The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-09-21

Woo W OC iudhC- n luOuSduu Iullcc vi
plain and mountain buried deep in the
snow, lay between the people Of that
burning town and any other source
whence the necessaries of life could
be drawn. In one moment these PEG,
pie were confronted with the present
horrors of confagation to be ineviia-
bly, succeeded by starvation amid the
rigors of Northern winter.
In a social convulsion people CRAWL
tate to their proper places. The real
leaders Unexpectedly find themselves
at the head of affairs, while others are
content to obey. When it had been
realized that to save the town was i'm
possible, every energy was bent to the
work of saving the magazines of pro-
visions, and few lea ling spirits had
organized defense and had gathered
the populace for the last struggle.
The plan oil operations was simple
enough. 1t was to cover the precious
houses with blankets and keep them
wet. A few daring men were to main-
tain themselves on the house tops while
the others were to pass up unceasing-
ly water in buckets, masses Of Ice cut
from the streams and huge balls of
snow. The men on the roof must
brave fire, smoke and the freezing
wind. To falter was defeat; 10 re-
treat was ruin. There was no falter-
ing in that desperate struggle, and H.
nally the battle was won.
Morning had come and with it the
sun, which, as it rose over the shout
der of the mountain, gilded the forms
of three men who stood high on the
parapet of the building where the fire
had been stopped. Tney were .the
chiefs, self-chOsen, to lead in the con.
fli1t, but acknowledged and obeyed
by the populace,, who instinctively
recognized their supremacy. These
three men, with their visages grimed
and black with smoke, their ha,r and
boards singed, their hands torn and
bloody, their hats blown away by the
wind. and their clothing ragged and
awry, and with the fire OF battle in
their eyes, and grim and stern lines
of resolution on their faces, W, re ter
rible, almost ferocious. They looked
abroad at the smoking ruins, then at
the houseless people below, then they
turned and saluted each other, the
two at the extreme regarding their
companion in the center as if in some
sort he was their superior. 1t was At
this moment that the rising sun shone
upon the trio, gliding and clarifying
them, while the muititudes below
gave a great shout. recognizing, as it
were, their DELIVERIES.
A DAUNTLEss THREE.
Who were these men? They were
well known in the mountains if not
Immediately recognized in the disfig
urement of battle. The one on the
right was " Bitter Root Bill" other
wise Mr.. VIII lam Bunkarly, a noted
desperate, who got his cognomen
from a daring adventure with the In
dams in the Bitter Root mountains.
The man on the left was Gentleman
Joe" a leading gambler. His real
name was Joseph Floweree, said to be
from an aristOcratic Virginia family.
He was a handsome fellow of 80, well
educated and so well known for his
courteous department that the public
appreciation had crystalized into a
title. The figure In the center, taller
more erect and heroic looking than
the others who had greeted him as
their chief, was no less than Bishop
futile. In the desperate turmoil these
men had gravitated to each other and
had risen to leadership.
The good Bishop was soon at the
height of popularity. The noun
taineers had tested his manhood and
they were ready to love and trust
him for the friend and counselor he
proved to be, and the popular verdict
was solemnly announced by Mr.. VIM.
Bunkerly when he declared:
"He's full jeweled and eighteen
karats fine. He's a better gentleman
than Joe Floweree; he's the biggest
and best bishop that ever wore a
black gown, and he's the whitest man
in these mountains. He's a fire fight
~. Cow NAV, hoaL and xrbanavar he
chooses to 90 on a birthstone raid
among the sinners in this gulch he
can do it, and I'll back him with nv
pile. He is the boss bishop, and you
hear me howl
This statement appeared to be uni
versally satisfactory, for among the
rough men of the mines and noun
tains no man was ever found to gain
saw it. I. +. ID.