Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-12-22
Stover's Machine Gun.


When Smith had finished his story
old Bolder spoke up.
Il would have liked to have seer
your firework display he began
ut must have been rather interest
ing. 1t reminds me of the time was
used for bait"
used for baitl'' exclaimed several
efus in establishment.
i'Tes, bait for Indians. tell you,
gentlemen, about the most unpleas-
ant thing in this life is to be used
sor Indian bait. 1t has made me
nervous ever since. 1t is exciting,
and gives man all the horseback
exercise he wants, yet it is not as a
general thing a healthy occupation.
rWOuld not care to choose it as a
steady business.
THE first time | met Slower had
10 idea he wascrazy. He would talk
rs nationally as any man here"
Which wasn't saying much for
aim, p observed the man from st.
Paul.
Twas out of a job in Kansas City
and was looking round for work of
any kind when l stumbled in on
St0ver. He seemed to have a sort of
machine shop. There was a lot of
gun barrels lying round and port
able forge stood in the corner, with
me usual tools here and there.
Ho said he was going west and
be wanted man who knew how to
sake care of horses and wasn't afraid
1Tork. / told him / was Just his
nam and hetook me on the spot.
asked him if he wanted to start a
machine shop further west, and he
smiled grimly and said that that was
inst whathe was going to do. We
packed up lot of fixtures that he
had there in some boxes and there
Was a lot of other boxes already
packed, of the contents of which was
ignorant.
Well, we got away with another
Blow, who deserted us when we were
cut on the plains, and so it was no
small work looking after the horses
that carried the things, for we had
three wagons and, when the other fell
low left only two to drive and take care
Of them. 1t was the usual overland
business. Travelling slowly all day
and camping out at night. We kept
On the look out for Indians, but
didn't see any, and we kept ON so
hing that began to think old Slower
vas going clear through to California,
nut the old man knew where he was
,oing and hewent there ina bee line:
1ne afternoon when we were days and
lays from civilization we came to a
huff close to small river.
Here's our spot, said Slower.
"'Why,' said /, you don't expect
70 start q machine shop here?'
lyon bet do replied Slower.
"'Well, said, where will you get
your custom? There isn't anybody
but Indians for hundreds of miles
around
owen have lots of buiness when
we get ready for it. Besides intend
20 send you out to drum up trade if
It don't come in by ITSELF
| began to suspect then that the
old man wasn't just right, but what
vas / to do? He kept the firearms
and the provisions and he owned the
horses. Of course could have stolen
one of them and got away, perhaps,
when the old man was asleep, but
didn't care to do that sort OF thing.
Besides knew that the chances were
ten to one that the Indians would
have me before l got ten miles off. |
Although Slower wasn't very soci-
able, he was heap better'n an In |
dian.
II took the horses down to water
and when came back said to Stow |
sr: See here, there's been some one
ahead of you ON this here claim. |
There was a cabin down there by |
hhe river that's been burnt down.
"Yes, said Slower, quietly, that |
was my cabin
Nonsense 1 said, now thorough
" convinced that he was crazy; you
don't expect me to believe that you
we're ever out here beforep
"1f you go to the other side of the
Bluff, he said, as quietly as ever,
you will see four graves with n
rough wooden cross above them, if
the Indians have not taken it down.
Those arethe graves of my wife and
three children, murdered by the red
skins. One day when / came home
rom hunting in the foot hills / found
them there and the cabin burned
3own.
81 wouldn't think you would want
20 come back here ! said.
81 came back to settle up with
she Indians