The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-15
A BAD MAN IN RRoApCLorH.
He Never Drank and Seldom Swore,
But Would Fight Anything on Earth.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. Nv hen Hep
worth Dixon c4me to California he was en-
tertained one evening by a member of the
Bohemian Club. After dinner Mr. Dixon
Col. Ceremony, Gideon Denny, and DR.. CHS
more sat at table in the card room talking
about California, when Mr.. Dixon said: 81
have heard many singular things about the
prevalence of the practice of carrying
deadly weapons out here but don't know
whether to believe all hear. 1t occurs &c
me that the tendency to stuff the newcomer
NAV account for these Stories | would like
70 know the truth Now, for example, how
is it with you gentlemeng Are any of you
armedF'
another, and Col Ceremony was the first to
resnond 81 have a little trifie here" he
ing upon the table knife about eighteen
inches long, which he always carried.
The doctor reached around to his hip
nocket, took out self-cocker, and placed it
beside the knife, saying: Here's play
thing | happen to have about me-" Mr..
Dixon looked surprised.
Then Mr. Denny went down into pocket
and fished out an enormous Colts navy.
which he held out for Mr.. Dixons inspec-
ton. Dear me-" said Mr.. Dixon, recoil-
ing from the weapon, land are you expert
in the use of that thing"
"Play tune on it," replied Mr.. Denny,
sententiously, toying with the hammer
nonchalantly. From that moment Hep
worth Dixon never doubted that every
gentleman in California went about armed
to the teeth. After he had left the club
Denny took the doctor aside and said: 'How
did you happen to have a gun in your
pocket to-nightw
.tBeen out trying 1t to-day to see if it
works. But how is that you are heeIed with
that big navyF
Mr.. Denny explained that he, too, had
been out testing some new cartridges for
target practice. But they never told Mr..
Dixon how it happened. He could have
gone through the whole club at any other
Cremony's big knife.
The revolver and bowie knife are no
longer indispensable parts of gentlemans
attire, and the bad man with a gun has
disappeared from the streets. The old-time
desperadoes have been killed off, or have
emigrated to the territories. One of them
went the way of all fighters, down in
Arizona recently. He had history, and
when the item about his death was read in
the club demand was made upon the
doctor for the story of "the Bad Man of
Cosumue."
sit was back in the sixties when I first
saw my desperado," said the doctor. "W hen
he came into camp didn't know whether
he was bad man or a pretender in that
line. He was tall, angular, wiry and singu-
larly unhandsome He wore a suit of black
broadcloth and tall hat, and was scrupu-
louSly neat in the matters of linen and per-
sonal appearance. The right leg of his
trousers was tucked into his boot, and the
left leg was outside in proper style. In his
right boot he carried an enormous bowie
knife, and you could see by the set of his
frock coat over his hip that he packed
gun. ..-
He spoke slowly and deliberately, and
was punctiliously polite. His long drawl
heightened the effect of his ceremoDious
courtesy, and at the same time proclaimed
him southerner. He seldom swore and
never drank, and his only small vice was
smoking. He occasionally referred to him
self as a pop-eyed galoot from Arkansaw,'
and he was.
Although my gentleman in broadcloth
was politeness personifed, he was very
aggressive and quick to take otfense. If he
heard ANYBODY making a bluff about fight
ing he couldn't keep his tongue still. but
came right to the front with an offer to
fight anyhow, anywhere and any time
Toward quiet and peaceable men he was
gravely courteous aud never in the least
aggressive, but if a fighting man showed up
Gibbons was uneasy until he had driven the
fellow out Of camp.
Costume was then new camp, claim
jumping was a fiourishing industry, and
every miner had to be prepared to defend
his location. l had a quartz claim on
ledge that dipped to the east, and some
fellow had conceived the brilliant idea of
sinking shaft fifty feet east of my shaft
and tapping my ledge. | noticed that the
fellow was getting pretty thick with the
man in broadcloth. and whenever met the
latter he was so severely polite that knew
he was only waiting for careless slip in
my speech or manner as pretext for taking
offense.
81 wrote to my superintendent at another
mine that a desperate was in company
with the claim jumper, and that | expected
trouble. He wrote back: rs he at work?
Is be willing to works If he is not at work
and will work, hire him, and he is your
d 'sspse,rado.'
6 loot from Arkansaw, | said, Good morn
lag, Mr. Gibbons. He lifted his hat and
6 avely replied: Good morning, doctor,
trust you air well, SIR
"'Mr. Gibbons said. may ask if you
are looking for workP
That's just what am doing, sir
Are you a miners Do you know any
tn Dg about sinking a shaft? l asked.
Wall, sir he replied, Il reckon I'm the
be - miner on top of Gods green airth.
Il then asked him what wages he wanted.
Toe going rate was S. day, but when he
said 81 SO promptly engaged him. The
next day he went with me down to the
clam. He was dressed as usual, and car.
rlei something tied up in a red silk hand
kerchief. When we got to the shaft he
opened his bundle and laid out a miners
suit. He took OFT his hat, wiped it carefully
With the bandana, spread the handkerchief
on the ground, and tenderly placed his hat
upon it. Slowly and with dignity he
'shucked' his broadcloth, got into the
miners suit shifted his weapons to her new
rig, and went down the shaft, which was
only eight feet deep.
"Gibbons had been working about an
hour when the man who wanted part of my
ledge came along with a companion, and
he'd one end Of tape at the edge of my
shaft to measure Off fifty feet eastward
Gibbons climbed slowly to the surface,
glanced severely at the man who had been
his associate the day before, turned to me
ana said Doctor, will you be good and
Kind enough to let me cut that fellows
head Off
"Of course told him not to do it, and he |
went back down the shaft looking much |
disappointed, but that other chap never |
sank any prospect hole on my ledge.
Gibbons was something of boaster, but |
ne was no liar or buffer. He was the best |
miner | ever knew, and fighter from the |
ground up. While he worked for me he |
considered himself personally responsible
Tor whatever | said, and would fight for me
If | would let him.
'Of courea ha had m y,rova his claims nc