
was received will more or less suspicion by
tho learned judge, Fisher made his state
mont, introduced n surveyor who CORRIDOR
ated him, and the case was taken under nd-
visement. This probably would not have
been done, except that a rude system Of
equity prevailed there, and, although tho
facts were agalnst Cartwright, 1t was gen-
orally conceded that It was a little rough on
him 70 lose tho fortune he had stumbled upon,
and for another man TO receive all tho bene-
fit Of his luck and labor.
Possibly for this reason the court was
loath TO pass upon it, and it dragged on I'M
decided until the very last day OF the term.
Meantime Cartwright had told the story OF
tho change of the stakes so frequently That,
whether originally founded on fact or not,
he undoubtedly came at last TO believe it
firmly himself, and was likely TO become en-
ragged and commit assault and battery when
doubted.
Finally. at noon Dec. "a, just before I'D
jouining for the holidays, the case was de
cided, awarding the mineral land to John
Fisior and placing William Cartwright just
fourteen feot on the wrong side Of a com.
potency.
Cartwright was at the bar of the Gem sa-
loon when they brought him the news. For
al AAATAnhA A' |NANN HNAAf DAtAAuAAAk a
and deep, black lines seemed to grow across
his forehead. Then all the brute in him
burst forth.
Course your eyeslr he screamed at the
staring messenger, hurting tue untasted
whisky into his face, "what are you look
ing atf
Then wheeling around, he called out to
the bartender: ed, lend me your snow
shoea"
That worthy did not consider it advisable
10 decline, and sent n boy to his room after
them, while Cartwright rushed out of doors.
In a short time he returned for the shoes,
carrying his Winchester repeating rife III
his hand, and, as he was singing them over
his shoulder, the bartender, who was really
a kind hearted fellow. venturod to ask what
he wns going to do.
am going to run that Internal thief OIL
the claim, replied Cartwright whose rage
had been succeeded by brutal GOODNESS, that
spoke his intent Of doing exactly what he
said.
@Look here, Bill exclaimed the bartender,
don't be a fool. Why, you know it won't
do yoa no good to go and raise a row now.
Besides you amt agoing to throw that mans
vito and kid right out in the snow, are
YOU"
What d'yo 'spose l keer fur his wife and
kidsf' snarled Cartwright "Do you 'spose
that JOS because a mans got a family he can
start out n robbin' folksi I've stood things
like A. saint long enough, and now-oncs
fur all-rm goin' TO settle himl'
And leaping through his veins with every
drop Of blood was a pitiless purpose, rooted
deep In his heart and rejecting there each
evil passion, each distorted wrong. each shat
tered hope and nurtured enmity, like fan
IONS on a pool.
It was a long journey, and he started at an
Ladies workboxes at Rhodes &
Trpxelrs