Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-12
Gales aud Skttthes.
DueI WIN Knives.
THE EXPERIENCE OF FRoSTrERsMAN.

register of the Merchants last night and
headed for the check room to deposit his
leather grip and bear-skin overcoat. he
struck Day reporter as a character in
frontier history. He was tall and angular.
swarthy of complexion, dark of hair and
wore a full beard lightly tinged with gray.
His close-set lips betokened resolution, his
dark brown eye alertness, his 1.-THE but
muscular limbs activity. His natural diff
fidenee was soon overcome by the report
er's persuasion and he gave the following
story of his life:
MY father was manufacturer in Mas
sachusetts, and was considered in easy cir
cumstances. was his only SON. and was
greatly favored both in and out of school.
| II was in the beginning of 1S49 that re-
turned home late one night from ball,
and was surprised to see light in my
fathers library. | was greatly attached
to him, and felt that If he was in trouble
| must share it with him. So raped at
his door, but he did not answer. Becom-
ing impatient. burst it open, and was
shocked to see him lying on the floor un-
conscious, with lot of papers strewn
about. | awoke the household, and soon
had him cared for. The next morning
the factory did not open-my father was
bankrupt.
He did not survive the disaster, for he
died before the next evening. On his
death bed he told me his book-keeper had
swindled him out of fortune of nearly
S55 900 and had fled. no one knew where.
swore TO avenge the wrong that had
been done him, and am pleased to say
have succeeded. The gold fever in Cali
fornia was raging then. and after settling
up nv fathers affairs and seeing that my
mother and sister were provided for. |
started for the 'diggin's.'
at was rosy morning 10 July when
arrived in San Francisco, and as walked
up the streets, men were grouped together
everywhere talking of the mines. Luck
appeared to be with me in the start, for a
party of miners called me to them and
asked me whether would ike to join a
party going out to the mines in the Big
Tree district. They appeared very pleas.
ant. and at once assented. They seemed
to be gratified at my readiness and grasp
ed me heartily by the hand. They were
prepossessed with my appearance. was
then little over 20. We started on our
way next day, and soon reached the dig
D.
shacks, canvas tents, crowds of burly men,
gathered in groups-but | won't worry
you with details. During the six years
that ensued | had got together SIG, 900
which considered very fair stake. for a
number of others who were there as long as
I. had nothing. One day was told that a
stranger had come to the diggin's with the
intention of buying up some claims and
operating them by machinery. did not
pay much attention to the news. but went
out walking. AS was leisurely pacing
along through piece of timber about 10
in the morning, heard two men talking.
do not know why, but something induc-
ed me to listen, So. getting closer, the
first distinct sentence | heard was at
matters little how it is done. We must
get rid of Campbell or we will have to
operate in some other part of the country.
"What could it meanp did not have
an enemy in California that | knew of.
They talked on for some time, and one
man with sharp, shrill voice, at last
agreed to pay the other $500 to kill me,
and gave him half the amount, there.
They then separated, and | followed the
principal who was so eager to get rid of
me. He went to the saloon Kept by a
Frenchman, who was getting wealthy by
selling bad whiskey and loaning mon
ey on nuggets to the miners for
drinks. There was something in the
stranger that appeared familiar to me, so
| sat down in a dark corner and kept
watch. He went up to the bar and began
talking with the Frenchman in low tone.
A number of the miners were sitting
around telling stories, when after one had
been finished. Charlie Wilson, a reckless
sort of fellow, jumped up and ordered
drinks. Seeing me in the corner, he said {:
Come, Campbell and join u.s." | had my
eye on the stranger when my name was
called, and noticed that he started and
then grew pale. Wilson invited him also
to have drink but he defined. This did
not suit Wilson, and he pulled out a knife
and told the stranger he had to drink.
The latter then complied and as he put
the glass to his trembling lips I recog-
nized him. The little finger OF the right
hand was gone. and knew then that it
was my fathers old book-keeper. Burton.
My first impulse was to shoot him down
without further notice. He must have
felt sure that | did not know him. as he
had grown full beard. fairly screamed
when | told the miners to stand back that
| had an old score to settle with that man.
Walking up to him, said Do you know
me?
No. I do not know you, nor do wish
to-" he replied holly.
| | then told him who | was and what [
meant to do. The miners Insisted on nv
telling them what he had done to me. and
when | had related his villainy thew
agreed with me and said: You must
avenge your father For only an instant
| took my eyes off him. but during that
time he pulled his pistol and would have
shot me but for my partner. who threw
his arm up, and the ball whizzed harm
lessly past my head. Burton saw there
was no escape from fighting, so he came up
boldly. 1t was decided among the miners
that it would be more like avenging nv
father if killed him with a knife. So we
formed in the centre of the place. For a
time our knives clashed, and must have
been mad, for did not feel any pain as
his knife ran through my wrist leaving
this ugly scar Showing wound over the
left lung). He was more expert with the
knife than |, but | exceeded him in
strength, did not think of danger; and
as drove back his guard and plunged INV
knife into his heart, cried with delight
and spurned my conquered enemy with
my foot as he rolled over on the floor.
al told the men ahout the convarsa,;o,