The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-07-04
CAPT. CODMAN'S STORY.
An Adventure of a Writer in
Frisco, Utah.
ATALE OF THE UTAH MINER
In the Rocky hountaIns-How the
DesPeradI Identified his Man
Take on your HatIp

1t is very kind in Dick Ogden to pat
me on the back" so spprovingly after
an episode in our history which came
near resulting in his death. Before
come to the main point at issue to which
he desires to "siek me on, 1 cannot re-
frain from relating the personal incident
to which have referred. Dick and
had both been at home on the salt
water for many years.
Afterwards by different paths. We
drifted out among the Rocky Noun
tains. and were occupied in writing up
or writing down, according to their
merits. the mines Of those regions
Nov, it also so happened-I say it with
the modesty with which he credits me
that we resemble each other. This is
aattering 70 me, but it portended the
disaster to MIN from which he SO mar
rowly escaped. 1 had written a news
paper letter in regard to the mines Of
Park City, Utah, in which I had charac-
terized, in no measured terms, the
Empire" as stupendous fraud. And
such il proved to be. To say that the
letter was republished ia local journal
is also to say that for some time after
ward it was not expedient for me to
visit any more mining camps. But the
innocent Dick. not being aware OF this.
journeyed on to Frisco, where he gro
posed 70 write about the Horn Silver
mine for his paper. After he had taken
his supper at the hotel" he lighted
his cigar and proceeded to toast his
shiDs at the barroom stove. Suddenly
an ominous silence prevailed. The gen
tlemen who stood around the bar stop
ped their swearing. clinked their glasses
no more, but whispered in each other
ears. and all turned around and looked
at him: Then one of the biggest ard
most ferocious in look waggered forth
and began 70 pace around him IN circles
of gradually diminishing circumference.
A six-shooter protruded from his belt,
and on its handle his hand occasionally
rested.
Then the ruffian began to roar, On
these newspaper menl DIN 'em, say
Well make it hot for 'eml They've
got to be keerful o. what they say down
herel One job like the MexIcan's
enough for 'em. What do you say
boys?" Now came a chorus OF yells
and focus of glazing eyes fixed on
"Podgers." He was very uncomfort-
able. Atlength he ventured hesitating-
ly to inquire: "Do you refer to me,
sir7"
Eyes, by G-,I do" roared the
bully, eff so be your name is Cod
mani"
81 am happy to say just now, +" re-
81 d h.
there is my card"
On the pasteboard p responded
the man. Take of your hStm
Dick removed his hat at the COM
mand. The fellow took a calm survey
OF the top of his head and then be was
satisfied.
Boys" he exclaimed, cit can't be
him. T'other Teller didn't have nigh so
much ha'ar, and it couldn't ha' growe5
out like his'n in three weeks, sence
seen him. He is all right. Stranger,
shake!"
SHAKE! shakei" said they all; and
then it was, Billy, set IN upl"
Billy "set 'em up" once, and again
and again and again.
Dicks life was saved from the pistol,
but he was nearly killed by tanglefoot.
never saw the letter that he wrote
about the Frisco mines. but unless he
had determined never to go there again,
!. feel sure that this solemn warning
/ determined its character. III Dick was
sorry that he 50 resembles me that he
/ had but a hairbreath escape, then I am
glad that he resembles me now in my
1 opinions of Yacht sailing. Notwith-
standing his little sarcasm, am really
modest in this instance. As said be
fore, 81 don't pretend to know much
about yachting" but the fact is so plain
that even fool need not err therein, I"
that nothing can be gained by an ex-
cess of tophamper and sail, which
crowds so much Of the hull under
water that the resistance becomes great.
er than the propelling power. More
over, these balloons, /" as they are prop
erly called, often hold wind the wrong
way. Going down the Sound once IL
the Sappho, the amateur captain though
he was doing big thing in carrying an
enormous main topmsst stayssn on the
wind, With the sheet hauled down fla
amidship, and thus not onl forcing the
craft 10 leeward, but contributing tC
drag her aStern rather than ahead.
II strikes me that there is another
thing that yacktmen might consider
Iron rigging is not an advantage, al
] tnOugn IL may De ntdtt ana IN some re
spects convenient. The mast SHOULD
have play and buckle 70 it. You nigh
as well tougher up the sinews Of horsl
as to cramp a boat in this way. Their
cannot be give" enough to the Ian
yards. The give is needed all the wa
TO the masthead. Many years ago Mr.
B. Clark, Boston merchant IN thu
West India trade. ordered q cippe
schooner from Baltimore builder, an,
the cond tons of acceptance were tina
she should beat the revenue cutter
Hamilton.
The schooner was built. and Mr.
Clark's captain went to Baltimore an,
brought her to Boston. The mattel
came of and the clipper was left astern
Mr.. Clark said she was not up TO tn
contract But the builder inSif ted upoi
another trial. He sent a Bailimor
captain to sail her. Iron riegi-g va,
then unknown, bnt the new captain pu
his hand on the shrouds and feun,
them as taut as harp strings. He jus
Stacked them up fore and aft and thei
went out with the HGmiltoa. and iei
her as far sstern as before she had keeI
ahead.
T Wi ,-,,,o.a, q H,r..s.- .tr -. -.