Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-09-27
PEe-lEG kEGLY'S DEATH.
A Scrap of Early California His
tory.
Az Old Forty miners True Story of the San
Joaquin Mystery - OemoniAcaI
Death. Bed Confession Of
Murderer.

~. LOtts hcphOiicdh'
& reporter met Captain John A. Gwynu
Of MERGED, Cal. and renewed an scquaint-
srce begun il the latter part Of the SOS,
when both were looking for the ignus fatuus
golden stores and when that historic part
OF the country was the theatre OF incidents
in the lives AID passions OF men such as
surpassed the novelists grandest conceP-
ton.
Discussing the various phases Of the Max
well Preller affair, the captain was led to
recall many instances OF the fearful and
wonderful lives OF oullawed men in the old
days, and related the following true story
of The San Joaquin mystery" as it was
called in those days, and which, up to date,
has never been cleared up.
You remember, he said, 1.-The old tavern
in Sutterville, where we first met aud the
man Negly, or Peg. Leg NeRlv, as we called
him2 Well, he eogaKed m. SO tIy alter
you left TO accompany him to Frisco or down
tie bay to meet some Of bis folks he ex-
pected to arrive by the next steamer and 1t
wanted but few days to steamer day
then. Making hurried preparation, por-
tion Of which was the securing OF the tavern
it was closed during our sbsence-we
mounted bronches and started for Sacra-
mento. That country even then
bad been pretty thoroughly was he'll out
by the placer process, and in the finest
weather was difficult to croes, 80 in the night
and stormy, it was near to imp possible to get
along. PegLeg was nervous about catch
ing the boat at Sacramento, and cut across
Just outside Of where the Agricultural Soci.
ETY. Park is now, and sure enough over his
horses head he went and | followed suit,
Peg Leg broke his good leg in the fall and
|, though badly bruised suffered the loss Of
ny horse, which had to shoot, be having
broken his legs in several places. Negly
cursed cur luck and raised such row that
together with my shooting the horse the
NOSE
Attracted Two Cinnamon
vi o had settled in the neighborhood to wash
clothes. and rob the rifles when they could.
Y.u know that bad as The folks in that
c0uu'ry hate Chiuamau now they were
ar worse n that time aud 30 we did not
rrCcurFge the visit Of these fellows /
ri,d TO lift Nesly on TO his horse, but,
trough pain, be could not stand il aud as
I yss 'sie there was nothing for it bat TO
leave him at the Chinaman's cabin and ride
to town for wagon.
The distance is not q1ite two miles, but
it took two hours TO make il, and when /
pulled up al The What Cheer il was day
light Being worn OUT, sore and cold sat
by the fire TO enjoy q toddy and almost in
sisntly slept, leaving Negly to his fate. In
nv ftful sleep Of three or four hours, my
brain was haunted With the face of one Of
the Cinnamon who said very little, and as
you know. il will never do TO trust silent
Chipaman. Well, this fellow pbiz was
slwsys in my mind till | was walked with q
start 10 be told that it was near noon. Hur.
riedly procuring q horse and wagon, with
one OF the stable hands, droyeto the scene
OF our troubles expecting poor old Peg-Leg
would rave and swear at me, and prepared
to give him as good as be sent, for he was
rare character and cosld not brook man
who would submit 10 be c1rsed, saying that
Teller minds me nv duck whsn he's a
looliu' ct thunder n he's no good.
In view Of The site Of the shsnty we
we're horrifed 10 zee obly small pile Of
tn olrng embers and no living thing any.
where. We hastily brushed aside the stuff,
and. iust as we expected. we found the
chsrrtd body Of poor old Peg Leg. and even
vet the blood oozed from great gashes in
bis hesd
Il loved The old fellow, for IN bis rough
vsy be had been kind to me, and was for
a time overcome when thought Of the poor
folks who were
CrosstDg Both Oceans TO Meet Him.
Asouickly a. could drove to the near
est camp. stopping at the only cabin inter
yeuipg TO summon the two men who lived
there. and in one hour we were 400 men
we'll mounted in part, and on the road tc
hun, these numbering Chiosmen. nor q
Quit I'LL We had accomplished our task
| Aercss country, and into every rayine and
pulch We rode alarming every man we N t
ard trsssipg him into the hunt, until t1'
crowd resenbled band of demons. o.. il
,rp,b, it literally was. The killing o
| Cinnamon BY way of retail alton which tool
tlsce that day ard night sickeos me no
10 think Of. and by mo'ning there vas not
sbsnty or CbiDaman to De found in fou
counties unless the one vas wrecked ant
| tie other deed.
| knowing our hunt had bssn fruities
and telling the uselessnefs Of farther search
ve called Q meeting of all the miners of III
district. and according 70 miners Lag. d.
clared thar Peg-Leg Nr9ly of SusterviIls b.
| been fouIly murdered and pronoupcin
| death on bis nnrderers If ever caught Th
feeling was very bitter. and sfrer adjourn
| mept come Of the boys upbrsided me e
4. sltepipe and leaving my friend IN snch
1 fx. and among those Who talked hsree
thsn others against me sere ths TIE ~