Delta chief., 1884-04-09

Alas! nope s gone,
And, praying alone,
htAnd by that dark cruel sea;
The wicked winds roar,
But ne'er to that shore
VIII my ship ever come home TO me.
TAs Dsspsrads's Cewardiee.
ea,vesss.. re1ss. News.
About the year 1851 the most innuen-
tial man in San Antonio WAS An alleged
dssperado named Bob Augustine. Bob
came to San Antonio with . fearful
record. He enjoyed the reputation Of
having killed dozen or SO Of men, and
was respected accordingly. While he
vas in San Antonio he did not reduce the
census at all. but that was not his fault.
He lad seductive way Of drawing his
siGhtesn-iAch ArkAasas teothpick and
exanining Il critically with . sinister
smile while hunbly requesting the tenn
povazy loaa Of 05. fhls Il was that
Bob went about acquiring wealth and
vaFn personal friends, bat creating NO
funsrals. There were rumsrs that Bob
vas playing blu6. but that was aftsr he
Il was during the reign Of Bob Au-
C.;.ins. "tss 1 lo.g-..ngsd ,'. so.Is. %! Of
called himself. that . young man from
Boston. named John Winthrop. came
- San Antonio. presumably in search
sf health. ~ he brought very little with
hin. He was far COMO in consumption.
and nothing but tho fact that he had
bat short time TO live. unless the eli
mate Of western Texas saved him, in
dueed him 70 ~ 70 San Antonio. As
everybody carried . pistol. Winthrop
did not care 70 insulS public decency
~ going unarmed. Besides, such .
course might - seriously interfere with
his restoration 70 health - putting on
. clean shirt
His puritan training caused him TO
revolt ss the ides Of carrying firearms.
% be rssosted 70 artifice. He wore .
holster. but instead Of keeping . pistol
in Il he had his cash funds stored away
in Il, and nobody Vas the wiser for Il
On the coatrary. Winthrop was looked
up 70 BY the best citizens. Just the
sane - II he was loaded down with
deadly weapons. OF course every body
tried 10 make the stranger from Mas
sashusetts feel - comfortable - II he
vas q home; 20 he was told all about
Bob Augustine, the lonS-rangsd roarer.
q least tan times . day and he was ad-
vised not TO be particular in asking
security for the debt in case the roarcr
wanted 70 borrow . small loan. unless
he (Winthrop) did not wish 70 regain
lii health.
A might have bsen expected. the
long-rauged roarer called on Winthrop
70 collect his usual assessment on
strangers. Winthrop was Of the opin-
ion that II Il would save his life and
lose all of his money, he would be do
ing unusually well. The long. ranged
roarer's idea was to chase the blue
bellied Yankee around the room for a
time or so. collect &5 or $40. and per-
haps make some ear-marks. a la Whit
takcr. so he would know him in q
crowd II he should meet him again.
The long-rnnged roarer sauntercd in
Winthrop's room at the hotel. but be-
fore the desperate could open his
mouth or draw weapon. the unfor-
tunntc Yankee threw back his coat.
and with trembling fingers tugged nj
his pistol holster to get at his money
to appease the would-bc assassin. On
the other hand, rs soon as the roarer
saw Winthrop trying to get out his pis-
tol. he turned as pale as ghost. The
alleged dcspcrado's knees knocked to-
gethcr. the cold sweat boiled out all
over him. and he extended his hand
and said trcmblingly:
Don't draw, good Mr.. Yankee. !
was only trying TO fool you. My bold
Arkansas heart beats for you, my boy.
I Jest wanted to teach you = lesson.
Never lot any dArncd gnloot get the
drop on you. II anybody insults you
Just tell them that Bob Augustine, the
roarer Is your friend"
winthrop who WAS more scared, II
possible, than the roarer, replied:
"Oh, I'll give you what you want"
and he kept on tugging at the holster,
which came unbuckled.
With yell Of dismay the desperado
passed out through the window. carry
ing Off the sash, and ran down Com
modoro street, the principal thorough
fare, with tho sash on his neck, howl
ing '.policc! police!' closely pursued
by Winthrop, who kept on tugging at
his holster, trying to get out his money,
he believing that the desperate was
running to his room TO procure shot
gun with which to commit murder.
All that afternoon Winthrop kept on
hunting the roarer to purchase peace
on any terms, and the roarer hid him
self to avoid the pistol Of the Boston