The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1888-02-02
SHORT SANS BARGAIN.
An Editorial Experience in a
Western Mining Camp.

Miningcamp journalism differs. in soms
slight degree. from metropolitan journal
ism, writes Edward W. Townsend in the
New York World. There is NOT 40 much
/ hurry about Il. but Il is % times quite As
exciting. have known II 10 be even
more 90.
Once, while occupying al the editorial
chairs and reporters desks ON a weekly
paper, published in a clipper little camp in
Nevada, two days By mud wagon from the
nearest railroad or telegraph station, l
would gladly have exchanged places even
with New York City editor. explaining 70
his chief how il was the hated rival got in
that terrific scoop
u was more than exciting. There had
besn q grand ball at Blue Peaks. a neigh
boring camp. and the grandeur II the ball
had been enhanced by the sensational
elOpement OF the most noted gambler Of
the camp, a gentleman well known in
Nevada as Short sam. with a lady called
Dusty Bob At the time Of the ball she
was not known as such, at least in Blue
Peaks. She came here few DAYS before
with q staid, middlc-aged man. a Mr.
Blocker, who proposed building a quartz
mill, he said, and both he and bis daughter
she was introduced as such were shown
/
doubtful about allowing his daughter % at
tend the ball. Not that The o~-lsi0n-it
was the opening Of the E.lr.-uo saloon,
and the faro tables Were removed 70 make
room for the dancing-.,as 4ny thing less
than the most critical could drmaHi. but
emigration into the CImp hal IS VET
brought females Of an unattended class
only.
The difficulty was solved by ShOr. sam in
ais usual generous N I.uer H. proposed t1
be Miss Bleeker's solo e-,-pri during tho
evening Of the hall. '-and, aidrd SIM. Il
recken II Miss Blocker pays PARTNERS with
me agin the game no gcutiimsn m the ,inp
will allow he can bring ANY has, Jiii.ia Lady
near enough % hurt "
There was no doubt lloti this sam was
not only the richest gambler in Blue Peaks.
but he also enjoyed the unique reputation
Of being the only faro dealer ia Nevada WIN
never had a lookout ut his table He was
too quick and sure with hi. pistol 90 require
. lookout's assistance Ia depressing the ac-
guisitive prOcvities Of c.irc. goriiias fact
10 which the new graveyard az Blue Peaks,
bore eloquent, il silent. testimony
80 the grand ball al the n Dorado was
graced by the modest ,i.-, Beekri, unI tho
candles, In their diri-sr miners candle
HNllAn AfRuullFNA llN Nilt' .rtnf ~NNtflIg N0a
90 brightly Is her ,uuOreri birc ewes
BAN, IN boiled siif' Uncovered Ly vest |
or coat, was tendery ..,cu.I. q WAS
plain 10 every miner s..I ''i,. Urati a..hed fe-
males present that Saia s,.- hard hir Papa !
BECKER lowered about jhe bur. atop u |
which sat the fiddler. and male frequent |
demands on his daughters gallant escort b |
'lj0in him once more" 20 IVA near mid |
night when sam, long since afiame with the /
sweet poison Of Cupids dare aud the FL |
DOrados twO-bit q. 4. \. disappeared with |
Miss Blocker.
That they had not gone o. supper, served /
In the miners boarding house. adjoining |
tho II Dorado. was first made known by q |
miner who arrived VI the bal. fa-li0nably |
late He had quit work when ths eleven |
O'Clock shift went On. and Ou his Wuy 20 tho |
bad had seen Sam and the new gal driving 1
down the grade 20 Nuggetyil!c IA the stage /
company's sleigh. | reckon They re sioped /
10 git hitched.'
Il was the following day ] heard the /
sequel 20 the story while pursuing the re
portorial side Of my duties for the Nugget
vile ASsayer.
Sam and Miss Blocker had arrived in
camp an hour before daylight, and out OF
consideration for the age OF the justice Of
the peace, had not then called on his serv-
kes 70 make their lives one, but had gone
% the hotel together 10 avs o.; a maie scem.
~ wedding hour. TbaI hal leea alter q
ste breakfast, and Il was after tucir return
10 Blue Peaks that l gathered ihese facts
ard prepared them IN a style calculated 70
create q sensation among The readers Of the
AsseysT.
II did
Ny best efforts since have fallen nat in
comparison Subscribers came 70 the Office.
and stopped me on the street. aud with q
singleness Of mind that became annoying |
asked me II had ever met Short sam.
aeyer had; in fact. knew nothing about
him until he became the central figure Of
NY pet sensation.
The smiles with which my assertion Of
ignorance regarding Sh1Fi sam verr greet
"a had. thou yhi. mii,.ii % niiy in fhrilt
One day the Irliriar,h uf the camp. a man
who had resided there continuously for
more than three years. came into ny offlce
and solemnly asked il I remembered the
elump Of willows bT tho SPRINGS AZ the foot
Of Gold Canyon.
did, it was q fsvurite walk 81 mine.
tYesi Wall, thar's whar we buried the
last editor
His remark was certainly Irrelevant, still
Il gave me an unpleasant s'ipck-
thought 70 recover ilyseii by facsiinus-
ness, and asked. with a smile a painful
SMILE:
sIndeedi where did yoa bury this one be-
fore himri
The Patriarch did not sniie, hoped De-
would. He replied.
tsLetis So The ore afnre hiu-ves. I /
think h Wa the one ies afnie him wasn't
killed BE was only shat through the knee
gave up trying 70 look amused / was
interested. but not amused
Tha Patriarch c0ntinHe,l: -LeastWays, we
didn't bury the hnll 81 hiIH- We planted
the part Of the leg the doctof cut "a You
-. TIE boys nkes = funerafunfi ia awhile.
There being no parsou here. q funeral i the
only tine the boys has chanfe 90 fecl re-
ligious ike. We made thai editor what g0t
shot IN the knee preach sermon over the
funeral Of his leg. Then b. len town.
he Patriarch rose b leave. but returned
and sad, s0lemnly;
aEf you has any folks who might want 70
know, Why POD ken leare their address }
with ne. The editor aiore the one Wait
ga he knes hurt did H. sans IN CaraQn
Bk Usadiag touz, bat he'n - haekBs