The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-09-23
s'SNIPED."
How a Burlington G~roceryman Was
Treated Last Saturday Night

"In bet $50 that a hall a dozen OF us can
90 over to Bulls Run and bag a hundred
snipe in three hours" sale Bill Jobb who.
with several other miners, was lttlnSlnfront
of the Edwards Hotel, at Burlington, last
Saturday night.
The above remark was intended for the
ears of a young man who haslately arrived
in this country from the East, and is now
engaged in the grocery business at Burling-
ton. The miners of Burlington had for
several days been telling this young man OF
wonderful sniping parties that had gone
away into the hills and valleys adjacent to
Burlington, and nae brought back slathers
OF snipe with them. The intention of these
miners in spinning the yarn was to get their
young eastern friend to go on a sniping ex-
petition with them. The following will b
how the scheme worked.
When Jobb made this offer, BillSampson
whispered in the ear Of the young grocery
man, Lets go him one. You and me will
90 in together, and this is how we will get
his $50. When we get out to where the
snipe are, you insist on holding the sack,
and when you think about forty snipe have
gone into the sack, close her up, and don't
let any more in." The young a eagerly
drank in the words OF the willy Sampson,
the bet was supposed to be made and the
sniping party made preparations for their
journey. The party consisted OF the 1ol-
lowing well known sinners: Major Ed.
Edwards, Arthur Curdy, j. Renfree, VIM.
Jobb, James Penticost, W.. H. Sampson,
Capt. Maddern and the young gentleman
who was ''sniped," and whose name is
withheld on account OF the Sabbath school
in the East OF which he was assistantsuper
intendent. The outfit OF the party con-
sisted of a large sack with a hoop at the
mouth, so that the snipe could run in easily,
a bell for the person holding the sack to
know where they were supposed to come, a
lantern, also to attract the attention OF
the snipe, and that hangs around the neck
OF the person holding the sack, and a bot
tie OF whisky, with which the stakeholder
at intervals cheers his dropping spirits.
1t was nearly midnight when Bulls Run
was reached. In coming over the hills,
Major Ed. Edwards asked the young gro
ceryman to allow him (Edwards) to hold
the sack, but Bill Jobb said: N you
don't, Eddie. Thu last time you went out
with us you held the sack and stole fifteen
of the finest snipe we caught" That set
tied the question of who should be- sack
holder, and the Major was left out IN the
cold. Captain Maddern placed the party
on duty in the following order: Sack
| holer, the grocer, while the other members
Of the party were sent around the hills to
| scare up TIE snipe.
The sack holder was stationedin a small
hollow, about six miles from Burlington,
| and as he stood there in a STOPPING posi-
ton, with the lantern around his neck, the
sack held by ons hand, while with the other
he kept up a continual ringing OF the bell.
he was a fit picture for an artist. TheCap-
tain gave his final instructions to the
victim, OF course admonishing him not to
leave his post until the sack was full, and
then the party left for Burlington. How
long the sack holder remained at his post
is not known, but some Of the boys ia from
Burlington yesterday informed us that at
4 o'clock yesterday morning the victim
trudged into Burlington with sack, bell and
lantern, but nary a snipe. 1t will be a cold
day when he gets left on another racket OF
that kind, and in The meantime the boys
are looking around fer another victim to
tSSr;oo