The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-08-13
THE WIDOW OF SMITH.
An Adventure in California.

From the San Francisco Argonaut.l
There were five of us in the coach, a huge,
solid affair, resembling an immense box 1t
rested on enormous leather straps that al
lowed 1t to swing with motion that is best
described by saying it was diagonal, though
in fact 1t was not diagonal at all. One mo-
ment we found ourselves sliding toward the
foremost corner on the left, as the wheel on
that side dropped heavily into some almost
bottomless hole; the next instant we would
be flying with pleasant unanimity through
the rear window on the right, and again,
seeking to force an outlet through the roof
or floor. But the resultant of these motions,
put together, added and divided, is most
nearly described by the word diagonal, and,
so-diagonal it is.
All five of the passengers were riding in
side, for it was day in November-cold and
cloudy, and light snow was spasmodically
falling, as If really uncertain whether to
stop or go on, but, on the whole, rather in
favor of going on, 1t being Characteristic Of
Western habits never to give up anything for
any cause whatever, once it is begun. So,
while seat outside just at that time was
better than no seat at all, it was by no means
so desirable as a seat inside.
The road we were to traverse led through
the mountains of Colorado, from the mining
camp of Greenwood Though why Green
wood, none can say--it was far above timber
iine) to Leadyille. 1t was fairly good Wheel
ing, as that word is understood in the Rock
les, but six stout mules had all they could do
to manage tie coach. One moment they
were groaning and straining up some steep
incline; the next fairly lifted from their
feet as we dashed furiously down hill, our
speed only partially checked by the brake,
which Tommy the driver would frantically
apply.
Every one in the West ha title of some
sort, no matter whether he has right to it
or not, and the five men in the coach were
known as the Colonel, the Major, the Judge,
the Doctor and the Professor. 1t is surpris-
ing how soon one becomes acquainted with
his companions in such place. Whether
this is due to the community of sensations
that govern the passengers, as the vehicle
lurches to the right or left, or the sociability
of the men themselves, cannot say. The
fact remains, however. and in less than half
an hour after we had started was on famil-
lar terms with the past history, present occu-
patton, size of pile, and name of each of my
fellow travellers.
On the coach was an express box said to
contain $4,000 in bullion, the product of the
Greenwood mines. In rack near the driv-
er's feet hung two Colts revolvers and
Winchester's rifle The road was consid-
cred safe enough, for no robbery had oc-
Cured there since the camp had been in ex-
istence, still the stage company preferred to
take reasonable precautions. Hence the
weapons.
After we had exchanged our names and
such parts of our personal history as we felt
free to give, we relapsed into silence. The
Westerner, although sociable,is not talk
alive animal; he conyerses in heats. For a
time our quiet was unbroken, save by the
groaning and creaking of the coach, the
cracking of the drivers whip and his rapidly
uttered oaths.
Perhaps it is well that justice can never be
done-in print-to the profanity of the West
ern mule-driver. 1t is as impossible to de-
scribe as the singing of some beautiful aria
by some sweet-voiced singer. Not that the
two can be compared, in any way; / merely
wished to illustrate the utter inadequacy of
words in type to represent the sounds.
1t was at the end of one of Tommy's
fiowery periods (Which came to our rescue
when the coach, stuck fast at the foot of
yeritable hill of difficulty, had at last been
dragged out by the mules, inspired by the
outpouring) that the gentleman occupying
the middle seat Qeft) broke the silence. We
knew him as Prof. Blood. 1.-The hull owner of
the Blackeye mine of Greenwood, and sew
eral Others" 1t was at the close of Tommy's
exhortation, say, which began softly and
slowly. then gradually increased in volume,
speed and power, until the flow was simply
overwhelming, that the Professor" re-
marked pleasantly:
Tommy seems to swear tol'ably easy, Pm
thinkin'. It's great gift; wonderful what
twill do sometimes. When / was a-teamin'
1t up to Leadville, would bet willin' l could
cuss dead mule up 60O-foot grade, with
load. and all by the parts o. speech. It's
just like anythin' else, though-takes prac-
tice.
"Those was great days." he went on with
a retrospective sigh, ''great days We was
gettin zoe and SOC pound for stuff, and max
in slathers o'money; an losin' it, too" he
added with laugh. 81 member comm
down over the devide one night alone, with
$4,000 in my pocket when road agent held
me up an cleaned me out. / was pretty
blamed mad, but had to ante"
I'D like to know" said the Doctor, show
one or two men can stop and rob dozen, all
well armed. 1t looks as If they had no nerve.
don't think I'd stand it."
The Judge whistled softly at this remark;
the Major smiled and made pretence of
wiping the window with his coat sleeve and
looking out; the Colonel expectorated
mournfully. The Professor alone was calm.
"Pardner," said he, looking the Doctor in
the eye, and tapping him gently on the knee
as he spoke, twas you never held up?"
The Doctor shook his head.
Il thought likely" said the Professor, sig
nificantly. Just look here; when you are
stopped you ante quietly and perlitely. It's
runnin' too much of risk to object. If any
man is lookin' fur chance to climb the
golden stairs, through barin' of his buzzum
for his fellow creatures-without compensa-
tion-let him. 1t amt in my line, I'm pretty
sure, an so l say if ever you're held up you
jest fork over with out any back talk-it's
really the cheapest and long way the
safest"
These sentiments seemed to meet with uni
versal approval from the other occupants CT
the coach, and the Doctor, quite crushed by
the weight of opinion against him, relapsed
into silence.
After this, conversation became desultory.
Now and then passenger would volunteers
remark, which sometimes elected reply and
sometimes did not. Often, as the road led
up some steep incline, we would get out and
walk, to restore, by exercise, the circulation
IN our Denumbed limbs. Twice the coach
stopped at relay stations, where fresh mules
were harnessed in the place of the tired-out
animals. The stations were nothing more
than rough log stables, with accommodation
for the men who fed and cared for the mules.
The snow had been falling all the after
noon in fine flakes, and had spread over the
aarfb thin xuhifa