The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-05-21
DESPERATE AND PURITAN.
A NEW ENGLANDER PUTS A NOTO-
RIOUS CHARACTER TO FLIGHT,
The Despcrndo's Persuasive Way Of Bor-
rowing Money nnd NInKing FrieDds-Two
Badly Frightened Men.
lFrom the Galveston News.l

lfrOm tine GalvestOn New5.l
About the year 1851 the most influen-
tlal man in San Antonio was an alleged
desperate named Bob Augustine. Bob
came to San Antonio with fearful rec
ord. He enjoyed the reputation Of hav.
ing killed dozen or so Of men, and was
respected accordingly. While he was in
San Antonio he did not reduce the CEN
sus at all, but that was not his fault.
He had seductive way Of drawing his
eighteen-inch Arkansas toothpick and
examining it critically with sinister
smile while humbly requesting the lean
OF So. Thus it was that Bob went about
acquiring wealth and warm personal
friends, but creating no funerals. There
were rumors that Bob was playing bluff,
but that was after he had marched
away.
II was during the reign Of Bob Au-
gustine, "the long-ranged roarer Of CAL
averas Canyon" as he sometimes called
himself, that young man from Boston,
named John Winthrop, came to San
Antonio, presumably in search of health,
as lie brought very little with him. He
was far gone in consumption, and
nothing but that he had short time to
live, unless the climate of Western Texas
saved him, induced him to come to San
Antonio. As everybody carried pis-
tol, Winthrop did not care TO insult pub
lie decency by going unarmed. Besides,
such course might rs seriously inter-
fere with his restoration to health n
putting on clean shirt.
His Puritan training caused him TO re-
volt at the idea Of carrying firearms, so
he resorted to artiiice. He wore hol-
sier, but instead of keeping pistol in
it, he had his cash funds stored away in
it and no one was the wiser for il. On
the contrary, Winthrop was looked up to
by the best citizens just the same az il
he was loaded down with deadly weap-
ons. OF course every body tried to make
the stranger from Massachusetts, feel as
comfortable as if he was at home, 80 he
was told all about Bob Augustine, the
long-ranged roarer, at least ten times O
day, and he was advised not TO be par
ticular in asking security for the debt in
case the roarer wanted TO borrow
small loan unless he winthrop did not
wish to regain his health.
The long.ranged roarer sauntered into
Winthrops room at the hotel, but be-
fore the desperate could open his mouth
or draw weapon the unfortunate
! Yankee threw back his coat and wi
trembling fingers tugged at his pist,l
holster to get at his money to appease
the would-be assassin. On the other
hand, rs soon as the roarer saw Win.
throp trying to get out his pistol he
turned as pale rs ghost. The alleged
desperado's knees knocked together, the
cold sweat boiled out all over him, and
he extended his hand and said trem.
blingly:
"Dont draw, good Mr.. Yankee.
was only trying to fool you. Ny bold
Arkansas heart beats for you, my boy.
jest wanted to teach you lesson.
Never let any burned galoot get the
drop on you. If anybody insults you
just tell them that Bob Augustine, the
roarcr, is your friend"
Winthrop, who was more scared, il
possible, than the roarer, replied.
"Oh, I'll give you what you want"
and kept on tugging at the holster,
which came unbuckled.
With yell of dismay the desperate
passed out through the window, carry
ing off the sash, and ran down Com.
modore street, the principal thorough
fare, with the sash on his neck, bowling
"Police policew closely pursued by
Winthrop, who kept on tugging at his
holster, trying to get out his money, he
believing that the desperate was run
ming to his room to procure o shotgun
with which to commit murder. All that
afternoon Winthrop kept on hunting
the roarer, to purchase peace on any
terms, and the roarer hid himself to
avoid the pistol of the Boston man.
Next morning the long-range roarer Of
the Calaveras canyon was missing, and
Winthrop was the lion of the day for
having run of the terror Of the Alamo
city.