Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-09-03
Juan's Nugget.


can, who kept corral on Rincon Point,
in 1916. lie supplied the whalers and
hide-droghers with fresh beef. When
Marshall turned the world askew by UNI
earthing that talismanlc nugget at
Suffers Mill, Juan sold out and joined
the rush northward He was lucky Mt
the start, If unlucky at the end The
first pick he sank brought up one of
the biggest specimens struck in Cali
fornia. 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 a rattle.
Eight thousand shares at ten dollars Il
share was the order. 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.
lie was the big pin of the occasion,
and Castilian like put on mint of
frills. He was tall, lank cuss, satur-
nine in countenance, with n retreating
jaw and a baboonish forehead. He
wore red bandana round his head and
carried long novaja (knife) in his
sash. lie always wore the costume of
Il vaquero, and judging from his looks
was tough customer; yet mos
harmless fellow never breathed. He
was fond of money, though, and would
sooner lose an ounce Of blood than
dollar any day To guard the nugget
he employed eight of his countrymen.
-FOUR OF these were armed with pistols
and machetes. They were sulky
looking gang, and seemed able TO whip
anything of their size; hut when il
came TO the scratch were completely
Subducd by the 'maldtos Americanos. &
The nugget was placed under a glass
ease on the center of q table in the
Modo Verde saloon, where yellow
faced girl from Sonora took the names
OF subscribers. Among those who
came to see the nugget was Jimmy
from town." one of the noted despera
does of that day, and rs smart rogue
as ever went unhanged. He was at
tended by two of his principal pals 80
Joe Bell and Micky Free. After taking
in the situation, Jimmy concluded the
plant could be raised, and so informed
his lieutenants. TOO risky" said
Joe, ''thesc greasers are well armed
have grit, and will make fight "
Every likely" answered Jimmy
"but we can double-haul 'em. You'll
get the chunk if you do what say
go ahead" said Micky.
BEAT up all the boys you can and
get me 'broncho.' I'll teach the ami
NAL to kick, and I'll show you how tC
corral the nugget. See if YOU can't lif
me before tomorrow night.
Jimmy's two gillies followed his di
rections. Twenty hard nuts reported
for duty within forty-eight hours. Th'
"broncho" was also ON hand, paid fo
with the money of colorcd man
whom Micky knocked on the head
The animal was Immediately placed il
training.
Jimmy had been circus rider, an,
was a sharp in horse flesh. He sool
had the "broncho' ready for business
Meantime the rattle bowled along. Tn,
lists were nearly full, and as the hou
. for drawing approached the excitcmen
increased The saloon was absolutcl,
. packed; the monte-dealers coul,
scarcely handle their cards, while tn
guard around the nugget had to us
force to keep the crowd from overturn
ing the table. Now was the time 70
,, Jimmy. He appeared in front of tn,
saloon mounted on his "broncho;" hi
pals were already minglinS with tn
crowd inside, ready to seize the nugge
, at signal from their leader. yimm
, worried the animal sufficiently to mak
it FESTIVE. 1t began to back into the 81
, loon. The crowd shouted, cursed, an,
struggled, but gave way. In spite o
, all Jimmy appeared TO do, the ANNA
. kept backing, and gradually approache
, the center table. Juan saw the DANCE
, which threatened his treasure, and
spijnging forward, seized the reins @
!, the "broncho." Jimmy struck hin
T, with ,and-club, which laid him sense
less. At the same time he backed th
animal against the table and shouted
Hey Rube!'
"Hey RUDE is the circus-man's bat
tle-cry, and was the signal for Jimmy
, pals to look out for the nugget As the,
re echoed the cry, Jimmy dug the spur
, into the "broncho. 1t kicked. Owe
went the table; smash went the glas
ease, and away went the nugget twent
, feet from where it laid. As it fell Their
was n wild rush for its possession. TIL,
Mexicans, led by Juan, who had re
covered from the blow, made desperate
cXertions to retain the precious speci
men. but were quickly overcome b.
the liercer efforts and keener activit
: of the white-faced rogucs. 1t wa
Gringo against Greaser, and Grng
won. Micky Free finally grabbed tn
nugget and passed it to Jimmy, VIII,
dexterously placed it in leather bag
swung from his pummel. He thei
urged his 'broncho" through tn,
crowd, riding over all in his way, and
reaching the street, gallopcd at full
I, speed for rendezvous in the mountains
,. As he rode off the Mexicans gave him ;
! salute from their pepper-trees, one bal
grazing his shin. His pals followed
Twas Sheriff of the county, raised ;
posse and pursued the scoundrels. w
had n brush with them in the canyon
: where Joe Bell was shot. He told tn
whole story of the robbery before III
died, and is my authority for this mar
rativc. Jimmy rode on, however, ant
never stopped till he reached cave il
the mountains, where he was afterwar,
found by his pals, less five laid out il
the melee. None Of these, except 10
; Bell was MORALLY injured, but gettin
5 into the hands of of indignant cit
; zcns,' were unceremoniously treated {
$ hempen collars. --SonFronciSco Bulletin