Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-06

1
eheri0ss party, delighted them with his
sougs and stories, put up with them at o
littic village Inn, and during the night
| escsped with the best three horses In the
party, after having turned the others loose
| In the woods, and leaving q. saney aud
funny letter OF thanks ending with an apt
Latin quotation for che sheriff, whose wrath
| Waa OF such an abiding sort that brief
! would have been Jacks life-iease had he
| been overhauled.
4 sbeet-Iron Jeck, with mere bagatelle OF
4 twenty or 80 warrants hanging over his
! head, once yenturod into Red Bluff, quite
A large town on the Sacramento river,
whose broad rapid, and blulf-wiled cur
! rent sweeps IN q semfcirclc past. He had
| a world OF disguises, but on this occasion
he was recognized IN the main street and
| pursued by an armed and excited crowd Of
| citizens. lie ran Into stable, cut horse
loose, and rode for the river with bullets
'slzzing" through the air about him.
| jumped in. swan bis horse over, and e.
| copcd. lie fired few shots himself, but
| under the circumsiapces Is not TO be blamed
for deyotiDg his best energies TO locomo.
| ton.
| One OF the most characteristic feats OF
! this fellow was performed at 4 mountain
"
sembled from many miles distant. some OF
| them coming days journey. The ball
had hardly begun when u tall, black haired,
well.dressed. handsome stranger appeared.
and excited much comment. A particu.
| larry handsome young girl was taken out
on the floor by her partner, and sud-
denly the stranger stepped up. and
with great politeness requested The
gentleman 10 resign the lady in his
favor. He whispered his maine in the
young mans ear. paid a compliment tSthe
young lady. took her forth and led the
dance. The word went round that Sheet
Iron Jack had come there 10 dance with all
the pretty girls; that be had several Te-
vOlvcrs. never missed a shot, and probably
had friends hid within call. The long aad
the short OF IL was that the thirty Young
men present were terrorized, and, one after
another. the handsome brigand danced
with the prettiest msideDs in the room.
Then he bowed to the excited assembly.
stood in the doorway second, said mOc.S-
ingly that 1t was a pity the men we're not as
brave as the ladies were handsome, and
disappeared in the darkness.
Stories Of his libcralIty are still told in
the mountains. Many poor fellow. hun
CRY and foot-sore, trudging along the road
side, heard the rattle OF hoois as nan on
horseback approached. was halted, 1ues.
toned sharply, flung s.. or $40. or 221
piece with the injunction 10 drink no
wbiskey. and don't believe all the hard sto-
ries you hear about Sheet-Iron Jack"
The following incident was told to the
writer by one OF the principal actors there
in, number OF years ago. II was bright
August day, and young German was rid
he nfatn nat 81 rfL
ern Coast Range. Suddenly his horse, a
fine and valuable animal. began TO show
lameness, and IN an hour was unable 10
more than hobbe forward at snairs pace.
The youth, lgnoran. regarding the way,
OF horseflesh, was in despair. He had in
vested $3.50 in the creature. and hOw was
he to proceed on his way! A mid.vOiccd. !
benevolent old man OF farmer-like appear |
ance. but in reality the shrcwdcst horse |
trader In the mountains. overlook HIN AZ |
this iuncture. won his confidence. exam |
ined the horse, and pronounced 1t a ease
Of founder"
cam it'll take a year for him to cit well. |
an he won't be the same boss agin. MOTHER" /
"What shall doY" cried the sorrOWIng /
German.
After long talk the shrewd trader offered |
the German $50 for the horse. saying that |
he should turn him out in pasture mile
distant. and leave him there for year or
two. Ignorant, bewiIdered, the German |
consented, took the money. delivered over
the limping horse. took his saddle and bags.
and started TO walk to the nearest stage
station. Meanwhile, the sharper waited
till his dupe was ont Of sight. then took
pair OF smiths pincers from his saddle
bags. and in five minutes had wrenched or
al ~ bn o.. !
horses hoofs. In half an hour the animal
was able TO w,lk easily.
"Tbar, tho't so." the new owner NUT
tered. "The mint / seed them new shoes
j knowed some fool had tight-shOd him.
That boss is worth 1900 at least Lord
wish as | could find sech fool every day."
The poor German plo1ded slowly on his
foilsome way for several miles, when man
rode out OF the bushes and demanded.
- Where in the devil was his horsc." He
told the story briefly and with rising sus-
picions that II had two sides. The man
listened attentivelv, broke into merry fits
or laughter, sitting sidewise on his great
brown horse, with one knee thrown over
the saddle. pulled his mustache rejecting
Iy-it was Sheet-Iron Jack. He began 10
ask questions about the aged and eneyOlent
'tranger. Finally he said:
"YOu've been swindcd shamefulIy, and
is this is my beat suppose must help you
)ut. You Just walk in those bushes till YOU
.ome to a camp. There's bread and dried
peef plenty. Then YOU lie down and go to
Ileep.''
An hour later he overhauled the new
'wner OF the horse. and at pistol-point re-
covered the property.
"But / orter hev back tibet $50 paid the
DOL Dutchman."
"My honest sir, that goes for my fees as
COUNSELLOR in this case. Now think Of it,
Is scandalously small; turn out your
'ockets." And he took 5000 from the
rembling and conquered sharper. enioved
ms despair moment, tossed back half OF
t, and rode OIL
The young German was reused little
lter by Sheet-lron Jack. Here's your
orse and outfit. I've filed your saddle
ags and given you a pistol. Don't be
frsid. j bought IL with honest money
nee. All as Is that you keep the story
I this adventure secret for month. To-
light must move nv camp. Ride off a.
bon as you can" And Sheet-Iron jack
etlred to his tent. .
Somehow this talented, educated. bril- :
ant man escaped the talons Of the law. :
lwks, and was shot dead in a quarrel a {
W years later. :,