The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-08-05
SILENT JOE.


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SILENT JOE.
In the year 1867 young man NAM
ed Charles Miller left Hartford, Conn,
for the West. At Buffalo he fell in with
a man calling himself Henry Dayison.
and the two travelled to Chicago to-
gether. Miller had about $500 in cash
with him. while Dawson had only
few shillings lef; when they reached
Chicago. The former intended going
to Colorado, while the latter, who said
he was a butcher, decided to remain in
Chicogo and work at his trade for
time. They took quarters together in
cheap hotel, and, to further reduce
expenses, they occupied one bed.
On the night before Miller was to
leave for the far West, and as they
were about ready to 60 to bed. he took
out and counted his money. He had
$500 30, and, knowing that his CON-
panion had but dollar or two, he
handed him $40 bill.
Il won't take it from you except as
4 loan,' said Dawson.
That's all right, replied Miller.
Il shall write you, aud whenever
you can spare It you may send it
along
But you don't know me; VIC have
been together only a few days.
Il can tell you a square man on
sight. Tut this in your wallet.
/ While Miller was rolling up his
money Dawson got up aud passed be-
hind him. All Of sudden Miller lost
consciousness.
In the summer of 1869 the writer was
one of the Inhabitants of mining
camp on the Purgatory River in South
ern Colorado. One day tcnderfoot
reached our camp. He was a veritablc
scarecrow in general appearance. He
hadn't shilling in money nor an
ounce of out fit, aud when we came to
question him it was discovered that he
was only ..nan baked He gave his
name as Joe, but he had nothing else
to tell. When asked what his other
name was, where lie came from, how
he reached us, &C., he looked from face
to face in a vacant way and shook his
head. We were not the kind Of men
to turn chap like that loose to be
scalpcd by the indians or 10 perish of
starvation. We made him wash up,
put ON the garments we contributed,
and after he had got square meal he
looked and acted like different man.
One Of my two terminates was an old
surgeon from Ohio, and, as We had
roomy quarters, he suggested that we
take Joe IN. The suggestion was adopt
ed. and he was installed as cook and
laundryman. He was very willing
hand and when his work ut the house
was finished he stood ready to help us
at the mine. So far as speech went,
we got no more out of him after a
month than on tho first dav. He called
every meal s:.pper. He called every
article of wash shirt Every day in
: the week was Wednesday to him
could say to him. "Here Joe, fetch 3
: pail Of w;.ter,' aud he would take the
. pail and hurry away, but if l said
, Now Joe. what State do you lai
from?" he would stand and stare a
me with open mouth. The miners
played many a joke on him, and som,
of them were pretty rough ones, blu
no one ever saw him get angry. Whel
: we found that he would not answer
Q questions put to him verbally, we trie,
r him in writing. If, for in.apee. WI
wrote the query: Where do you live''
he would take the pencil, as il about I,
; reply. but before he could make
mark the idea would slip away from
!. him. and he would sadly shake hi
!. head and turn away. One day, whel
. he had been with us about six weeks,
: entered the tent and saw the surgeon
; cutting JOe's hair, which was very lOni
: and unkempt.
Say, I'm right about this fellow,
announced the surgeon.
How"
why, I've had an idea for montl
$ past that he lost his memory through
Q some injury to his head. Here's tn
| trouble. He has received blow RICH
Q here, and portion of the skull i
/ pressing on the brain. l'llwarrant b.
was as quick-witted as anybody befor
5 this hurt"
"How long ago was it infii ted %
D "A year or more. An operation b,
skilful surgeon would restore him t
!, his right mind
While that might be SO, the chance
4 for it were extremely dubious. W.
!, were charitable as far rs our mean
: would allow. but we were all poor
When Joe had been with us about twt
months q miner was one night robbed
: of his little hoard; then second wa
: robbed Of his provisions; q third hat
his revolver stolen; and men came t,
us and declared their belief that on
: Joe was the guilty person. We coul,
e him. For several nights We tool
turns at spying but, while he did no
leave the cabin, another theft was com
pletely upset by the mysterious doing
; around us.
: Or two occasions some one prowlin,
$ around at night was fired on, but b
. got. safely away. In spite of all W
could say the suspicion kept CROWN,
that our Joe was the guilty party. w
/ let men into the cabin to see that b
did not leave his bed. but it SO happen
ed that on those particular nights n
!, deviltry was committed. 1t was sug
, gested that he be the driven out OF til
camp. and when we refused to counte
nance any such step two-thirds of tn
camp held aloof from us, and report
were circulated to our detriment.
S Ono morning miner, who was sup
; posed to be the richest man in tn
camp, was found weltering in hi
blood. He had discovered man il
his tent the night before, and ha,
Z boldly clutched him. In the struggl
be had been stabbed in three places
! and was severely though not mortall
, wounded. The surgeon was called t.
dress his hurt, and in his presence an
that of dozen others the wounde,
: man declared that he had recognize,
!. his would-be-assasin as our Joe All O
US had slept soundly that night, ant